This place appears nice when you visit, but is a disaster behind the scenes. There are some serious safety issues at this facility including electric fences not being kept on, fire hazards, and basically being told to keep quiet if there is an injury from an animal. There is what some would consider neglect of the animals including donkeys and other animals with very overgrown hooves, injuries left untreated, feeding improper diet to some animals (some horses and donkeys fed dog food. Bears fed a lot of people food), and flooding stalls that animals have to be in when it rains. Things you dont see in the main part of the park. The big cats get pretty good care though. I am not entirely sure if there is an plan for if an animal gets out as there are no radios or anywhere to go if it happens. If you ask, they just say "that never happens here" which is alarming. The staff seem to truly care about the animals but I think this sanctuary, like many others, has bitten more than they can chew and cannot properly care for them all. Either because they simply have too many or the best care is saved for the large carnivores. Hopefully no one is taking money. Very disappointing.
This place really needs to be shut down, between the beating of stray cats, to not keeping the electric fences plugged in due to "high electric bill" costs, the drinking of employees at one of the local bars during work hours only to go back to the site intoxicated, threats to employees if they inform any agency with safety concerns, lack of proper safety equipment and required labor posters; this is a nightmare of an establishment. Many have expressed great fear for not only the employees, also for the public at large due to the cosmetic "reinforcements" of the enclosures, all to be ignored and told "it's good enough to fool the inspectors" and blatant disrespect of Veteran and Active duty members who sadly work there.
After a behind the scenes look at the animals and how they are taken care of, it would appear not all are taken care of very well... Display and petting zoo animals get plenty of attention. There is a small shed far from public access, that has two small cages OVER-filled with domestic cats with no food or water. Watched over the course of a day and no attention was paid to them throughout. Prior to my access to the park, there were rumors of what the staff refer to as "Nuisance" animals being treated very cruelly. Raccoons, domestic cats, etc. Stories of them being beaten to death and or fed to other animals. The park does provide a good service and home to many abused exotic animals, but are not so kind to others.
Noahs Lost Ark is one of the best Rescue Facilities in the Ohio Area, home to over 200 animals, they do a great job caring for abused and unwanted exotic cats and animals of all kinds. The Owners and Staff are very dedicated people and make sure all the residents at the facility are well cared for, some require special care due to the abusive situations they came from, and I commend them for all their hard work!