My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been involved with the Wild Animal Sanctuary for almost 12 years. I have watched it grow from what was still a small place, not open to the public, to the largest (and oldest) animal sanctuary in the US that rescues the large and exotic animals that most facilities are not well-equipped to handle: lions, tigers, bears, leopards, mountain lions, wolves and more. It opened to the public 8 or 10 years ago, though it has maintained the safety and well-being of the animals as its first priority. The majority of the animals are in large acre habitats - about as close to living free as any of them will ever get. For the most part only those still in the rehabilitation phase or who have a medical or physical condition that does not allow them to roam over the large habitats are in smaller enclosures. A few still await construction of their own large habitats. I have seen animals when they are first rescued - malnourished, some barely able to walk because of muscle atrophy or from having been declawed or from conditions caused by malnutrition. It is heartbreaking. Then within a remarkably short period of time, given the medical care, proper nutrition, safety and the loving presence of the staff and volunteers, I see these same animals start to thrive - and then be released into the big habitats. The Sanctuary is unable to save every animal (it can only rescue about one out of every eight for which it gets requests), for those it does rescue, their lives change forever - for the better. Because of its focus on helping the animals, the Sanctuary - which is the only facility that has specialized rescue equipment equipped to transport large animals across vast distances - will help other facilities that may have space for animals in need but have no way to get them by picking the animals up and taking them to the other facility. The Sanctuary also is a true sanctuary - meaning it does not breed or commercially exploit the animals in any way. Once rescued, they are given a permanent home. The Sanctuary also works to educate the public and governments about the Captive Wildlife Crisis - according to HSUS, there are over 30,000 lions, tigers, bears and other large and exotic wild animals in private ownership in the US, outside of the AZA zoo system - and to pass legislation that will end the private ownership of these animals. The Sanctuary can only help animals when people support it, as the Sanctuary receives no government funding and the vast majority of its funds come from individuals.

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