My Nonprofit Reviews

I absolutely adore Professional Animal Retirement Center - or as its known locally, Black Pines. We try to visit a few times a year and can always see how well cared for the animals are and how much the staff loves them. I also follow them on facebook and am constantly seeing them post about enrichment for their animals, which is crucial.

I absolutely adore their motto, which is "For The Rest Of Their Lives", and that they are always pushing the fact that wild animals are NOT meant to be pets, and speaking blatantly and candidly about the fact that wild animals are basically unable to have all their needs met by a "regular" person who doesn't have special training or facilities to care for them. They continue to strive to raise the word that keeping wild animals as pets is unsafe - for both the human, and the animal. They also refuse to breed their animals with other captive animals, as they feel it would further the pet trade and serve no use to anyone except as a cash cow - a feat that has led to severe inbreeding and sickly animals, as is seen in white tigers, for example.

Every visit I see new enrichment, new or updated enclosures, and largely healthy, happy animals. During guided tours, the staff is always careful to let visitors know what human behaviors are not allowed, as they might stress the animals out, because the comfort of the animal is more important than the visitors entertainment.

I wholeheartedly support this nonprofit, and only wish I had the capability of donating time and money myself towards the program and cause.