Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary serves the surrounding areas of Nassau, Duval, Baker, and Clay counties. They take great pride in being a popular tourist destination for people from all over the world. They feel privileged and honoured to be Jacksonville’s most visited and well regarded landmark.
Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary was established to help endangered big cats by giving them a permanent, loving home and spreading awareness about their condition both in the wild and in human care. Saving endangered exotic animals is the sanctuary’s top priority. Every animal that finds its way to Catty Shack Ranch is guaranteed a permanent, loving home. They do not have any interest in reproducing, buying, selling, or trading with locals. Animals such as tigers, lions, pumas, leopards, lynx, foxes, and coatimundis currently call our zoo home.
About 30 years ago, Executive Director/Curator Curt LoGiudice established the organization. In 1982, after first working with police dogs, Curt shifted his focus to training exotic animals. In 1984, he obtained his license from the state, and in 1992, he obtained his federal license. Curt was requested to represent the Florida Panther Project in Jacksonville in 1994 so that they could give talks to the public on the plight of the Florida panther. His mission to save the day had officially begun.
Curt often consults with the vets who care for the animals at Catty Shack Ranch, goes to conferences for professionals in the exotic animal sector, and participates in meetings of the Florida Fish and Game Commission. When new animals are brought in, Curt coordinates with the USDA and local authorities. Even more crucially, the animals in his care clearly respect and trust him.
Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary was designated as a 501(c)(3) organization in the year 2000. The establishment of a board of directors has allowed us to take numerous measures toward providing the best possible care for the animals in our care.
In 2004, Catty Shack Ranch instituted a strict no-breeding, no-selling, no-trading, no-buying policy to protect the welfare of all the animals provided sanctuary there from the potential dangers of unchecked population expansion. They have never before bought, sold, or traded animals, but this policy has made it central to who they are. Some of their cats were born there, but they’ve always found a way to keep them as members of the family. The Catty Shack Ranch is a forever home for all the animals they rescue.
Additionally, we received our official authorization to serve the public in 2004. They are committed to spreading awareness about the suffering of wild animals and the risks associated with keeping exotic pets, particularly among children. They offer visits to schools all through the year and are open to the public on certain days.
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