Programs

  • The Wildcat Sanctuary

    THE WILDCAT SANCTUARY (TWS) IS A 501C3 NON-PROFIT, NO-KILL BIG CAT RESCUE LOCATED IN SANDSTONE, MN. TWS PROVIDES A NATURAL SANCTUARY TO WILD CATS IN NEED AND INSPIRES CHANGE TO END THE CAPTIVE WILDLIFE CRISIS. TWS IS FUNDED SOLELY ON PRIVATE DONATIONS. THE SANCTUARY IS A RESCUE ORGANIZATION AND IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. COMBINING NATURAL AND SPACIOUS HABITATS WITH A LIFE FREE OF EXHIBITION, TWS ALLOWS ALL RESIDENTS TO LIVE WILD AT HEART. AS A TRUE SANCTUARY, WE DO NOT BUY, BREED, SELL OR EXHIBIT ANIMALS. THE WILDCAT SANCTUARY IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION AND THE GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL SANCTUARIES. WE ARE ALSO LICENSED BY THE USDA. OUR SAVINGS AS AN ORGANIZATION WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARING FOR OVER 150 FELINES FOR YEARS INTO THE FUTURE, SUSTAINABILITY IS A CORNERSTONE OF OUR SANCTUARY.O OUR BOARD ENSURES THAT WE HAVE A MINIMUM OF 1 YEAR OF OPERATING SAVINGS IN THE BANK TO ENSURE WE CAN CARE FOR THE CATS EVEN DURING THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES.O WE ALSO HAVE SAVINGS EARMARKED FOR ACQUIRING ANY ADJACENT LAND THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE A NATURAL BORDER TO THE SANCTUARY AND CONSERVE WILDLIFE LAND.O WE HAVE RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT TOWARD UTILITIES, PERIMETER FENCE, A WORKSHOP AND MORE.OUR SANCTUARY WE ACQUIRED 120 ADJACENT ACRES!! THIS PROVIDES A NATURAL SAFETY BUFFER, PROVIDES A HOME TO WILD BOBCAT, BEAR, FISHER AND OTHER WILDLIFE. AND IT GIVES US ROOM TO DREAM BIG! WE BUILT NEW HABITATS TO ACCOMMODATE MORE RESCUES. THE PERIMETER FENCE WAS MOVED BACK SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET TO BUILD THE NEW CATTAIL CREEK AREA THAT INCLUDES 8 HABITATS. THREE SPECIES-SPECIFIC HABITATS WERE CONSTRUCTED. TWO FOR BOBCATS AND ONE WITH A WATERFALL FOR OUR FISHING CAT, SUSHI. ALL INCLUDED CAVES, SKYWALKS, BOULDERS AND TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED BUILDINGS. COMPLETION OF 5,400 SQ. FT. CATIO TOWN BUILDING FOR BENGALS AND HYBRIDS, INCLUDING EMERGENCY GENERATOR. PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION, TEMPORARY AREAS WERE BUILT FOR 40 HYBRIDS AND 6 BUNGALOW SHEDS AND YARDS WERE DEMOLISHED. INSTALLED, FURNISHED AND RAN HEAT/ELECTRIC TO 4 NEW BUNGALOWS IN HYBRID AND SMALL CAT AREAS. WELCOMED 22 NEW RESIDENTS AND SAID GOOD-BYE TO 12 SPECIAL WILD ONES. ADDED 2 PAVILIONS FOR OUR STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS. REBUILT THE ROOF OF THE 7,000 SQUARE FOOT HABITAT FOR COUGARS RAINIER, TACOMA AND QUINCY. REMOVED AND DONATED THE OLD BUNKHOUSE THAT WAS NO LONGER NEEDED. INSTALLED A NEW ROOF ON ONE OF THE INTERN HOUSES IN DOWNTOWN SANDSTONE.OUR INDUSTRY NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR OUR SMALL CAT CRISIS CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE NOT ONLY EDUCATED LAWMAKERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT OUR ANIMAL RESCUE PARTNERS, TOO. NOW, SANCTUARIES AND ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ALL BEGUN TO EDUCATE AND HELP SAVE THE SMALLER CATS AND HYBIRDS. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE BIG CAT SANCTUARY ALLIANCE AND IS THE RESCUE COMMITTEE CHAIR. OUR DONOR SERVICES MANAGER SERVED ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST SANCTUARIES TO JOIN THE WILDLIFE CONFISCATION NETWORK. THE PURPOSE OF THE WCN IS TO CREATE A COALITION OF REPUTABLE AND TRUSTED ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES WHO CAN PROVIDE IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE AND HOUSING FOR WILDLIFE THAT ARE TRAFFICKED THROUGH U.S. PORTS OF ENTRY, ALLOWING WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR CORE FUNCTIONS: THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF CRIMINALS. OUR TEAM PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL INDUSTRY CONFERENCES TO SHARE THE WORK OF OUR SANCTUARY, EDUCATE ABOUT THE SMALL CAT CRISIS, DISCUSS SOLUTIONS TO ZOO SURPLUS, AND NETWORK ABOUT BEST PRACTICES FOR THE SPECIES IN OUR CARE. THESE INCLUDED PAWS INTERNATIONAL CAPTIVE WILDLIFE CONFERENCE, FELID TAXONOMIC ADVISORY GROUP, CHEETAH HUSBANDRY CONFERENCE AND BIG CAT SANCTUARY ALLIANCE CONFERENCE.OUR VOLUNTEERS WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE TALENTED AND COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE SUPPORTING OUR STAFF AND THE ANIMALS. THE HOURS OUR VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE IS REMARKABLE AND SO VERY APPRECIATED! AMERICORPS PUT IN EIGHT WEEKS OF PROJECT WORK HERE ON-SITE THAT AMOUNTED TO 2,240 HOURS! SEVEN PEOPLE FOR 2 MONTHS WORKING 40 HOURS/WEEK. CREW DAYS WERE UP IN BOTH AMOUNT AND PARTICIPATION, ACCOUNTING FOR 1,758 VOLUNTEER HOURS OR 43 CREW DAYS WITH 293 PARTICIPANTS (COMPARED TO 31 CREW DAYS IN 2023 WITH 236 PARTICIPANTS). OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM PARTICIPATION WAS UP BY 15 PARTICIPANTS. WE ALSO HAD SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS THAT PUT IN MULTIPLE DAYS MONTHLY FOR BUILDING PROJECTS FOR CATIO TOWN. OUR VOLUNTEER TEAM HOURS FELL JUST UNDER 2,400 HOURS, UP ALMOST 200 HOURS FROM 2023! OUR VOLUNTEERS HELP WITH EVENTS, OUTREACH, GARDENING/GROUNDS WORK, CHORES AND CLEANING, CONSTRUCTION AND EVEN VET TECHS VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME IN THE HOSPITAL. OUR 5 DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTEERS DONATE THE TIME OF 2.5 FULL-TIME STAFF!
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $2.3M