Wine and Beer Tasting Safari Adventure
Hosted by Great Lakes Aquarium - Duluth
The Wildcat Sanctuary joins The Great Lakes Aquarium and Fox 21 in Duluth for a spring gala event to benefit The Wildcat Sanctuary. Local and state-wide wineries and breweries will showcase their favorite wines and beers for residents and guests of Duluth and the surrounding area. "Waves and Whiskers" is scheduled for Saturday evening, April 17, 2010, the event will showcase local and statewide breweries and wineries within a "safari" theme setting.
The Great Lakes Aquarium is hosting the event at the aquarium which is at 353 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802. Guests will be greeted and given a "passport" for their safari journey through the many tasting stations. Along the safari path will be stories, photos and videos detailing the TWS residents and their lives before and after the Sanctuary, as well as information on their species and natural habitat. The event will run from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Tickets are $30 per person in advance or $40 per person at the door. Tickets give entrance to the event, wine and beer tasting, appetizers, dessert, coffee and a souvenir glass.
Help us spread the word by downloading and posting our event flyer
Keeper Blog March 2010
Hello everyone and welcome to the keeper blog. First I would like to introduce myself, my name is Alicia Ice and I am the lesser cat keeper here at TWS. I have been working here for two years now and I love it. I am hoping this blog will give all of our generous donors and followers an in-depth look at where your donations go and also allow you to feel like you’re here doing the work with us.
What has been going on so far this year at TWS? Surprisingly, even though it is winter we have already begun building the final three enclosures in cougar cove. Thanks to the help of an air compressor we were able to get all of the poles into the frozen ground no problem. Next of course comes the fencing, what a chore that is. Myk Hamlin one of our volunteers, came up with an idea that allows two people to put the top portion of the fencing on. A job that usually needed four people can now be done by two! So the first enclosure is well on its way to completion after a much needed group volunteer weekend making us hopeful Misha and Max can move in before spring is over. The quicker the better, we can’t wait for those two to move. Their move not only gives them a larger space with indoor rooms and all new amenities, but also allows the three cougar cubs from Wyoming to move into their old space and finally meet cougars Andre and Donoma, their hopeful roommates. All five of these cougars were wild born. Many states including Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Montana along with British Columbia, Canada are not allowing wild born cougars to be rehabilitated and released into the wild, stating them to be ‘nuisance’ animals. This means more cougars in captivity and more unnecessary euthanasia. Thankfully, these five have found a forever home and can live wild at heart. Until next time, keep the wild in your heart not your home.
Minnesota Tigers get TV time
The Wildcat Sanctuary tiger residents will be featured in an upcoming Animal Planet episode showcasing the deadly risks of keeping exotic pets. Titan and Lilly were taken from the property of Cynthia Gamble, who was killed four years ago by a third tiger, Tango.
Watch Animal Planet's Fatal Attraction
episode featuring Titan and Lilly
Big Cats - March 25 (Thurs) - 9pm CST
NOT MARCH 21
TWS 2009 ANNUAL REPORT
The Wildcat Sanctuary celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2009. As we continue our work, we find strength in the lives saved, the amazing stories we hear every day and we are inspired by our goal in ending the captive wildlife crisis. Every wild animal we can keep from a life sentence in a cage is a blessing. And every animal that we can save from suffering is why we do what we do.
Thank you for your continued commitment and support, for the lives you impact and for all you do to help make our world better for humans and animals.
TWS is a leader in the sanctuary industry yet we operate on one of the smallest annual budgets of any big cat sanctuary in the country. This means we work hard to make every dollar count. We can proudly say that 90% of contributions go directly towards our mission and caring for the animals. Only 10% is used for fundraising and administration purposes.
Ever wonder what a bobcat would do to a snowman? Watch as the residents decide what to make of their snowmen. From smashing it to hugging it, the cats had a ton of fun getting snowmen for enrichment.
JASPER PASSES BUT LEAVES AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE
Jasper had a difficult start to his life, but he never held a grudge. He had a personality of peacefulness that I have never seen in another wild animal. He enjoyed and accepted every person and animal that came into his life. But his best friend of all was Otis, who passed a few years ago. Jasper was so calm and easy going and even participated calmly in his medical treatment to curb his recent onset of seizures.
Jasper taught me so many life lessons while he was alive, but his death may have taught me the most important….All living things are connected in this world…and never underestimate this.
Jasper was the third resident to reside at TWS and was one of my closest animal friends. His seizures had subsided and he was stable when I left for my recent trip to Africa. This trip was extremely special and enlightening. I learned so much from the beautiful animals living out their lives in the wild as well as the extreme poverty but also joyful resilience of the people in Africa.
For years I have heard and used the term Rainbow Bridge when animals pass. But in the recent years, we have often seen a full rainbow within a few days prior or after an animal passing at TWS. We’ve always looked at is as nothing more than an interesting coincidence until my trip to Africa. Upon my day of arrival in Lewa Conservancy, the brightest and most vibrant full rainbow appeared. I had never seen anything so strong and beautiful. But with that came a heavy aching. My mind went right to the Rainbow Bridge. A frantic email home revealed everything was good and the animals were fine. My new friends in Africa comforted me and said; maybe the rainbow in Africa means something different than at home. “No worries – it’s all good,” I heard repeatedly on my trip.
The week continued full of animal tracking and visiting local schools. Each day, I felt blessed to be having such an experience. The sense of peace, appreciation and healing were overwhelming. Late into the trip, our group proceeded to Pombe Point. A high point that over looked all of Lewa. It was breath taking. Within a few minutes of arriving, an amazing full rainbow appeared, not only one, but then another above it. A complete double rainbow. I had seen a full rainbow the first day, but never a double rainbow. Tears filled my eyes – of happiness and sadness. I couldn't explain really why, but the Rainbow Bridge came back into my thoughts. It would be several days before I could be in communication with TWS again. But when I finally did contact home, I emailed Trista saying I've seen not only the full rainbow, but a double. I said I know something had happened and she confirmed that Jasper had passed at 4:30 pm on the day I saw the double rainbow. My heart broke not only from his leaving but not being there with him. I know he was in the best and most caring hands as he left us and I find peace in that. I am still in shock of his passing but also in the great connection that I felt all the way from Africa. I no longer believe the Rainbow Bridge is just a phrase. I’m not sure I know exactly what it is or what happened, but I do know that I am now so thankful and aware of the connection between the earth, animals and people. It is a magical thing.
Jasper, thank you for your message and rest in peace with Otis at the Rainbow Bridge.
Ways
to Help TWS!
Order Magazines to raise money for the cats
Mags4Cats Online Fundraising Campaign has just kicked off and your participation is the key to our success!
You can help by inviting your friends and family to shop at our online magazine store. They can choose from over 650 magazine subscriptions at up to 85% savings, and our group will get 40% of each purchase amount! And magazines are a great gift idea!
And you can get great prizes too! When you invite 12 people and sell one magazine subscription, you get a FREE movie ticket!
Pennies to search
What if The Wildcat Sanctuary earned a penny every time you
searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every
purchase you made online went to support our cause? Well, now
it can!
GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates
half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the
charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any
search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch
the donations add up!
GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up
to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds
of great stores including Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's
and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every
time you place an order, you'll be supporting your favorite
cause.
Just go to www.goodsearch.com
or www.goodshop.com
and be sure to enter TWS as the charity you want to support.
And, be sure to spread the word!
Purchase photos of TWS wildcats and proceeds benefit the sanctuary.
Wonderful friend and photogrpaher, Pamela
Lammersen, is using her talents to help the cats. Proceeds of
your purchase of TWS' cat photos go directly to the cats.
Food Perspectives Inc. is a consumer
testing company headquartered in Plymouth, MN. Their clients
are major manufacturers of consumer food products who hire them
to help gain a better understanding of consumer likes and dislikes.
We are looking for men and women ages 18-65 willing to take
part in as many as 6 product tests per year. Each time the testers
participate, TWS will be credited $9. The individual will receive
$21-$36 with the option of keeping the funds or signing the
full amount over to TWS.
Please include
your friends and family!
Remember - The more people who participate, the more money for
TWS!!
Print
cartridge recycling for TWS
** There has been a change in our ink cartridge recycling program.
The company we deal with is no longer distributing the baggies due to the mailing cost. They are encouraging their customers to request prepaid shipping labels to ship cartridges. Eligible ink jet cartridges should fit in the palm of your hand. Laser cartridges are no longer being accepted. You can find out if your cartridge is accepted by visiting the Empties4Cash website.
Our cats here at the sanctuary depend on every penny we can generate to help provide them with the care they need. We are asking that you discontinue using the baggies and use the free prepaid shipping labels. Please email us at saveourwildcats@gmail.com to request your labels today so that we can make this transition as smooth and quick as possible. Simply collect your cartridges, seal it when it's full and slap a prepaid shipping label on it, and call FedEx to have it picked up or drop it off at your local FedEx drop off center. To find the closest drop off center please visit http://www.fedex.com/us/.
Thank you for your generous support and helping our wildcats.
View more wish list items on our How to Help page.
If you can donate any of these
items, please contact Tammy at 320-245-6871.
Universal
compassion
is the only
guarantee
of morality.
The Wildcat Sanctuary joins The Great Lakes Aquarium and Fox 21 in Duluth for a spring gala event to benefit The Wildcat Sanctuary. Local and state-wide wineries and breweries will showcase their favorite wines and beers for residents and guests of Duluth and the surrounding area. "Waves and Whiskers" is scheduled for Saturday evening, April 17, 2010, the event will showcase local and statewide breweries and wineries within a "safari" theme setting.
The Great Lakes Aquarium is hosting the event at the aquarium which is at 353 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802. Guests will be greeted and given a "passport" for their safari journey through the many tasting stations. Along the safari path will be stories, photos and videos detailing the TWS residents and their lives before and after the Sanctuary, as well as information on their species and natural habitat. The event will run from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Tickets are $30 per person in advance or $40 per person at the door. Tickets give entrance to the event, wine and beer tasting, appetizers, dessert, coffee and a souvenir glass.
The Wildcat Sanctuary tiger residents will be featured in an upcoming Animal Planet episode showcasing the deadly risks of keeping exotic pets. Titan and Lilly were taken from the property of Cynthia Gamble, who was killed four years ago by a third tiger, Tango.
Purchase photos of TWS wildcats and proceeds benefit the sanctuary. 
