Wall Goes Up / Fears Go Down

February 2008:  The first 938 feet of the 10 foot high perimeter wall we are building is now up around 3 of our 45 acres.  Thanks to the rather amazing prefabricated column and panel system provided by Duratek Precast Technologies the actual construction only too two weeks (see photos). But the process took years. Fundraising for this project, called the Catter-Wall, started in December of 2003 one foot at a time. 

Become a Big Cat Member

In addition to the fundraising this long process included obtaining a zoning variance with the help of Kristin Tolbert & Keith Bricklemyer of the law firm Bricklemyer Smolker & Bolves, P.A. and Robyn Cole and Kevin Mineer of the engineering firm Genesis Group and thankfully with the ultimate support of our County Commission. Then came the process of assessing various ways to build the wall and selecting Duratek. Finally the permitting process took many months of diligent effort from Robyn from Genesis and Christine from Duratek. Throughout the process, from initial design decisions to final construction, all of the people we dealt with at Duratek, George, Christine, Forrest, Tio, and the project manager Scott, were wonderful to work with.

You may remember that last Christmas some kids shot paint balls at our leopards from over the fence and that launched us into high gear to get this impervious 10 foot wall underway.  Thanks to the nearly 300 wonderful donors listed below, we have raised $136,000.00 over the past four years and have now been able to build this first phase at a cost of $104,000.

PDF of Big Cat Rescue Expansion as published by McGraw Hill Construction Network

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At the very bottom of this page is a slide show of the front gate that we installed from the first funds donated to the Catter-Wall project.  Thanks to Cy and Joanne Spurlino, who donated $16,000.00 to this project, the same style gate is being installed at the entrance flanked by the new 10 foot high concrete wall.  Coming or going, you can't help but be impressed by the security and the ambiance. 

The first 938 feet are done, but we have 6000 feet more to go.  You can help by making a tax deductible donation today and have your name memorialized on the new Catter-Wall.  A donation of $100.00 sponsors 1 linear foot of the wall.  If you make your donation before Feb. 29, 2008 you can have the Birdies for Charities match it with an additional 15% by donating through their program to Big Cat Rescue HERE

The story ran again in the Tribune on 2/12/2008 in the Metro Section:

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 12, 2008

Updated: 11:23 pm

CITRUS PARK - Concerned about the possible construction of town houses nearby and an incident that involved teenagers shooting paintballs at leopards, Big Cat Rescue officials recently began the first phase of installing a 10-foot-tall wall around the sanctuary's property.

The wall is a major project for the nonprofit organization, which operates with an annual budget of about $1 million.

Howard Baskin, Big Cat Rescue advisory board chairman, said it cost about $106,000 to install about 940 feet of the wall. More donations are necessary to finish enclosing the remaining 6,000 feet at the 45-acre refuge.

Big Cat Rescue cares for about 146 exotic cats, including cougars, tigers, bobcats and lions.

Many of the felines suffered abuse, neglect and abandonment before being taken to the sanctuary, officials said. Baskin said the cats are contained with specially designed wire cages.

As a secondary barrier, the perimeter is surrounded with a chain-link fence with barbed wire and an electrified wire on top, he said.

Jason Geary

The stories below were from 2004-2006 as we initiated the zoning changes that made this wall and our new buildings possible. 

2006 Zoning Hearing Outcome

Big Cat Rescue has a vision of no more big cats in cages, but a big vision requires a big commitment.  In order to raise the funds necessary to insure the continued comfort of the exotic cats in our care we have to look for ways that enable us to grow financially without compromising the cat's sanctuary. 

The Big Cat Lodge is building of up to 20,000 square foot that we are planning to house corporate events, functions, school outreach programs, summer camps, a natural history museum and gift shop.  It started out as only a dream, but thanks to the generosity of the following people and businesses it is starting to take shape. 

2006 ZONING APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY 

Howard Baskin
Advisory Board Chairman
813-889-7244  
HBaskin@BigCatRescue.org

2004 Zoning Results

The Hillsborough County Board of Commissioner's approved Big Cat Rescue's Planned Development by a 5 to 1 vote.  Thank you everyone who helped make this possible!

BIG CAT RESCUE'S PLANNED DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION

On October 17 Big Cat Rescue filed an application with Hillsborough County to have the sanctuary property designated as a Planned Development and ask approval for specific improvements we would like to make to the property. 

Expand Education Program   A primary focus of our plan is to enhance our educational program.  Although the sanctuary strives every day to provide the best care we can for our animals, the broader mission of Big Cat Rescue is to educate our audience about the issues that result in so many animals being abused or abandoned.  By providing that information, we hope to have an impact far beyond the limited number of animals we can save.  By informing people about what they can do to solve these problems, such as not purchase these animals as pets, we hope to eliminate the need for rescue by stopping the abuse and abandonment of these wonderful animals.

A major part of our education program includes field trips to Big Cat Rescue by school children of all ages.  Currently the experience we can provide is limited to what we can do outdoors and very much subject to weather conditions.  On very hot days we have no air conditioned indoor space to provide relief from the heat during part of the children’s visit. If we encounter inclement weather during their visit, the only shelter is the school bus.

Our plan provides for a two story building that would serve a number of purposes.  The top story would be an open room that could be used to provide indoor educational activities as part of the school visit.  This could include craft activities like drawing their favorite animals for the younger children, and video and slide show presentations about conservation, extinction, habitat preservation and the many other topics related to the broader efforts to save our wildlife.  The room could also be rented out for small events to raise additional funds to support the sanctuary.   The building would also house an area where guests waiting for their tour or after their tour could view information about the sanctuary, our animals, and broader conservation issues.

Enhanced Care of the Cats   A number of improvements are intended to help us better care for the cats.  We would like an expanded cat hospital that would avoid having to take cats off premises for surgery or other treatment.  Moving the cats off the property adds stress at a time when their systems are already weakened and lowers their chances of survival.  Treatment on site can also be faster and sometimes avoid the need for anesthesia which is in itself dangerous for the cats.  We would also like to improve our food preparation building.  We feed over 500 pounds of food daily, with many different diets required by different animals.  This is done out of cramped quarters that are aging and need to be expanded and improved.

More for our Visitors  Other amenities for our staff and visitors that we would like to add over time are a few offices, a larger gift shop and some kind of food service for visitors.  We would also like to create limited access to the sanctuary from the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.  This nature path for walkers, joggers etc. runs along our perimeter and the sanctuary could provide a wonderful enhancement to that experience.   Further, we hope to add more cabins for our overnight Expedition visitors and some longer stay units that could house veterinary and conservation interns from around the world who visit us to learn about how to care for the big cats.  With these improvements we hope to generate more revenue to be able to support the cats.

Thanks to Bruce Kaschyk and Kevin Mineer at The Genesis Group for donating their time and expertise to developing this plan.  Thank you Ted Taub for representing us before the B.O.C.C. and for your personal testimony as to the nature of our facility.  Thank you Howie Baskin for bringing life to this vision and for coordinating the supporters throughout the process.

On behalf of the cats, we thank all of you for whatever effort you were able to make to support our cause.

Many thanks to:  Susan Crawford Crutchfield, Megan Newman, RaeAnna Saks, Brian Czarnik, Diane Roger, Jean E. Lauders-Acherman, Shellie Goldsmith, Jerry and Judy Goldman, Cheryl Alden,  Kimberly Lugo, Stephen, Lock, Lauren & Penny Davis, Den 7, Pack 217, Mary Anne Nowak, Susan C. Moore, Amber Bean, Sheri A. King, Robert Sweeney, Paula Porter Sweeney, Corinna Wiercinski, Margaret E. Ward, Marion Bochner, Mary P. Weizmann, Bess Anderson and her class,  Lynda Sugasa, Lea Josselyn, Dennis Mitchell, Laura J. Webster, Christy Anderson,  Dana F. Hakes, Susan Sherwood, Aretta & Eric Baumgartner, Bernadette Bodnar, Anissa Camp, Jessica Hosford, Cynthia Montayre, Carol Childs, Karen MacNeill, Ronald D. Mengarelli, M.A., Donald Borrelli, Kay L. Mummerow, M.S., M.A., C.A.S., Jolean MacPherson, Linda Hamilton, Debbie Knight, Shannon Dell, Leanne Voiland, Jon Williams, David & Jacqueline Durfee, Emory & Jill Hopper, Richard N. Blank, LeeAnn E. Day, Eleanor Lawton-Sebert, Sherry Purser, Merrilu Cole, Mr. & Mrs. Lynn E. Sherwood, Betty Keefe, Carol Smith, Rachel Taback, Cecil C. Aird, M.D., Martin L. Schaffel, John Mitchell, Marianne Hall, Ann Copur Schell, Jack & Caprice Moore, Bonnie-Jean Creais & Richard Esposito, Raina Trevenna, Margaret Thatcher, Sheila Mays, Jill & Kyle Williams, Margaret Goodson, Lind Archipov, Linda & Don Azbell, Val Dejkunchorn, Susan Mitchell, Cathleen M. Neumann, Carolyn Thompson, Jamie Veronica, Carolyne Clendinen, Jennifer Rusyczyk, Scott Lope, Kari DeBoskey, Marcy Sennott, Rebecca Gagliardo, Kym A. Marzal, Daniel Capiro, Pamela M. Schaible, Veronica C. Wald, Rajaraman Jayakrishnan, Ph.D., Sandra Flores, Matthew Ruszczyk, Edianna Bayona, Ebe Bower, Mary Lou Geis, Beth Ann Bluder, Elizabeth R. Wynn, DVM, Shawn Turner, Russ Elliott, Keith Kent, Danielle Elliott, Janet Fialka M.S. E.D., Manuel Figueroa, Mary L. Price, David Scott Lillis and T. Candace Lillis, Margaret Goodson.
We especially want to thank all of you who came to the Jan. 12 and February 24th hearings and showed your support.

New Gate

They say first impressions say so much. If that is true, then we are glad our newest addition tells a tale of how much we value the appearance of our sanctuary, the safety and well-being of our big cats and guests as well as have the support of generous donors like you. 8 feet of wrought iron and about a 15k price tag raised from the Catter-Wall project fund has come together to create a stunning new entrance gate. We have struggled for years with a flimsy,slow, and unreliable chain link fence as our entry way. Now, we have a secure, beautiful, and strong gate.  The lions were originally going to be placed at the front gate, but are now guarding the memorial gardens where our cats are remembered forever.

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Big Cat Rescue is an educational sanctuary and a home for more than 100 big cats  12802 Easy St. Tampa, FL 33625 813.920.4130 Info@BigCatRescue.org