What is a Wildlife Sanctuary?

A wildlife sanctuary is a place of refuge where abused, injured and abandoned captive wildlife may live in peace and dignity for the remainder of their lives.

True wildlife sanctuaries do not breed or exploit for commercial activites (including, but not limited to: use of animals for entertainment or sport, sale or trade of animals, their offspring or animal parts and by-products.)

A true sanctuary respects the integrity of individual animals, providing safe, healthy, and secure refuge in enclosures specifically designed for the unique animals whom they support.

Experts estimate that there are about 1,200 exotic animal facilities which provide the barest minimum of care for thousands of animals with little or no knowledge of animals’ nutritional or behavioral needs. These facilities often breed animals to provide cute babies as an attraction for public display and for sale, and many depend on public sale of “treats” for the animals as the major source of food.

These facilities often function as the end-of-the-line for surplus animals who can no longer earn dollars for mainstream zoos, circuses, traveling shows and exotic pets. They often call themselves “sanctuaries” while they continue to breed and exploit the animals in their care.  “Pseudo-sanctuaries” are really a part of the animal industry but attempt to cover themselves with the positive “sanctuary” label, using their animals as fund-raising tools with appearances on television shows to plead for funds or displaying them for photo sessions at shopping malls and fund-raising events.

At PAWS, rescued animals live in peaceful and natural habitats, free from fear, chains and harsh confinement. Individually designed enclosures encourage natural behavior and dedicated keeping staff monitor the animals 24/7, 365 days a year.

No true sanctuary should be involved in breeding or commercial exploitation of the animals in its care. PAWS’ animals are not bred, traded, sold, rented or forced to perform. With the exception of a limited number of planned educational and fundraising events held annually, PAWS ARK 2000 sanctuary is not open to the public.