Big Cat Rescue - Florida

ABOUT BIG CAT RESCUE

Big Cat Rescue, one of the world’s largest accredited sanctuaries for exotic cats, is a leading advocate in ending the abuse of captive big cats and saving wild cats from extinction.  We are home to about 80 lions, tigers, bobcats, cougars, servals and other species most of whom have been abandoned, abused, orphaned, saved from being turned into fur coats, or retired from performing acts.

• The sanctuary began rescuing exotic cats in Nov. 4, 1992.
• The non profit 501 c 3 sanctuary is home to about 80 exotic big cats
• Big Cat Rescue is caring for cats and ending the tradeThe cats at Big Cat Rescue are here for a variety of reasons, including:
  • Abandoned by owners who wrongly thought they would make good pets
  • Abused by owners in order to force them to perform
  • Retired from performing acts
  • Saved from being slaughtered to make fur coats
  • Rescued as babies after hunters killed their mothers.  See our Bobcat Rehab and Release work
• Big Cat Rescue has many species of cats, many of whom are threatened, endangered or extinct now in the wild, including:
  • Tigers, Lions, Leopards, Cougars, Bobcats, Lynx, Servals, Ocelots & Caracals
• The non-profit organization is:
  • Accredited by the Global Federation of Sanctuaries
  • Certified by Independent Charities of America as a “Best in America Charity”
  • Member of the World Society for Protection of Animals
  • Rated 4 Stars by Charity Navigator (their highest rating) and has one of the highest scores of any animal based charity
  • Part of a global coalition including HSUS, IFAW, WWF, GFAS, Born Free and other animal protection groups who are working together to end big cat abuse.
• The sanctuary is situated on 67 acres in the Citrus Park area of north Tampa.

INTERN PROGRAM

The Big Cat Rescue Intern Program consists of two distinct departments, Keepers and Partners, with diverse skill levels and responsibilities. These levels are designed to enhance intern strengths and meet the varied needs of the sanctuary. Unless otherwise specified, Interns will work in both departments. Interns begin in Partner training to learn tour guiding and guest relations, to better familiarize themselves with the mission of the sanctuary and the daily operations, and then advance into the Keeper training to learn animal husbandry. Much of the initial training consists of the basic knowledge needed to be a valued intern. As a trainee advances through the program the he or she will learn specific skills pertaining to a particular department. Big Cat Rescue can only accommodate a limited number of interns at any given time. Applications for internships are accepted year round. It is recommended that you apply no later than three months prior to your desired start date, but applications will be accepted anytime.

FEES & DEPOSITS

A $50 fee is required to be paid upon confirmation of the interview session. This non-refundable fee is for the cost of a criminal background check. A deposit of $300 must be submitted upon acceptance into the program. This deposit holds the internship slot and insures against failure to complete the requirements of the internship or damages to the radio, housings, or Big Cat Rescue property. Upon successful completion of the program, passing inspection of radio and housings, and not having damaged Big Cat Rescue property the intern will receive the deposit back. Fees and deposits are collected via credit card. The $300 deposit will not be returned to you if you; cancel your internship before it has started, do not show up on your scheduled start date, fail to successfully complete the internship, do not pass your housing inspections, do not return the radio in good working order, damage Big Cat Rescue property, leave the internship early, or are terminated from the internship due to breach of the Intern Orientation Contract.

If you would like to apply for the Big Cat Rescue Internship Program please complete the InternApplication on this link : and submit the below listed required documents. (Email the preferred method for submitting applications)

Your application packet must contain:

• InternApplication

• Resume

• Cover letter

• 3 Professional letters of recommendation. (No more than one teacher/professor please. References can be included in your application packet or emailed directly to intern1@bigcatrescue.org. Your reference may write a letter of recommendation or complete this form)

• A copy of your Driver’s License or Passport

Please send your application packet at least three months prior to the desired start date. Please provide all of the requested information in your application packet or your application will not be considered.

All the details about the intern program are available on this link :

http://bigcatrescue.org/get-involved/volunteer/intern/

Big Cat Rescue is caring for big cats and ending the trade.

Big Cat Rescue is the largest accredited sanctuary in the country dedicated entirely to abused and abandoned big cats. Big Cat Rescue is rated 4 Stars by Charity Navigator (their highest rating) and

http://bigcatrescue.org/

All the information about Big Cat Rescue can be found on their website

We didn't have the opportunity yet to go to Big Cat Rescue. However, we plan to go there when we are in Florida (probably in 2018). We will be glad to meet the team of this sanctuary with who we have already been in touch, and we hope we will be able to help them somehow on some specific project.