April 21 2019

Big Cat Updates

Interns had a special Easter treat.
A special video from Carole
Big cats getting Easter eggs video
Viewers raised $9,959.93 on Facebook Fundraisers for the cats in the first last half of March 2019!
Big Cat Rescue Giving Day is May 2, 2019! Early donations have started. This year there is a matching fund for $30,000. Your early donation at https://bigcatrescue.salsalabs.org/2019givingday/index.html can help us win those funds for the cats.

Alexa Flash Briefing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtGDeNeUsts

In case you have missed previous days’ news briefings you can find them all at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCPv8ivo6o4CZHFifkfRYDw

Coordinator Report – 2 days

April 21, 2019 – Lynda Licht – I hope everyone had a joyous Easter and/or Passover. We had a small skeleton crew of volunteers today on this holiday. Many thanks to Mai Richardson, Deidra Ritchie, Mike Surdyk, Jennifer Ruszczyk, Rebecca Williams, and MC Streator for being here – you guys were awesome and so productive today. There were just a few of us, but all cats were fed, meds administered, enclosures cleaned, etc etc…

Meanwhile, in the gift shop Edith Parker, Karma Hurworth, Jennie Jamison, Amanda Wright, Erica Forbes, and Marilyn Halpin were handling sales, tours, and our guests who were sharing their holiday with us. Oh, and Barbara Nicholas was here again on a Sunday doing a private tour.

We are down to four interns so they spent the majority of the day on tours. Tanya Chute observed new red shirt, Bhrielle Vasquez giving her first solo tour – YAY!! Brooklynne Dillon, Christina Cochard, and Ashley Tait covered the other tours as needed and also got food prep done with some help from me.

Thanks to Kathyrn Stapleton for feeding with me and covering PM meds tonight. She’s the Energizer bunny – just keeps going and going.

Too busy, today, to take photos and unfortunately no time for projects.
Ciao – Lynda Licht

Karma Hurworth said, “Also shout out to Edith Parker who put together a fun Easter egg hunt for the interns!”

Lynda Licht said, “YES!!! I’m sad that I couldn’t come down to participate. Thanks, Edith!!”

April 20, 2019 – Becky Gagliardo – What a great day we had today. Weather was great, we had lots of Keepers to get things done. Want to thank Jeanine, Barbara, Amanda, Andrew, Jen, Matt, Babs, Maureen, Sarah, Kristen, Mary, Lacy and Jen, and Darren Holley for all their hard work today. The interns and partners did a great job as usual.

Amanda’s platform got fixed, Smalls ramp was replaced, Kali and Priya’s open-air enclosures got mowed and we got lots of sticks and branches picked up around the sanctuary. We did some feeding, operant and Enrichment sign-offs as well. Maureen and Babs cleaned up the Enrichment Barn and I heard it looks great. Some pics from today. Working on the truck, cleaning out the enrichment barn and Andi bobcat loving on her food tray(Andi pic taken by Mary Jerome)

Coordinator Report photos are posted at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.461910667880312

Carole Baskin Interview for Native Society

In this video, Carole talks about her history, the sanctuary’s history, what we are doing now and some of the things she sees, plans, and hopes for the future.

Carole says, “When asked to answer the following questions, I decided to record the answers instead of typing them out.”

Find more at http://thenativesociety.com/ Native Advice Questions
1. How did you get into the industry?
2. Any emerging industry trends?
3. Any industry opportunities or challenges?
4. Inspiration for the business idea, and your vision for the Business?
5. What’s next for the Business in the near future?
6. Your key initiatives for the success of the Business?
7. Your most difficult moment at the Business? (and what did you learn?)
8. Ideal experience for a customer/client?
9. How do you motivate others?
10. Career advise to those in your industry?

Facebook Fundraisers & Live Video Donations 3/16 to 3/31

W@W!! W@W!! W@W!! THANK YOU!!!!! Between March 16, 2019, and March 31, 2019, several of you did Facebook Fundraisers and/ donated on our Facebook LIVE videos and raised $9,959.93!! That feeds one tiger for a month!! WAY TO GO!!!! GREAT JOB!!!

Facebook Fundraisers & Donaions on LIVE Videos — Facebook Fundraisers & Donations on LIVE Videos

The sanctuary needs to raise approximately four million dollars per year so your Facebook Fundraisers are a HUGE HELP!!! We cannot even begin to say THANK YOU BIG ENOUGH!!!

If you would like to set up a special Facebook Fundraiser for your favorite cat at the sanctuary contact LaWanna at lawanna.mitchell@bigcatrescue.org to request photos to use in your Facebook Fundraiser and ask for any help you might need. Or, here is the link to set up your Facebook Fundraiser; it is super easy to do. https://www.facebook.com/fund/bigcatrescue/

HEADS UP – Special Event coming in May 2019

If you set up a Facebook Fundraiser during the month of May 2019 and raise at least $50 you will receive a beautiful keepsake photo postcard with four of the AR ZOO photos on it. These are the photos that come alive with video with you point your phone at them.

If your fundraiser reaches $75 you will receive a keychain with two of the AR Zoo photos on it. Those photos will also come alive with videos when you point your phone at your keychain.

More details will follow soon.

Videos of the Day

Easter 2018 – Easter Eggs + Big Cats = FUNNY – Regular #Enrichment is so important to the cats’ overall health. Keeping the cats’ minds and bodies busy is one of our biggest challenges. We have been blessed with an #AMAZING team of extremely creative volunteers who dedicate a lot of time to making enrichment goodies for the cats. Today, I’d like to extend a HUGE ROAR and CHUFF to this amazing team who pour their hearts into making Enrichment for the cats. In their honor, I made the Calls of the Wild today and I am asking you to do that as well. BigCatAct.com

Merchandise of the Day

Vintage Crystal Butterfly Brooch – Help Save Big Cats and Look Amazing doing it! Anything you purr-chase on CatRescue.biz goes toward legislative efforts to make better laws for captive Big Cats!