Big Cat Rescue at HSUS Animal Care Expo

This year’s HSUS Animal Care Expo officially wraps up tomorrow afternoon but Big Cat’s participation ends tonight as Thursday is dedicated to workshops. It has been an exhausting yet thrilling week. I have never been so proud to represent my place of work, my professional home – my big cat family.

The week started on Sunday with Big Cat Rescue joining as the newest member of the National Council for Animal Protection [NCAP] at the Summit for the Animals, a meeting for leaders of the animal protection movement. Founded in 1985, NCAP works to help its many member organizations achieve their individual and collective goals to improve the treatment and status of all animals. This is just another one of Big Cat’s many efforts to collaborate and create coalitions for the betterment of all animals.

It is with that mindset of collaboration and working as a community of animal advocates that Wayne Pacelle greeted Expo attendees at Monday’s Welcome Session with a message of unity. In addition to speaking of the need for those in the shelter community (public and private) to work together, he spoke of the greater need for our voices to extend to ALL animals that are exploited in this country – from farm animals to lab rabbits, puppy mill dogs to captive exotics. Big Cat Rescue is especially grateful for Wayne’s attention to the abuses of captive big cats in roadside attractions and pseudo sanctuaries across this country.

I have spoken to so many amazing people this week – my eyes well up just thinking about the compassion that filled the halls. So many supporters visiting our booth to say thank you and ask how they can help more, and even more new supporters shocked to learn of the issues and motivated to get involved. Countless opportunities to educate, inform, and re-think norms.

Jennifer Leon – Director of Outreach for Big Cat Rescue