YOUR DONATIONS CAN BE MATCHED! 

The Money Will Give BRUTUS our 900 Pound Liger a NEW Habitat

Here’s How To Give….March 5 at 7 a.m. to March 6 at 7 p.m.

1.  Visit GivingPartnerChallenge.org
2. Go to “Find an organization”
3. Then click on “animal related”
4. Choose Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary as your Charity
5. With a credit card you can make a Secure Online Donation.
6. Your Gift will help Big Cat Habitat Share in more than $645,000 in Matching and Challenge SUPPORT.

Brutus the Liger

SARASOTA, Fla., Feb. 21, 2013 – Big Cat Habitat is giving parents a break during Sarasota and Manatee county schools’ spring break by letting one child age 12 or younger in free when accompanied by a parent from Saturday, Mar. 9, through Sunday, Mar. 17.  Daily hours are 12:30 to 4:00 p.m.  Visitors can see the exotic and other animals at the sanctuary and at the petting zoo.  A fun and educational animal demonstration will be held daily at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $7 for additional children 12 and under.

Refreshments also are available.  For more information and to check daily hours before visiting, see www.BigCatHabitat.org/calendar or call 941-371-6377.

What is the 36-Hour Giving Challenge

It is an online giving event providing donors the opportunity to learn more about nonprofits and their causes in the Sarasota area.  Matching funds and special grants totaling more than $600,000 are available to 501 (c)(3) nonprofits as incentives during this short, exciting period of time.  Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is partnering with the 36-Hour Giving Challenge.

Visit our profile at www.thegivingpartner.org.

Here’s How To Give….March 5 at 7 a.m. to March 6 ‘at 7 p.m.

1.  Visit GivingPartnerChallenge.org
2. Go to “Find an organization”
3. Then click on “animal related”
4. Choose Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary as your Charity
   
5. With a credit card you can make a Secure Online Donation.

WHY Donate? Brutus Needs a New Home!

To partner directly with Big Cat Habit and Gulf Coast Sanctuary to create a NEW habitat for Brutus, the 900 plus pound Liger (father – a lion & mother – a tiger).  Brutus is three and a half years old.  He will continue to grow until his 5^th birthday.  At that time he should weight between 1200 to 1300 pounds.  Brutus needs your help to make this a reality, please,

DONATE..minimum donations are $25.00 to have your name posted on the Leaderboard.  Smaller contributions can be sent by check to Big Cat Habitat, 7101 Palmer Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34240.

When You Can Help

The online Giving Event will take place from 7 a.m. on Tuesday, March 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2013.  Anyone who wishes to participate will be able to make a secure donation to Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary by debit or credit card.

Where: Donate Online

Access the 36-Hour Giving Challenge through a link on The Giving Partner website at www.thegivingpartner.org directly through the Challenge site at www.givingpartnerchallenge.org.  It is not possible to donate on the Challenge website until 7:00 a.m. on March 5.

Who is Matching Donations & Giving Grants?

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Patterson Foundation are presenting partners in the Challenge, with support from sponsors Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Manatee Community Foundation, Charlotte Community Foundation and the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation.  These Foundations are providing the matching 1:1 grants and the special grants throughout the Giving Challenge.

Thanks to several intelligent geeks and nerds creating humor on the web there are many funny and fantastic lion and tiger memes out there. Here are just a few, for your enjoyment:

We are starting a new series on Big Cat today. We are going to start showing you some fantastic and humorous images of the different species of animals we love. As cute and funny as all animals are, they still need us to fight for their survival. Today we start with LEMUR humor.

Our afternoon hours will remain in place until June 2013! So, please come and enjoy the cooler weather with the animals at Big Cat Habitat!

(941) 371-6377
Habitat Address:
7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34240

Big Cat Habitat will host the family friendly Wild-O-Ween this Saturday and Sunday from 4:00pm-6:30pm. Kids in Costume enter for FREE!

There will be a “not so scary” Costume Contest, Pony Rides, a TP mummy wrap contest, fun games, and food and drink available.

See lions, tigers, LIGERS, bears, chimpanzees, a petting zoo and so much more! For more information please visit www.bigcathabitat.org or call (941)371-6377.

The Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary will be closed on Sunday, August 26th. We hope all of our neighbors and our state remain safe throughout the storm.

For more information on Isaac visit Weather.com and the National Hurricane Center.

Save the Date! Thursday, October 4, 2012 from 3 pm to 7 pm, Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary will celebrate our First Annual World Animal Day in collaboration with other local non-profit animal welfare organizations.

We will be celebrating animals through educating the public about our mission and the current issues facing animals both in our local and global communities.

Admission and parking are free; however we request that you please leave your pets at home.

Non-Profits That Have Confirmed to Attend:

• Animal Rescue Coalition, ARC
• Birds of Paradise
• Eagle Rescue
• Florida Parrot Rescue
• Gulf Shore Animal League
• Honor Animal Rescue
• Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch
• The Humane Society of Manatee County
• The Humane Society of Sarasota County
• Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
• Racing Dog Rescue Project
• Specialists for Animals Foundation, SAFI
• Sarasota County Animal Services
• Sarasota K-9 Search & Rescue
• Sarasota in Defense of Animals
• Satchel’s Last Resort
• The Wildlife Center of Venice
• Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center
• Southeastern Guide Dogs
• West Coast Aviary Rescue
• S.M.A.R.T
• Save Our Sea Birds
• Satchel’s Last Resort
• Sarasota Dove Release
• Sarasota Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol

We are still awaiting confirmation on others. We hope you can attend and will come support this important day! 

History of World Animal Day

World Animal Day, designated on October 4, has been historically celebrated since 1931 as a way of highlighting the plight of animals across the globe. Chosen on the date of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, it is currently celebrated in various ways throughout the world with no particular focus on nationality, religion, or political ideology. Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary (BCH) has chosen to celebrate our first annual World Animal Day as an educational forum.

Is Your Non-Profit Interested in Attending?

In collaboration with other local non-profit animal welfare organizations (exhibitors), we will be celebrating animals through educating the public about our mission and the current issues facing animals both in our local and global communities. We appreciate those partnering with us to do the same in a manner which will not only engage the public, but also benefit the animals their organization serves. Although this is not a fundraiser, it is a fabulous opportunity to gain tremendous exposure for your organization and increase awareness about your population’s issues.

For more information contact us at (941) 371-6377 . The event will be held at 7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota, FL.

BIG CAT HABITAT GIVES FREE ADMISSION TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES AS IT SWITCHES TO SUMMER HOURS

 SARASOTA, Fla., June 1, 2012 – Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, a nonprofit safe haven for big cats, bears and other animals in need, is now on its summer schedule, and during June and July, will give free admission to local law enforcement officers, firefighters and their immediate families to thank them for their service.   Sunset Safaris will be held Wednesday through Sunday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. through October.  Visitors can have an up-close view of the exotic and other animals at the sanctuary with special exotic animal encounters daily.  Admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under.  Check www.BigCatHabitat.org/Calendar for the most current information.

Sunset Safaris allow visitors to see the animals in the cooler hours when they are more active rather than during the hottest part of the day, said Kay Rosaire, president and founder of Big Cat Habitat.  No reservations are necessary, and parking is free.

Refreshments also are available.  More information and current schedules are available at www.BigCatHabitat.org or by calling 941-371-6377.