Catty Shack needs your help with food, donations

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary could really use your help.

Due to COVID-19, Catty Shack has had to suspend its weekly fundraisers, putting the nonprofit into a food emergency for the furry residents.

Curt LoGiudice, executive director of Catty Shack, has a bond with his big cats that is hard to miss.

“I have to say in one way we’re blessed, the care of the animals has not stopped, because we have volunteers and workers, and we’ll have the supplies necessary, but unfortunately what funds us is the revenue that visitors and donors give us and it has really come to a stop,” he said.

The 225-acre wildlife sanctuary is asking for the community’s help in providing 600 pounds of meat daily for the nearly 40 lions, tigers and other exotic big cats they rescued.

“They do eat a lot of food. There’s medical costs always continuing to go on,” LoGiudice said. “We’re a forever home for the animals so we have some elderly animals and they’re on daily medications just like people are on medications."

But like many charities in our community, they don’t receive government funding, grants and currently do not have any major corporate sponsors.

This comes as they break ground on new facilities, including a 5,000-square-foot education center and new bathrooms for visitors.

“Of course our construction, too, is halted a little bit because we don’t have the manpower to do it and, of course, those materials are hard to find," LoGiudice said.

Here are a variety of ways you can help:

· Donate money (any amount will help)

· Corporate Sponsorship (call Curt at Catty Shack)

· Amazon Wish List (Link on Facebook)

· Volunteer (18+ or family together)

Catty Shack will be open for self-guided tours only from 1-3 p.m. daily Social distancing will be practiced and guests are asked not to touch the fencing and to wash hands frequently.

This weekend, Catty Shack will also stream two night feedings on Facebook Live where they are asking people to make a donation or purchase an item off their Amazon wish list. During that time, they will also auction off art created by the tigers.

Click here for more information.

Tigers in particular are on top of the endangered species list, and Catty Shack does not buy, sell or breed. They are strictly a rescue facility.