Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary

Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary

By Darcie Duttweiler Friday, 22 August 2008

Abused, neglected and retired animals find a place to rest.

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!” The Austin Zoo and Sanctuary has more than 300 animals, including the ones that frightened Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.”

With 90 percent of the zoo’s animals coming from rescue situations, this number is always increasing.

“We have an ever-expanding animal selection,” said Patti Clark, the zoo’s board president. “We get calls every day to take in animals.”

While the zoo has many rescued animals, it is more than a petting farm. Besides the peacocks and chickens roaming the premises, the zoo also boasts black bears, bobcats, lions, cougars and lemurs.

Each animal has its own story. Most of the monkeys were rescued from laboratories where they were being used for testing. Two of the Bengal tigers were found wandering near Town Lake, and two were confiscated from drug dealers.

“We operate more as an animal sanctuary that is open to the public,” Clark said. “All the animals will live out the rest of their natural lives here.”

Austin Zoo had humble beginnings, starting as a goat ranch in the 1980s. In 1990, it became the Good Day Ranch, which catered to animals in need, mostly goats, pigs, fallow deer, donkeys and ponies. By 1994, the name changed to the Austin Zoo and Sanctuary to reflect the many exotic rescued and donated animals it houses.

In 2000, the zoo became a nonprofit organization. It has no affiliation with a city or county like most zoos, and it receives no funding from a government entity.

While gift shop sales and admissions provide money to compensate zoo staff, run the office and pay for the vet care, food and upkeep of animals, help is always needed.

“We are constantly in need of public contributions and volunteers,” Clark said.

Volunteers do not work directly with the animals, but they do help in other ways, such as trail building and renovations, chopping food for animals and cleaning.

“Everything besides animal contact is done by volunteers,” Clark said.

Clark, who has a day job in residential real estate, has been an active member in nonprofit and fundraising work for more than 25 years. In addition to running the zoo, she also helps with P.A.W.S. (Protection for Animal Welfare Services) in Kyle.

“I’ve always been an animal person,” Clark said.

The zoo sits on only 14 out of its 42 acres, leaving a lot more room for expansion, a goal the zoo is always working towards.

“Our long-term plans are to enlarge and build additional enclosures as we increase funds to serve more animals,” Clark said.

To volunteer or donate, call 288-1490.

Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary, 10807 Rawhide Trail, 288-1490, www.austinzoo.org