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PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.
Since 1984
| | Newsletter | February 2026 | | Tigers at PAWS: From Exploitation to Sanctuary | | |
The suffering of captive wild animals for the sake of entertainment – in circuses, roadside zoos, and the exotic pet trade – drives our mission to rescue these animals, provide lifetime sanctuary, and work to end their exploitation.
By far, the largest number of animals rescued by PAWS have been tigers. In 2004, we undertook the historic Colton tiger rescue – the largest of its kind at the time – saving 39 neglected, sick, and starving animals from a facility that once profited from tiger cub photo sessions. Their care at the sanctuary spanned 16 years.
The eight tigers we currently care for at PAWS came from operations that bred and/or used big cats for cub encounters (petting, handling, and photo opportunities).
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Like Bigelow, Morris, Nimmo, and Rosemary, rescued in 2017 from a defunct roadside zoo in Colorado.
Herman and Falcor – featured in the Tiger King docu-series – were later seized by authorities from an Oklahoma roadside zoo in 2021 where big cats suffered extreme neglect. They were among 68 large felids removed and placed at reputable sanctuaries.
| | Last year, our newest resident, Meg, was among more than 300 animals seized by state officials from the West Coast Game Park Safari in Oregon due to serious animal welfare violations. The facility had offered cub petting until passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act in 2022 prohibited cub encounters and private ownership of big cats nationwide. | | |
In 2024, California authorities seized Cleo (pictured) from a roadside menagerie, where she was suffering from a debilitating bone disease caused by improper nutrition. This facility had a history of offering cub encounters.
Today, these tigers are thriving at PAWS. With expansive habitats, specialized veterinary care, and the ability to choose how they spend their days, they are finally able to live more naturally.
But the fight for tigers and other big cats isn’t over. A new bill introduced in Congress would weaken the Big Cat Public Safety Act’s critical protections. See the next item to learn how you can help.
| | Action Needed: The Big Cat Public Safety Act Is Under Attack! | | |
The Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) – the landmark law that shut down cruel cub petting operations and ended private ownership of big cats – is under threat. A dangerous new bill introduced in Congress would roll back these critical protections.
The misleadingly named “Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026” (H.R. 7159) would:
· Increase breeding, private ownership, and exploitation of big cats
· Allow commercial trade in these animals, including by “exotic animal dealers" currently restricted under the BCPSA
Despite its name, this bill does nothing to protect “local” zoos. Instead, it rewards wildlife profiteers while undermining big cat welfare and public safety.
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Take action now – and thank you if you already have!
1. Call and/or email your federal representative and urge them to oppose H.R. 7159. Find your U.S. representative at https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative. Visit their website for contact information and to send your message.
2. Spread the word. Ask family, friends, and colleagues to join you in taking action.
Sample message (please personalize):
Re: Oppose H.R. 7159, the Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026
Dear Representative [Name],
I am your constituent and I care deeply about the welfare of captive big cats. I urge you to oppose H.R. 7159, misleadingly titled the “Protecting Local Zoos Act of 2026.”
This bill would weaken the bipartisan Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) passed in 2022 – a commonsense law that protects communities and prevents the cruelty inherent in the private big cat trade.
H.R. 7159 does nothing to protect local zoos. Instead, it would:
· Reopen the door to uncontrolled breeding and untraceable big cat trade
· Allow “middlemen” exotic animals dealers to breed, buy, and resell big cats
· Create a loophole that could enable private ownership
The Big Cat Public Safety Act has already reduced the risk of dangerous encounters involving big cats. Rolling back the Act's safeguards would put public safety, animal welfare, and years of progress at risk.
I strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 7159.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
| | February is black bear Mack’s birthday month – he’s 11 years old! Mack is an orphaned wild-born bear who came to PAWS as a yearling in 2016. Happy birthday to a very special bear! | | Advocacy Works - California Mountain Lions Protected! | | |
This month, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted to list six isolated mountain lion populations in Southern California and the Central Coast as threatened under the state’s Endangered Species Act.
As a result, more than 1,400 of these elusive wild cats – ranging from the Bay Area to the U.S.-Mexico border – now have permanent legal protections. (Hunting remains illegal for all mountain lions in California.) These specific populations faced heightened risk due to fragmented and diminishing habitat, loss of gene flow, rat poison, and disease.
This victory is a powerful reminder that public engagement matters. Thank you to everyone who responded to our urgent social media alert and spoke up for mountain lions in California.
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Save the Date!
2026 PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference This October
Get ready to be energized, informed, and inspired! The PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference—the only conference of its kind—will take place in Sacramento, California, October 2-3, with an optional trip to the PAWS sanctuary on October 4.
Joined by leading voices for elephants, marine mammals, bears, big cats, and other wild animals, we’ll examine critical issues, confront the challenges that remain, and advocate for real change.
More details coming soon—save the date!
| | Education Opportunities at PAWS | | |
Seeing the Elephants
PAWS offers educational guided tours of our sanctuary designed to provide meaningful insight into our work and the animals in our care. For more information about upcoming dates, please contact Kim Gardner, PAWS Director of Programs, at 916-539-5305 (call or text) or email kimkleingardner@yahoo.com.
For College Classes
We invite college professors and their classes to participate in our special “Wild Animals in Captivity: Exploring the Interface Between Humans and Wildlife” program, held at the sanctuary. Through this unique educational experience, students gain insight into the natural biology and behavior of the wild animals we care for at PAWS, while examining the complex issues surrounding captive wildlife. For more information, please contact Catherine Doyle, PAWS Director of Science, Research and Public Policy, at cdoyle@pawsweb.org.
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Did you know that you can help the animals at
PAWS with just a few clicks?
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Our Amazon Wish List includes items we use every day at the sanctuary, such as health supplements, food, batteries, and other essentials.
By purchasing directly from the list, you support PAWS and help give the animals the best care possible.
Click here to see needed items and make your purchase!
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Thank You to Our February Amazon Wish List Donors:
Nancy Gordon: four packages of N95 Face Masks, 20pk. Susan Nickerson: one bottle of Cardio Strength, 90#. David Cortese: one bottle of Cardio Strength, 90#; one bag of Kidney Support Supplement, 1lb; one bag of Dried Blueberries, 1lb. Kathleen Elwell: one bottle of AminAvast, 60#. Linda Boitano: one bottle of Cardio Strength, 90#; one package of N95 Face Masks, 20pk. Maureen Moss: one bag of Almonds, 4lbs; one bag of Pecans, 2lbs. Lia Marquez: one bottle of AminAvast, 60#; one bottle of Cardio Strength, 90#; one box of AA Batteries, 48pk. Nelson Hay: Hay delivery. Galen Hazelhofer: one bottle of AminAvast, 60#. Lia Marquez: one package of N95 Face Masks, 20pk. Bobbe Knoller: one bottle of Cardio Strength, 90#. Debbie Larkin: one box of AA Batteries, 48pk; two bags of Dried Peaches, 2lbs; seven bags of Blueberries, 1lb; three packages of N95 Face Masks, 20pk. Maureen Moss: one bag of Brazil Nuts, 3lbs. E. Wheeler & J.M. Thompson: one package of N95 Face Masks, 20pk. Shaw Law Group: Legal services. Anonymous: three Sunshades; one pack of Energizer AA Batteries, 48pk; one set of Midland GMRS two-way Radios; one bag of Pecans, 5lbs.
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Ben
PAWS provides lifetime care to the tigers, bears, elephants, and other animals who call our sanctuary home. Your kind support provides expert daily care, necessary veterinary treatments, and specialized nutritional support, all tailored to the individual needs of each animal. Your gifts make this excellent care possible.
| | There are many ways you can help PAWS animals: | | |
Donate. Although we work closely with regulatory agencies on animal rescues, PAWS receives no government funding and must rely on your donations to continue our work. When you make a contribution for the wild animals at PAWS, it is unlike any other. How many people can say they’ve gifted elephants with spacious rolling hills and a more natural life, or made a present of a lush, tree-filled habitat for a tiger? Or given a bear a new chance at life? And you ensure we are prepared for the next wild animal in dire need of rescue. Three ways to give and every donation matters.
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PAWS is proud of its 4-star rating with Charity Navigator - the highest rating possible. We are part of an elite group of charities with an "exceptional" designation (at least four consecutive years of 4-star ratings), meaning that your gift will have the greatest impact possible. CharityWatch gives PAWS an "A" rating.
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Give to one of PAWS' ongoing MightyCause campaigns: Our "Dollars for Dirt" or "Give BIG for PAWS' Elephants" fundraisers for the elephants, like Prince (pictured), or our "Help Captive Tigers" fundraiser to benefit the rescued tigers living at our ARK 2000 sanctuary.
Adopt A PAWS Animal. If you would like to help our animals, one of the best ways is to become an "adoptive parent," or give a PAWS adoption as a gift to an animal lover in your life. PAWS adoptions are symbolic adoptions only. No animal will be sent! Learn more
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PAWS Amazon Wish List. We have chosen specific items that are needed at the sanctuary, which you can purchase directly from Amazon. Many items are ongoing. The list is always current! View here.
EBAY Giving Works. Visit PAWS eBay page to view our current listings and to bid. List your items on EBAY and choose PAWS as your charity. Donate a percentage of each sale to the animals. Visit our EBAY charity listing page here. Start selling or buying!
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Shop online through IGive and raise money for PAWS! Up to 26% of your purchase - at more than 1,600 retailers - can be donated to PAWS. Learn more
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