Caring for abandoned rabbits and wildlife across North Texas
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Category — WildRescue Success Stories

WildRescue partners with SPCA to rescue US Global Exotics animals

by Diana

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There was big news here in north Texas this January and February.  27,000 animals were found in terrible conditions at US Global Exotics in Arlington, Texas.  The animals were starving, being held in putrid containers, were given no medical care, and many were left for dead or dying.  There is a Federal warrant out for the arrest of Jason Shaw, owner of US Global.

Prairie dogs sleep in their temporary enclosure at SPCA of Texas

Prairie dogs sleep in their temporary enclosure at SPCA of Texas. Click the image to view a slide show, courtesy of Examiner.com, of some of the animals waiting for rescue at the SPCA.

We at WildRescue felt there was no choice; we had to help these suffering animals in any way possible.  This occurred right in our own backyard, and we knew we could help place many of the mammals and reptiles in good homes. The SPCA of Texas acted as holding grounds and a triage center for these animals, many of which numbered in the hundreds — some in the thousands — per species.  There were almost 5,000 hamsters alone – Robos, Russian dwarves, Winter Whites and Chinese.  Due to sexes mingling, there were even moms with babies.  The nation’s species-specific rescues, zoos, and sanctuaries answered the call and claimed every single animal, down to the very last mouse, for placement in homes.  These animals will never again suffer, never again go hungry, and will finally know that a human’s touch can actually mean compassion and care. It’s what we are supposed to do as humans — and that’s why we joined with the SPCA on behalf of the animals.

Winter White hamsters inspect Diana's hand

Winter White hamsters inspect Diana's hand. Click the image to view a slideshow of photos from our long days transporting animals from the SPCA to their new foster homes.

We are so proud of PETA for going undercover and giving these animals a chance at survival. So proud of the SPCA of Texas for taking on the daunting task of holding all of these animals, setting up appropriate environments, getting experts in to counsel and help (even from as far as the UK), volunteers to care ’round the clock, and so much more. And we are also proud of PETCO for stepping up, as they have always done, to help find a solution in the placement of the animals we take on. Although our initial placement plan with PETCO did not work, all is still good. We will be offering our animals for adoption though our group, as will all of the other rescue groups involved in this huge undertaking, and you will be able to find our available animals both here on our website, as well as at Petfinder and Adopt-A-Pet.

A very big thank you goes to WildRescue’s volunteers who rushed in to help set things up here at the Rescue and in foster homes.  Bins and bedding were purchased, appropriate air holes drilled in containers, transportation planned, and so many phone calls made.  Many of our volunteers worked 18+ hour days, working to the point of exhaustion to get the animals where they needed to be.  We have the best group of volunteers anyone could ever ask for.  And it’s all worth it to see these animals fat and happy, sleeping soundly, finally able to relax and feel comfortable in their homes.

If you can donate, foster, or would like to adopt any of the animals in our custody at the Rescue, please let us know.  Donations can be made through the Paypal link at the top right of our Web site, or may be sent by mail to the address listed here.

White's tree frogs sit comfortably in their new terrarium at a foster home.

White's tree frogs sit comfortably in their new terrarium at a foster home.

Below are links to other rescue groups that opened their hearts and homes to give these animals a second chance at life.  Please visit their websites and consider donating to their organizations in any way you can.

  • International Prairie Dog Rescue, right here in north Texas, rescued over 40 prairie dogs, some of whom were in critical condition upon arrival. Donations can be made through our Paypal link. Be sure to leave a comment before processing your donation that you intend this money to go to Prairie Dog Rescue.
  • NOLA Chinchilla Rescue saved 70 chinchillas.
  • Texas Rustlers Guinea Pig Rescue bailed out over 250 hamsters and gerbils, as well as all of the short-haired guinea pigs.
  • The Hedgehog Welfare Society took in over 700 hedgehogs.
  • Texas Ferret Lovers Rescue took in dozens of ferrets, all of whom needed medical care, some quite extensive.
  • SPCA of Texas is accepting donations for all of the wonderful care they gave these needy animals.
  • PETA is accepting donations to help further their work.

February 23, 2010   No Comments

Zola the Bobcat

by Diana

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Meet Zola, Queen of the Jungle!

She was found by a firefighter in west Texas where a fire had destroyed thousands of acres of land. Her mom and brothers did not make it through the fire, but he found her there crouched next to their bodies. He scooped her up, scared and fur singed and brought her back to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. That’s when we were contacted. Zola arrived still frightened, cold and smelling of forest fire. We gave her a bath, (ever try giving a baby bobcat a bath??) and dried her as much as she would let us. Snuggled into her new “home”, replete with toys, litter box and beanie baby bobcat, we fed her food that she was not accustomed to, but would get used to while she was in captivity. Bobcats have very small mouths, so her food had to be cut into teeny pieces so that she could chew and swallow. She dove into her dinner, a paw on each side of the plate demonstrating her possessive nature towards her “kill”. We then watched in horror as she demolished the beanie baby and hid under her other toys. Zola was only 4-5 weeks old at that point in time. We watched as she grew and zoomed around the rehab room pretending to chase down and capture “prey”. We knew that soon she would have to go to a larger environment specifically made for bobcats. When Zola was 12+ weeks old, vaccinated and beautiful, we transferred her to a sanctuary in Kendalia, Texas. She joined other orphaned/abandoned bobcats just like her, and she integrated splendidly. She and the others were released onto several thousand acres of protected lands where they could live their lives free and safe. We miss Zola, and were honored to care for her – even if it was for such a short time. She epitomized joie de vivre, and no, we did not let her chase the baby bunnies. 

May 26, 2009   No Comments

WildRescue Success Story: Terrance

by Diana

 

Terrance

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After a long day of running around and picking up wildlife from this animal control and another (Rick and Lynn were doing the same, Karen was out on a call), a call came in from a lady in Richardson. She has a bunny, and was out walking her chocolate lab. Her lab, being a big bud to their own bunny, pulled hard at the leash and whimpered, asking her to go over to the fence around the corner. Along the fence lay this poor creature, on his side, covered in mud and grime, with ears so infected by ear mites all he could do was close his eyes in pain.  This lady picked him up, carried him home, and found me. She met me in Little Elm and I had my emergency kit ready. He got pain relief, a shot of antibiotic and a shot of ivermectin, to kill the mites.  He was debilitated for nearly a week.

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This is Terrance today.  Happily hopping around the bunny yard, as normal as can be.  It’s situations like this that remind us why we do what we do here at WildRescue, and success stories like Terrance’s keep hope alive for all the animals out there in need of help from kind humans.

April 5, 2009   No Comments

WildRescue Success Story: Amy the Armadillo

by Diana

Amy the Armadillo was a total joy to have bouncing and snuffling around our facility! She came in weighing a total of 158 grams — just a newborn bouncing baby! Thanks to information received from a rehabilitation center in the Beaumont area of Texas we were able to stabilize, nourish and create an appropriate environment for this pink-shelled little girl. We searched the area for another rehabilitator who might have some baby armies, and almost 3 weeks after intake Amy went to live with “cousins” and be released way out in the hills of Texas away from guns and cars. Go Amy! 

April 5, 2009   No Comments

WildRescue Success Story: Zsa Zsa

by Diana

Zsa Zsa, an American Mink — eyes closed and approximately 5 days old — came to WildRescue thanks to a quick-thinking Petco employee and Lynn, who dashed off to pick up the baby and bring her to us as quickly as possible. She was a total joy to have here and as she stabilized and received nourishment and warmth, showed us all how incredible and awesome nature is!  Zsa Zsa was transferred to a rehabilitator who could finish raising/releasing her in a natural environment. The mink is uncommon here in Texas and its habitat is severely threatened.

April 5, 2009   No Comments

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