Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary, a care center for wild animals in need in Pershing County, is making sure the rescued wildlife there is ready for the summer heat. The newest resident, a snow leopard named Shree, is even getting a special air-conditioned den.
"All of our habitats for our big cats are 10,000 square feet, but hers is a little bit unique in that we are constructing a new den for her," said Lynda Sugasa, executive director and founder of the sanctuary. "She'll be the one and only Safe Haven resident that will require air conditioning."
All of the other animals here have plenty of ways to cool off as well. There are pools and misters for the other big cats and bears, and if it gets really hot - or really cold - there's a new building in place for that.
"We have our own on-site veterinary hospital with a large recovery area, and then our recent completion of an air-conditioned and heated building that has individual cages," Sugasa said. "So in the event you get triple-digit temperatures, you can move those black bears right in there and flip the switch."
There are contingency plans for disasters too; all the animals can be moved in smaller cages attached to each habitat.
"In the event we have to prepare for a wildfire evacuation, all of these large animal lockouts, and all the smaller ones, you can see that the animals are trained to go in there, and that makes it a lot easier for us because they're food-oriented and that is where they're fed, to get them in there, ready to evacuate."
To help make sure all these lions, tigers and bears are ready for fire season, a Reno art gallery is holding a fire sale.
"We're showcasing all of our wonderful art, custom framed, and we're offering it to you at 40% off for the first piece and 60% off the second piece," said Art Source Gallery owner Christel Citko.
Citko sits on the sanctuary's board, and all the proceeds from that art will help feed and care for the dozens of animals that now call this sanctuary home. And through the end of the year, all donations will be matched.
"We rely on public donations to support the sanctuary and we just had an amazing and exciting opportunity," Sugasa said. "One of our longtime donors is going to match us, dollar for dollar up to $300,000, through December 31. So we're really appealing to everybody; if you can donate this year, this is the time to do it."
Save Haven Wildlife Sanctuary is near Unionville, an old mining town, about two and a half hours northeast of Reno. It's open for visitors seven days a week, with multiple tours daily. This is a place where animals that are unable to be placed back in the wild can live out their lives in peace, and they're always looking for volunteers.
"Volunteers help us with construction, landscaping, anything that keeps us operational day after day," Sugasa said. "We're always a bit short-staffed, especially in the summer, so we can always use the help."
More information: https://safehavenwildlife.com/
