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Central High School Principal Plays With Big Cats!
BAY COUNTY, FL - Jeremy Knapp, principal of Central High School, received a grant from Kiwanis Club for students to help out Bear Creak Feline Center. The grant money will be used to buy some rakes and other tools and equipment for students to use there. This is the third year they have gotten a grant from Kiwanis Club with the previous two being used for photography, and for CPR training and “practice dummies” for CPR.
The reason Principal Knapp chose Bear Creek Feline Center is because about a year and a half ago he took his staff there to do something different and meet the cats. He really enjoyed meeting Bertie and James Broaddus, who founded the center for Class I and Class II felidae, and they talked about how to get students involved with the cats.
They have been taking some of the students to Bear Creek about once every month or two since then to rake cages, cut down tree branches, build little cots and things for the cats to walk on, and to help make the place look a lot better. The kids really enjoy getting the chance to interact with the big cats. After all, it is not every day that you get into a cage with a lion.
Bear Creek Feline Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit sanctuary for 19 exotic cats such as Bobcats, Florida Panthers, African Servals, Jaguarundi and Siberian Lynx. Bertie Broaddus of Bear Creek Feline Center said, “These cats have no place else to go. They're celebrity cats. They did commercials and talk shows. They were born in Kissimmee, Florida. The cats are de-clawed and some are defanged. When they turn a year old and weigh 200 pounds, the cats are too heavy to deal with without getting hurt, so they want to send them to the “Rainbow Bridge.””
Instead of doing that, they can go to one of nine sanctuaries. The Florida Wildlife Commission has said that Bear Creek is the ‘Comfort Inn” for cats. They have air conditioned houses. A class one cat, like a mountain lion is only required to have a 12’ by 12’ cage, but Bear Creek gives each one a 100’ by 100’ cage with a cathedral ceiling that they can climb up in. Principal Knapp’s students build rafts and all sorts of planks that the cats run and jump on and have a good time.
Broaddus said, “These cats love people but can't stand other cats because they've never been around “anybody” but people.” They do educational adventures for the people who want to come and interact with the cats. You can train. You can play. You can use ropes to play tug of war. The cats can jump through Hula hoops over your head and dance with you.
What a lot of fun!
Tours are by APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Call: 850-722-9927 or email: bearcreekfelinecenterinc@gmail.com
https://bearcreekfelinecenter.org/
The reason Principal Knapp chose Bear Creek Feline Center is because about a year and a half ago he took his staff there to do something different and meet the cats. He really enjoyed meeting Bertie and James Broaddus, who founded the center for Class I and Class II felidae, and they talked about how to get students involved with the cats.
They have been taking some of the students to Bear Creek about once every month or two since then to rake cages, cut down tree branches, build little cots and things for the cats to walk on, and to help make the place look a lot better. The kids really enjoy getting the chance to interact with the big cats. After all, it is not every day that you get into a cage with a lion.
Bear Creek Feline Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit sanctuary for 19 exotic cats such as Bobcats, Florida Panthers, African Servals, Jaguarundi and Siberian Lynx. Bertie Broaddus of Bear Creek Feline Center said, “These cats have no place else to go. They're celebrity cats. They did commercials and talk shows. They were born in Kissimmee, Florida. The cats are de-clawed and some are defanged. When they turn a year old and weigh 200 pounds, the cats are too heavy to deal with without getting hurt, so they want to send them to the “Rainbow Bridge.””
Instead of doing that, they can go to one of nine sanctuaries. The Florida Wildlife Commission has said that Bear Creek is the ‘Comfort Inn” for cats. They have air conditioned houses. A class one cat, like a mountain lion is only required to have a 12’ by 12’ cage, but Bear Creek gives each one a 100’ by 100’ cage with a cathedral ceiling that they can climb up in. Principal Knapp’s students build rafts and all sorts of planks that the cats run and jump on and have a good time.
Broaddus said, “These cats love people but can't stand other cats because they've never been around “anybody” but people.” They do educational adventures for the people who want to come and interact with the cats. You can train. You can play. You can use ropes to play tug of war. The cats can jump through Hula hoops over your head and dance with you.
What a lot of fun!
Tours are by APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Call: 850-722-9927 or email: bearcreekfelinecenterinc@gmail.com
https://bearcreekfelinecenter.org/
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