Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge has been rescuing animals for over 30 years, and during that time, more than 400 amazing animals have come through our doors. Each one has a unique story, shedding light on the many people involved in the exotic pet trade and other unethical animal operations. While we can’t share the stories of all 400 animals in this article, we want to revisit a few of them from over the years.
30 Years Ago
Bear
On April 4, 1995, Don and Hilda Jackson received a call from a family in Peculiar, Missouri, who had a bear in need of a home. The family’s father raised the bear, named Bear, since his birth on February 17, 1986. Bear grew up alongside the man’s children children. Unfortunately, the father died in a truck accident after he fell asleep at the wheel.
This left his widow, Kim, to care for Bear, along with other animals and her young children. Overwhelmed, she struggled to manage it all. Kim’s cousin, seeing her distress, remembered Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and reached out to ask if we could help. We asked Kim to call us, and were grateful when she did.
When we arrived in Peculiar, we found Bear in a cramped cage too small for him to stand. Since Kim’s husband had passed, the cage had not been cleaned, and Bear’s den—a makeshift oil drum—was covered in waste. The family’s 9-year-old son was the one feeding and watering Bear, and Kim was concerned that Bear might hurt her children since they weren’t afraid of him.
We carefully transferred Bear into a trailer and brought him to his new forever home at Turpentine Creek. He quickly adjusted to the space and the care a true sanctuary offers. Bear was a gentle soul who loved attention, and our staff was always happy to give it to him. He lived a long, happy life with us until 2007, when we made the difficult decision to let him go in his old age.
Bear’s story is both memorable and bittersweet, as is often the case with animal rescues.
20 Years Ago
India & Carrie
Many of us at TCWR associate 2005 with the arrival of one of our most iconic residents, India the tiger. That same year, we also rescued our first caracal, Carrie!
India the tiger had been privately owned until her owner decided to release her into the Buffalo National River forest and drive 60 miles home. To his surprise, India found her way back to his doorstep just two days later. He brought her to us in the back of his pickup truck (as pictured above) and we shared her story in court, which led to changes in Arkansas’ laws regarding big cat ownership. This was a step forward, paving the way for the passage of The Big Cat Public Safety Act in 2022.
Carrie’s story is similar to Bear’s. She had been owned by a 53 year old man in Brownsville, Tennessee, who tragically passed away from a sudden heart attack. His 21 year old daughter inherited his estate, which included Carrie, a 4 year old caracal. The young woman struggled to care for Carrie, as the caracal was too aggressive toward her. She had to call a local vet to temporarily house and care for Carrie while she searched for a new home. Eventually, Carrie found her way to us, where she received a safe and comfortable home. We respected her wild nature and did our best to accommodate her natural lack of trust in humans.
10 Years Ago
Pickles
In 2015, we made only one rescue, but it was a memorable one – Pickles the serval, from Prairie Grove, Arkansas. In yet another common scenario, Pickles ended up at TCWR because his previous owner passed away, leaving the animal with a caretaker who was not prepared to care for a wild animal on her own.
Pickles’ story began when his owner adopted him after seeing a baby bobcat at work and deciding he wanted a more “exotic” pet. He found a serval breeder in Florida and brought Pickles into his home. When he suddenly passed away, his wife was overwhelmed and needed to find a new home for Pickles. By this point in our history, we were well-known, and the man had made it clear he wanted Pickles to come to us should anything happen to him.
When Pickles arrived, we quickly realized that he had a fast-acting cancer. While we were able to provide him with immediate care, the cancer was too aggressive, and Pickles passed away just four months later. Though we occasionally face situations like this with our rescues, it never makes them any easier.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we look ahead to the future, we continue to watch for the stories that will unfold at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Each rescue represents not just a new chapter for the animals, but an opportunity to learn, grow, and advocate for a world where fewer animals suffer from the cruelty of the exotic pet trade and unethical captivity. While stories like Bear’s, Carrie’s, and Pickles’ remind us of the challenges many animals face, they also fuel our dedication to providing a safe, loving home for those in need. By sharing their journeys, we hope to inspire change, raise awareness, and prevent future generations of animals from enduring such hardships. Together, we can make a difference.
*Published by Laynie Rodzon on 03/01/2025*