ALEXANDER (Black Leopard)

Alexander is a victim of the exotic pet trade. He was purchased as a cub for $2500 by a family in Texas and chained out in the family backyard. Houston Animal control seized him but returned Alexander to his owners after they agreed to take him outside city limits. Shortly afterwards, he scratched a toddler. He was confiscated by animal control. Since this was his second seizure, Houston City ordinance mandated that he be euthanized. The Houston SPCA appealed the decision and the animal was released to their care. Houston SPCA contacted PAWS which is now his permanent home. He arrived March 11, 1999, after spending 7 months at the Houston SPCA.

JACKIE (Coyote)

Jackie ~ who was born in the wild ~ was surrendered to the California Department of Fish and Game when she was two months old ~ too long after her “rescue” by a well-intentioned person who found her by the side of the road.  Because Jackie is totally imprinted with humans, she will live the rest of her life at PAWS.

Had Jackie been given to a state licensed rehabilitation facility on the day she was taken from the wild (in accordance with strict state laws protecting native species), she would have had a chance to live free and unconfined.  We hope Jackie’s story will encourage folks to leave wild babies alone…the mother is usually nearby.

PAKA (Serval)

Paka, a six month old Serval (a small African wildcat), was brought to a Santa Clara animal shelter by individuals who said they had trapped her in a feral cat trap. She was reported to have been running along the freeway in San Jose. As usual, there was no information about her original owners or the animal dealer who must have sold her as a pet. At six months, she had already been declawed and was severely malnourished. When Paka arrived, she was placed in quarantine and tested for parasites. Unfortunately, she was infested and needed medication. Oral medication is often difficult to administer to animals who are traumatized and disoriented, but, in Paka's case, medication was easy since she was ravenous for food and swallowed anything we gave her. After two months of good diet and medication, Paka has gained ten pounds and has developed a delightful personality. She has just recently moved to her new enclosure where she spends most of her time hiding in the tall grass and stalking anything that moves near her.

ROBERT (Bobcat)

Robert's owners had purchased him as a pet in the state of Montana where exotic pets are legal. When his owners moved to California where keeping exotic pets is illegal, they surrendered him to the CA Department of Fish & Game. He was kept at the holding facility for the Department until he was brought to PAWS.