New Housing for the Big Cats of CARE. Thanks Hanson!

How many people does it take to make a big cat house?

The process started many years ago when the Center for Animal Research and Education, or CARE, was faced with deteriorating wood housing for the over 50 big cats who call the sanctuary home. The search was on to find safe, reliable, and permanent structures for the tigers, lions, leopards, and cougars- and it couldn’t be wood. Wood rots and is easily clawed and bitten through. These kitty cats have razor-sharp claws and 4-inch canine teeth that are quite unforgiving to wooden structures. The wood housing required constant repair, which was a financial burden that a non-profit organization like CARE could not afford.

CARE’s wish came true when Hanson employees, Brian Gregory, Richard Keeling and Tammy Ward worked together to make the permanent big cat housing a reality. Hanson Pre-Cast Concrete, of Grand Prairie, Texas, agreed to donate structures for the big cats. This was the answer CARE had long awaited for- housing the cats could not rip to shreds, housing to keep the cats cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and housing that will not rot or blow away in the winds of tornado alley- the solution was perfect! Not only was the housing perfect but they also included giant swimming pools for the tigers, who absolutely love water. These structures are 15 foot squares with walls 10 inches thick toppling the scales at 26,000 pounds of solid concrete per pool.

The process of getting them to the CARE compound was not an easy one to say the least. CARE had to find a way to move the 10 ton structures. CPX Trucking and Ram Services of Fort Worth donated the trucking. The drivers, David Leal, Frank Leal, Ruben Antunez, Juan Conchola and Ector Osormia, donated their Saturday off to drive the big cats’ new homes to Bridgeport. Once the structures arrived at CARE they had to be off-loaded. Local businessman, Charlie Pitts, owner of Charles Pitts Trucking, donated the two large fork-lifts that raised the houses off the trucks. Now all that was needed at this point was an intrepid forklift operator. Enter long time friend of CARE, Lionel Luster, owner of L&L Truck Repair, who was the mastermind in charge of organizing and supervising the delivery, off-load and transfer of the enclosures.

Over multiple evenings, after their own work was complete, Lionel and his crew spent hours getting the new housing into the enclosures, which was not an easy task. In some cases, fencing needed to be removed to get the forklifts into the enclosures, and maneuvering the tight spaces in the compound required very skilled driving. The team worked well into the dark most nights. Working around the unpredictable weather also proved to be challenging, but five enclosures are currently finished (with the exception of actually painting the housing) and more are still to come! The cats have welcomed the changes and are having fun exploring their new homes, and finding their favorite napping spots.

As you can see, the road was long and difficult, but with the help of COUNTLESS generous people, the cats of CARE have comfortable housing for years to come! Thanks to all those who have offered their time and support to make this project a success! Without you, there would be no CARE!

More Photos to come as we paint and add new housing to more enclosures...check back soon!

As you can see...the cats really enjoy their new houses!

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	How many people does it take to make a big cat house? The process started many years ago when the Center for Animal Research and Education, or CARE, was faced with deteriorating wood housing for the over 50 big cats who call the sanctuary home. The search was on to find safe, reliable, and permanent structures for the tigers, lions, leopards, and cougars- and it couldn’t be wood. Wood rots and is easily clawed and bitten through. These kitty cats have razor-sharp claws and 4-inch canine teeth that are quite unforgiving to wooden structures. The wood housing required constant repair, which was a financial burden that a non-profit organization like CARE could not afford. CARE’s wish came true when Hanson employees, Brian Gregory, Richard Keeling and Tammy Ward worked together to make the permanent big cat housing a reality. Hanson Pre-Cast Concrete, of Grand Prairie, Texas, agreed to donate structures for the big cats. This was the answer CARE had long awaited for- housing the cats could not rip to shreds, housing to keep the cats cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and housing that will not rot or blow away in the winds of tornado alley- the solution was perfect! Not only was the housing perfect but they also included giant swimming pools for the tigers, who absolutely love water. These structures are 15 foot squares with walls 10 inches thick toppling the scales at 26,000 pounds of solid concrete per pool. The process of getting them to the CARE compound was not an easy one to say the least. CARE had to find a way to move the 10 ton structures. CPX Trucking and Ram Services of Fort Worth donated the trucking. The drivers, David Leal, Frank Leal, Ruben Antunez, Juan Conchola and Ector Osormia, donated their Saturday off to drive the big cats’ new homes to Bridgeport. Once the structures arrived at CARE they had to be off-loaded. Local businessman, Charlie Pitts, owner of Charles Pitts Trucking, donated the two large fork-lifts that raised the houses off the trucks. Now all that was needed at this point was an intrepid forklift operator. Enter long time friend of CARE, Lionel Luster, owner of L&L Truck Repair, who was the mastermind in charge of organizing and supervising the delivery, off-load and transfer of the enclosures. Over multiple evenings, after their own work was complete, Lionel and his crew spent hours getting the new housing into the enclosures, which was not an easy task. In some cases, fencing needed to be removed to get the forklifts into the enclosures, and maneuvering the tight spaces in the compound required very skilled driving. The team worked well into the dark most nights. Working around the unpredictable weather also proved to be challenging, but five enclosures are currently finished (with the exception of actually painting the housing) and more are still to come! The cats have welcomed the changes and are having fun exploring their new homes, and finding their favorite napping spots. As you can see, the road was long and difficult, but with the help of COUNTLESS generous people, the cats of CARE have comfortable housing for years to come! Thanks to all those who have offered their time and support to make this project a success! Without you, there would be no CARE! More Photos to come as we paint and add new housing to more enclosures...check back soon! As you can see...the cats really enjoy their new houses!