We believe the ideal home for wildlife is in the wild.

• It is critical to conserve native habitats for wildlife.
• Wild cats and dangerous animals should not be kept as pets.
• Captive breeding should ONLY be done in accordance with official Species Survival and Population Management Plans.
• All wild animals, both captive and in their native habitats, deserve to be treated with respect and not exploited for entertainment and commercial purposes.

At Carolina Tiger Rescue, our values drive all our decisions. Those values can be seen in our rescue decisions, our educational programs, and even in our marketing. Everything we do, we strive to do with the utmost respect for the animals.  

Many aspects of having wild animals in captivity, and how to care for them, are controversial. Carolina Tiger Rescue has established positions that guide our decisions, clarify our message, and distinguish us from other facilities.

Private Ownership

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to the private individual ownership of all wild cats and dangerous wild animals as pets for any other private purposes.

Captive Breeding

Carolina Tiger Rescue believes that captive breeding is necessary and appropriate only when it can be used to save a species from facing extinction, and that is should only be done in accordance with Species Survival and Population Management Plans. Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to captive breeding for any other purposes that does not promote the welfare of the species.

Entertainment

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to the use of wild animals for purposes, including but not limited to:

• Circuses
• Television and film
• Pay to play (cub petting for example)
• Commercial photo ops
• Traveling animal shows

Animals in Captivity

Carolina Tiger Rescue believes that the ideal home for wildlife is in their natural habitat. Carolina Tiger Rescue’s position is that captivity is necessary and appropriate only when:

• A wild animal has already been removed from their native habitat and cannot survive if returned.
• A wild animal has been abandoned or is injured and unable to survive unaided in their native habitat.
• Removing individuals from the wild becomes necessary for captive breeding in order to save the species from extinction.
• An individual was born or lives in captivity and cannot survive or be safely introduced into the wild.

Hybrids (ligers, etc.)

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to breeding hybrid species such as the Liger (tiger/lion), designer animals such as the Savannah Cat, and the breeding of wildlife for color selection or other recessive traits, such as white tigers. It is often detrimental to the health of the animals produced. The creation of these animals depletes resources that might otherwise be devoted to rescuing other wildlife or working to save wildlife species in their native habitats.

Selective Breeding (white tigers, etc.)

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to breeding wild animals for color selection or other traits, such as white tigers. Such breeding is usually detrimental to the health of the resulting animals and results in the destruction of countless unwanted animals.

De-clawing and De-fanging

Carolina Tiger Rescue takes no position on de-clawing domestic animals, but is opposed to de-clawing and de-fanging (which includes filling down teeth) wild animals unless it becomes necessary for the health and welfare of the individual animal.

Hunting

Carolina Tiger Rescue takes no position on most legal hunting (see exceptions below), but is opposed to poaching and other forms of illegal hunting.

Canned Hunts

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to canned hunts.

Trophy Hunting

Carolina Tiger Rescue is opposed to trophy hunting of all wild cats and any species officially designated as Threatened or Endangered.

Vegetarianism

Carolina Tiger Rescue takes no position on vegetarianism and veganism.

Use of Animal Products (Fur, Leather, etc.)

Carolina Tiger Rescue takes no position on the purchase and/or use of legally obtained animal products unless the products were obtained:

• From species officially listed as Threatened or Endangered
• Through poaching and other forms of illegally obtaining wild animals or their byproducts.

Sanctuaries

In the United States, Carolina Tiger Rescue, supports only sanctuaries that meet the federal definition for a wildlife sanctuary. Federally accredited sanctuaries:

• Must be recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation
• May not buy, sell, or commercially trade in prohibited wildlife species, their offspring, parts, or products
• May not breed prohibited wildlife species
• Cannot allow direct contact between the public and prohibited species (lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah, jaguar, cougar, and any subspecies and hybrid combination of any of these species).