An EXCELLENT refuge for exotic animals, and one of the few genuine big cat sanctuaries in the country. Unlike most places claiming to be "rescues", T&D's does not breed, buy, or trade animals - they provide unwanted exotics with a home for life.
A wide variety of animals from all over the world call T&D's home, including exotic lemurs, parrots, binturongs, and primates; as well as native PA wildlife - black bears, deer, and fox. And, of course, you can see just about every species of big cat, too - including african lions, tigers (both orange and white), leopards (spotted and black), servals, and more!
I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of the animals have very large, natural habitats, some of which are better than most zoos. For example, you may see tigers roaming their 2-acre enclosure, which includes woods, a grassy meadow, and a pond to swim in. The way the enclosures are configured also allows for stunning up-close views of the animals - imagine sitting on a park bench just feet away from a lion or a tiger. It's excellent for photographers who want to get shots of exotic animals in their "natural environment" - many of the pictures that I've taken there are indistinguishable from those taken in the wild!
That said, T&D's is NOT a "zoo" - it's the animal's home, and that means that the animals always come first. Some of the animals may not be visible because they're hiding in the brush that's been provided for that purpose - unlike at a zoo, where an animal's desire for privacy is often sacrificed for better viewing opportunities.
Also, it's important to remember that many of these animals came from situations of horrific abuse or neglect. For example, one of the monkeys was rescued after being caged alone in a dark attic for ten years. As a result, T&D's animals are much more sensitive than typical zoo residents, and require an extra level of respect. I would only recommend a visit to T&Ds for children who are mature enough to understand that they are guests in the animal's home, and that yelling, running around, and taunting the animals is NOT okay. One of the tigers recently had to be moved to another enclosure away from the path because a young child tried to throw rocks at her. If you have a particularly excitable child, I would save T&D's for when s/he's a little older.
For animal lovers, photographers, and families with older children, T&D's makes for a wonderful, inexpensive outing. There are even picnic tables there so that you can bring your own picnic lunch before visiting the animals. And you can be happy knowing that the money you DO spend there goes directly to providing abused animals with a...
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