Today, some of the folks joined up with a group from Torrey Oaks and made the trip to the Peace River Refuge and Ranch in Zolfo Springs.

This is an exotic animal sanctuary that is dedicated to the care of abused, confiscated, neglected or unwanted exotic animals.

On these 90 acres, rescued animals are given a permanant home in a large natural habitat, with a skilled staff that makes sure the nutritional, medical and emotional needs of the animals are met.

For ten years now the animals at the ranch have one day when they all get to share the holidays. Visitor's to the ranch today got to celebrate with them as they all got stockings or paper mache gifts filled with goodies. As we watch the animals enjoy their gifts we heard many of stories that brought these rescued animals to the ranch, and some of them just broke your heart.

Lots of monkeys including the capuchin, lemurs and spider monkeys/ All of them were rescuded from the Sarasota, Bradenton Childrens Zoo after the attraction closed their doors.

Black Bears Molly, Dolly and Elizabeth Rose were rescued from Frontier Town in Hudson, NY - after the park closed and the bears were left abandoned in the same enclosure for more than three years, where a caretaker and some neighbors periodically dropped off donuts and pizza etc and dropped them through a chute to the animals. Such a sad story. But look at how happy they are now!!

Lions and Tigers and Panters and Cougars, a Siberian Lynx...just a few of the cats on the ranch, and each with a hearbreaking story- like the white tiger, rescued at the age of three from an abusive breeder - but at 400 lbs today - he is happy and healthy and loves his home on the ranch.

Tortoise, the Cotton Top Tamarin, Duck and two Patagonian Cavies surround one of the many paper mache gifts that was part if the animal's holidy party that all of us got to enjoy with them.

It was a very emotional and educational day. If you get a chance to take the tour - we would highly recommend it. Here is a link to more information about the Peace River Refuge and Ranch.