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Roaring Good Charity
From Issue 97-1 of the Kerstetter Letter (Originally Published 3/97)
A ROARING GOOD CHARITY
By Kerry M. Kerstetter, CPA
Publisher, Kerstetter Letter
I’ve never been shy in criticizing charities that
are more focused on feathering the nest of top brass than serving a real
charitable purpose. I have recently become involved with a charity that is the
complete opposite of that, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs,
Arkansas.
It is well known that I enjoy the company of animals
more than that of most people. Our personal menagerie will continue to grow
forever. I have long been a big supporter, financially and otherwise, of
charities involving nature and animal
It’s no secret that I have always been a big cat
lover, as has Sherry. Several of our cats have already been featured on covers
of the Kerstetter Letter. It has long been a fantasy of mine to own at least one
big cat, such as an African lion or a cougar. However, unlike most people in
this country, I don’t do anything without considering the long term
repercussions. A small cuddly lion cub soon grows up and presents a different
set of problems. Actually, I have never been as afraid of physical harm from a
lion, as I am repulsed by the idea that a lion has to eat other animals. As much
as people have tried, cats cannot subsist on a vegetarian diet. They are
carnivores and must eat other animals to survive. The thought of sacrificing
smaller animals to pet lions is what has kept me from acquiring any.
However, as is evident every Easter time, when people
buy baby chicks bunnies and lambs for their children, there is very little
thought given to the fact that these animals don’t
remain tiny, cute and cuddly for long. There is a very thriving industry in
private ownership of exotic animals in this country, so it is very easy to
acquire a baby lion, tiger or cougar. When the animals grow beyond the custodial
abilities of the short-sighted owners, problems arise. That is where Turpentine
Creek comes in. They have taken in hundreds of unwanted, abandoned and
mistreated animals who would otherwise have to be killed. While most of their
inhabitants are great cats, they also have an assortment of other critters,
including bears, foxes, deer, goats, parrots and snakes.
Since visiting the facilities and working with
Turpentine Creek’s staff, I have been highly impressed with the personal
sacrifices they have made for the benefit of those animals. Nobody is paid for
their work, and most of the founders have taken on some huge personal debts in
order to keep the refuge alive. I have also been very impressed with their
ethics in regard to the animals, rebuffing offers that others with less regard
to the well being of the animals, would accept. Canned hunts, and exploitation
of dead animals are just some of the options that
turn my stomach as well.
They are recognized as a valid nonprofit charitable
foundation and survive on tax deductible donations and the generosity of some
food and storage companies. If you are so inclined to support animal related
charities, I would encourage you to think twice before sending any money to
those big national groups that kill who knows how many trees in order to fill
your mailbox with fundraising solicitations. I have been working very closely on
reviewing Turpentine Creek’s finances and have prepared the past two years’
income tax returns (Forms 990). I can vouch without reservation that every penny
they receive (plus more) goes to help out their animals.
For those of you in or near the Ozarks, they are
located seven miles south of Eureka Springs, Arkansas on scenic Highway 23. The
public is invited to tour the facility and meet the animals face to face. I can
tell you that there is no more awesome experience
than standing in the middle of 30 plus lions as they roar (they call it
caroling) to each other, as they did on a couple of our twilight visits. The
best stereo system in the world couldn’t duplicate that sound. If you want
more information on Turpentine Creek, or to receive their newsletter with
stories about the animals, their mailing address is 239 Turpentine Creek  Lane,
Eureka Springs, AR 72632. Their phone number is 501-253-5841 and they even have
a fax machine (501-253-5059). For those of you on the Internet, they have an
excellent web site that lets you visit the facility and the animals from the
comfort of your own home.
See Kerry with some of the
big cats on 5/19/01.
This Page Was Last Updated:
Saturday, August 18, 2001 05:54:40 PM
Ozarks Time by KMK
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