Exotic Animal Education
Internship Program
Our intern program runs year round, we have up to 10 interns join us every quarter for a 12 week period. The internship is designed for those seeking to pursue a career in animal care; interns gain experience in daily husbandry tasks including diet preparation and feeding, cleaning enclosures, building and distributing environmental enrichment, and record keeping. In addition, they opportunistically experience vet care and help to build new enclosures! Interns must be 18+ years old, have completed or be working towards a degree in biology or animal science, be physically fit and able to lift 50lbs, and willing to commit to 12 or 24 weeks full time work. This is a non paying internship with on-site housing. To apply please send the completed application and capabilities forms along with an optional cover letter and resume to Tarragon to apply.
Educational Tours:
As part of our goal of educating the public, we offer scheduled group tours 7 days a week. Our knowledgeable guides will introduce you to the animals that call In-Sync home. By sharing the stories of these former pets, discarded entertainment animals, and formerly abused and neglected products of inhumane breeding facilities, it’s our hope that our visitors will make educated decisions that will one day reduce the number of exotic animals in captivity. We also take this opportunity to share interesting facts about these magnificent animals. Please email us at Tours for more information.
It is our dream that one day there will be no need for rescue facilities, but until that day happens, we will continue to educate the public on the realities of uncontrolled, captive breeding practices and the need for conservation.
Cat Companion Program:
Since our cats depend on their human caregivers to meet their needs, it’s important that we establish a bond of mutual trust and respect. Our cat companion team builds this bond by sitting and talking with the cats outside the enclosures with the cats being the primary focus. No work, training, medical procedures, etc are allowed during companion sessions. Physical contact is not permitted.
Animal Husbandry Training Program:
In 2006, when Eric, one of our tigers, was stricken with cancer, we implemented a training program under the tutelage of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 
Through this program, we trained Eric to perform basic commands, such as down and stand-up so that we could administer his treatments without having to dart him. Sadly, we lost Eric on April 21, 2007, but because of him, we now have a successful program that extends to all of our cats and includes more commands, such as back, forward, open and target. We can now perform simple medical procedures, such as drawing blood, taking temperatures and performing skin biopsies, as well as examining the cat’s body, without having to anesthetize the cats.
The world does not pay for what a person knows. But it pays for what a person does with what he knows.
~Laurence Lee
Community Outreach:
By visiting schools, churches, organizations, etc., through our Community Outreach Program we hope to educate as many people as possible on the work we do and the amazing animals in our care.
Enrichment Program:
One of the challenges of caring for captive animals is keeping them mentally, physically and emotionally engaged. Our enrichment team prepares a variety of enrichment toys and activities to keep our cats stimulated and entertained.