10

Dec
2018

In News

By The S.A.R.F.

2018 Stuffed Animal Petting Zoo – 37TH ST – Austin, TX

Posted on | by The S.A.R.F. | In News

37TH ST Petting Zoo is open 6pm-11pm now until December 22!

Rescue: Greater Pine Bluff Wildlife Refuge, Rural Wyoming

Sasha & Jermaine at the Greater Pine Bluff Wildlife Refuge shortly after we arrived. Despite their diminutive sizes, they seemed to fit in well with the tower. Note: A group of living giraffes is called a 'tower.' A group of stuffed giraffes is called a 'condo.'
Sasha & Jermaine at the Greater Pine Bluff Wildlife Refuge shortly after we arrived. Despite their diminutive sizes, they seemed to fit in well with the tower.
Note: A group of living giraffes is called a ‘tower.’ A group of stuffed giraffes is called a ‘condo.’

This year’s Rescued Stuffed Animals (RSAs) have been on a long journey of rehabilitation and self-discovery.

Three years ago, we were called to rescue them from the Greater Pine Bluff Wildlife Refuge in rural Wyoming.

Upon our arrival at the refuge, our team was shocked to discover that the Stuffed Animals (SAs) had been integrated into the live animal population!

Rachel relaxes with her living counterpart friend at the Greater Pine Bluff Wildlife Refuge.
Rachel relaxes with her living counterpart friend at the Greater Pine Bluff Wildlife Refuge.

Based on their behaviors, we ascertained that they had been living among their live animal counterparts at Greater Pine Bluff for quite some time.

We do not know if the SAs arrived en masse or separately, nor do we know how they ended up there in the first place.

What we do know is that the SAs seemed to have forgotten their stuffed animal instincts. Any efforts to hug or pet the SAs were met with a stiffness we had never before witnessed in any of our rescues.

A SARF associate tries to lure Hoover out of the brush at the Greater Pine Bluff Wildlife Refuge.
A SARF associate tries to lure Hoover out of the brush at the Greater Pine Bluff Wildlife Refuge.

Many attempts to coax the SAs from their wild habitats were thwarted. But we did not give up.

Note: We did not force the SAs to come with us. Each SA came to The SARF willingly. In fact, there are still SAs who remain at the Greater Pine Bluff Wildlife Refuge living among their live species counterparts.

Therapy & Recovery: A Long Road Worth Traveling

We found Gary by the roadside near one of his living counterparts. Gary appeared to be the victim of a heated dispute among siblings. Unfortunately, this seems to be the fate of many stuffed armadillos in Texas.
We found Gary by the roadside near one of his living counterparts. Gary appeared to be the victim of a heated dispute among siblings. Unfortunately, this seems to be the fate of many stuffed armadillos in Texas.

These SAs have undergone hundreds of hours of physical and emotional therapy.

We are proud of the progress they have made.

Granted, some have progressed more slowly than others (Note: Please be careful when interacting with Hoover. The SARF is not responsible for any injuries inflicted by our SAs). You may find that some are still a bit stiff when you hug them, while others may have a wild-and-potentially-interpreted-as-menacing stare when you approach.

But trust us: They have come a long way, and they will continue to progress, particularly once they have each found homes with suitable living companions like you!

Bright Futures: The Search For a Living Companion

We have deemed each of these RSAs to be more-or-less ready for the challenges and joys of living with a human companion.

Are you interested in adopting one of these resilient SAs? Please visit our Stuffed Animal Petting Zoo on 37TH ST in Austin, TX, or fill out an application online.