Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary - Saving Rescued Animals Since 1963

The topic of Zoological Societies (zoo) can be controversial and inspire strong sentiments amongst many.  For me, they create a very mixed reaction.  

I'm grateful for the opportunity to see beautiful creatures and be near them when I might otherwise never have the opportunity.  I also welcome the opportunity to learn about animals and I do believe that if humans were not able to see animals up close and personal, they wouldn't care or learn to love these animals that are so worthy of love, admiration, and of saving!  

As Steve Irwin once said, 

"If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched...humans want to save the things they love."

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary lives up to this philosophy.  This small zoo was started in 1963 by Folsom City Parks Superintendent who kept a rescued coyote and and several deer.  It's a really cool story which you can read about here. 

Today, the Zoo takes in animals that, due to injury or other reasons, cannot be returned to the wild.  In February of 2018, my daughter and I decided to spend the gorgeous, sunny day visiting this intimate zoo and it's amazing animal population.  

Because of the intimate nature and enclosures that ensure privacy for the animals if they desire it, photography becomes a bit of a challenge.  But I had fun capturing the beautiful creatures even if I couldn't always get a full "beauty" shot.  

Bobcat!

Golden Eagle!

Puma! 

Cougar!

Panther!

Sleeping Bear!

Sleeping Little Bear!!  Seriously, this little kitty lives with the bear.  He showed up one day and never left so they named him Little Bear!

Deer!

Fuzzy Antlers!

Wolf!

Seriously, the wolves are so awesome to watch.  

I have a deer!

Tiger!  Be sure to notice that both the Cougar and the Tiger have their tongues out.  Just like house kitties!

Turkey Vulture!  

Fun Fact:  Vultures are bald so the blood and guts can be cleaned off their heads easily after sticking them in carcasses.  Not so fun fact:  I don't actually know if that's a fact.  lol

Be sure to check out the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary if you're in the Sacramento area!  The Sacramento Zoo is pretty awesome too. 

I don't go to animal parks where the animals are forced to perform and the living situation is not ideal.  Zoos are often not up to standard and I think you have to be discerning and make sure to patronize worthy zoos that focus on providing education and the correct living circumstances for the animals in their car.  Just my two cents worth. 

xoxo

Nikon D3300

Cat on a Hot...Tin...errrr...Chair???? -- Kitty Photography!

Today it was 78 freaking degrees.  I say it that way because I'm really, REALLY tired of this drought and I would love to actually have some autumn weather.  Or, you know, maybe some rain?  That would be amazing.

But like I was saying, it was still summer basically, so my kitties decided to take turns sitting in the lawn chair I sometimes set out for them by the window now that they don't have a cat tree in the  sunshine.

So while I was (supposedly) doing housework *wink wink*, I felt inspired to give myself a photography challenge.  Well, not exactly a challenge since I just love to take photos and don't really know what the hell I'm doing.  haha  But I do try to make them somewhat interesting.

So my challenge:  Capture two photos of them together and five candid photos of each of them in the chair.  One of these had to contain the chair frame, one would be converted to black and white, and one would highlight a "favorite feature". 

Here are my results:

MY BABIES -- LAZING AWAY A SUNNY SUNDAY

So, I had to cheat in the "together" photos.  

Ellie is actually laying on the windowsill.  

I'm going to put the other together one at the end, I think.  For symmetry. :-)

So, Ellie is my "first born".  His full name is Mark Ellis but we just call him Ellie.  In part because we thought he was a girl when he was a little baby.  He wasn't.  haha

Ellie is full of curls and circles, so I tried to capture that focus with the photos.  He actually has white circles in his fur, and he has a curly tail and whisker that curl upwards.  Plus he has to wear a cone 24/7, poor thing.  The chair added to the curves in the photos. 

He also has amazing white guy-liner.  He's so on-trend. 

Our beautiful little chocolate and caramel kitty is Chavy.  His full name is Eric Chavez.  :-)  

If you are an Oakland Athletics fan, you'll notice that they are named after the A's awesome 2nd & 3rd basemen for many years.  

He and Ellie are brothers from the same feral litter.  

Obviously, mama was a tomcat who got around.  

Ellie is our little mousie and Chavy is our little tiger.  

I love that Chavy's face is really tiger orange!  So pretty. 

Lots of curves in that picture.  :)

Chavy

Ellie - One of my favorite features of this sweet, mean little kitty is his heart-shaped nose.  Unfortunately, I didn't do the best job of capturing it.  It really is more heart-shaped than a lot of cats.  He also has a heart shaped tongue, but he wasn't showing it today. 

Chavy's highlighted feature of the day is his gorgeous, black foot!  

See?  Look at my foot!

And now for the chair portraits.

Part of my issues were that Chavy is very bothered by the camera clicking away.  So much so that he wants to avoid it.  Ellie is the opposite but that means he hardly moves so I can't get very many different poses from him. 

And now, the black and whites.  

Awwww, my little babies.  Animals just enrich your life so much.  I feel so blessed to have always had cats, dogs, and other creatures as companions throughout my life. 

xoxoxo