While a high school career entails an overwhelming amount of academics and extracurriculars on campus, many students endeavor to pursue the diverse and unique passions they take pride in outside of school. One such student is Whitney Wagstaff, 12, who volunteers at the Big Cat Sanctuary in Wylie, Texas. The In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue & Educational Center provides abused, neglected, and unwanted exotic cats the care they need. Wagstaff’s passion for animal care inspired her to become a part of the movement toward universal proper care for endangered cats.

Wagstaff has long been deeply interested in exotic cats, and this led her to seize the opportunity of volunteering at the sanctuary.

“I actually found out about it through a teacher at Emerson High School who lives in Wylie, Mrs. Rotan, and her husband,” Wagstaff said. “They went there, and she told me about it and I decided to go visit.”

Wagstaff’s frequent attendance at the sanctuary is in large part due to her love for animals. Her pure love for those animals has parlayed into her aspiration to contribute to cats’ lives as much as she can.

“I’ve always been really fascinated with animals, especially large exotic cats,” Wagstaff said. “When I saw that there were volunteer opportunities available and there was a way to spend time with them and give them the love they deserve, … I was really eager to be a part of that.”

Among the many cats Wagstaff provided care to, two of her favorite cats have big personalities.

“I have a lot of favorites, but right now I’d have to say Kabul and Lazarus. They’re both adult male tigers,” Wagstaff said. “Lazurus is the oldest tiger we have on-site, he’s 20 years old. Kabul, he’s 8 years old, he is really funny and he has a knack for his toys. He just picks them up right in his jaws.”

Wagstaff further shares the reason she chose to volunteer at the sanctuary and the growing problems in the world of exotic animals.

“It just makes me happy because I know they should be out in the wild … and illegal breeding has gotten to be so bad in the U.S. and the world,” Wagstaff said. “There are more tigers in captivity in Texas alone than in the wild all over the world.”

The growing worldwide problem has brought her a sense of fulfillment as she sees the cats thrive in a safe environment where they are provided with warm care.

“A lot of them come from really bad homes, like breeding facilities that can’t give them the resources they need. What we’re doing just really helps them out,” Wagstaff said. “We care about them very much, and we give them the best lives they can have.”

Wagstaff’s devotion to the sanctuary is a testament to her selfless and giving personality. The love she has for the animals is admirable and is a unique experience that not many can say they’ve done.