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WRR Home > About
Us > Our Mission & History
 Our
Mission & History
Our Mission
To provide rescue, rehabilitation, and release
of orphaned, injured, and displaced wildlife, and to provide
sanctuary with dignity for non-releasable and non-native wild
animals.
Because of our commitment to respect for the rights and needs of wildlife, WRR is not open to the public.
Our History
Founded in 1977 in San Antonio, Texas, by Lynn
Cuny, who remains its Executive Director, Wildlife Rescue
& Rehabilitation (WRR) was incorporated
as a 501(c)(3) in 1978. Its mission is to provide rescue,
rehabilitation, and release of orphaned, injured, and
displaced wildlife, and permanent sanctuary
care in large natural habitats to non-releasable animals.
Among the latter are indigenous wildlife, exotic animals victimized
by the pet trade and roadside zoos, and retirees from research
facilities. In addition, WRR provides advice
and assistance in dealing with human-wildlife
encounters in a non-lethal manner.
Demand for WRR services
increased so rapidly that by 1980 it had to move from the
Cuny home and backyard to a 4-acre site outside of San Antonio.
In 1986, it became necessary to move again, this time to a
21-acre facility near Boerne, Texas. In 1999, a large gift
from an individual supporter enabled WRR to purchase a 187-acre
site near Kendalia about 20 miles from the Boerne facility.
We completed our move onto the new property in the spring
of 2004.
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation is widely
recognized as a superior rehabilitation and sanctuary facility
and is accredited by The
Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS). It provides a permanent
home for a variety of mammals (e.g., wolves, bears, big cats,
and primates) and non-indigenous
birds and reptiles. Every year, over 5,000 animals are brought to WRR,
mostly from surrounding areas, but many from around the country;
the majority of these were rehabilitated
and released or given permanent
sanctuary.
WRR maintains a 24-hour
Emergency Hotline and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days
a year. It is supported by a membership
of over 11,000 individuals and is assisted by 150 Volunteers.
The organization has a Staff of 20
and anywhere from 8 to 15 Interns
who come from the U.S. and abroad to work at the Sanctuary
and gain experience and training in wildlife rehabilitation
and animal care. Whether through training, education, advocacy,
or direct animal care, WRR fulfills its commitment to wildlife
protection and ethical, sustainable
relations between humans and the natural world.
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