Caitlin & Andrew – Tell Us Your Wedding Story

The wedding itself at the Wellington Community Center was simple and perfect. As family members from California, New York and Philadelphia looked on, the couple exchanged vows, then danced their first dance as husband and wife to “Head Over Boots” by Jon Pardi and “One Wish” by Ray J.

Wellington High School alumni Andrew and Caitlin Holloway have known each other almost all their lives — even though they were not initially aware of it.

“We were going through some old T-ball photos, and I said, ‘Hey, I had that coach!’ Turned out we were on the same team, back when we were five and six years old,” Andrew explained.

Fast forward to ages 16 and 17, and the two were re-introduced by mutual friends on the Boys & Girls Club baseball fields during batting practice. They began hanging out on their own and then dating. On March 25, 2017, they tied the knot at the Wellington Community Center.

But Andrew knew they were meant to be together long before that.

“I knew Caitlin was the one the day we met,” Andrew said. “I’ve never had a connection with anyone like the one I have with her. She’s my best friend and my world.”

Caitlin is thankful to have a husband as supportive as Andrew.

“I knew Andrew was the one during college,” she said. “His support of my goals and growth were unparalleled to anyone else. He believes in me, and I love him with all my heart! He’s my favorite person.”

The official proposal took place in Spain, while the couple was on a 12-day Contiki European excursion.

“I had planned to ask her during the trip,” Andrew said. “I brought the ring with me and carried it around for 10 days, just waiting for the perfect opportunity. It was while we were in the hotel room, talking about our relationship and reminiscing about the time we’d spent in Europe and the memories we’ll have, when I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me. We’d been together forever.”

The wedding itself at the Wellington Community Center was simple and perfect. Caitlin wore a dress that she had purchased at Mariolka’s Bridal Boutique in Boynton Beach, and Gina Sullo of Gina Marie Photography was the photographer.

For the big day, Andrew’s three brothers served as groomsmen, while Caitlin’s three cousins were bridesmaids — all honored equally.

As family members from California, New York and Philadelphia looked on, the couple exchanged vows, then danced their first dance as husband and wife to “Head Over Boots” by Jon Pardi and “One Wish” by Ray J.

“We didn’t go on a honeymoon, but we travel a lot — about twice a month for softball tournaments,” Andrew explained.

As part of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Adult Slow Pitch Softball Travel Team, the couple has been to Oregon, Tennessee and throughout Florida to locations such as Tampa, Sebring and Tallahassee.

“Every trip with her is a honeymoon to me,” Andrew said.

So, diamonds really are a girl’s best friend — baseball diamonds, that is.

Let’s Ask A Wedding Photography Expert: What To Look For When Hiring The Perfect Wedding Photographer

Most brides and grooms describe their wedding day as among the most magical moments of their lives. However, moments do not last forever — unless they are captured by your wedding photographer. We spoke with award-winning wedding photographers Stacey and Brandon Poirier of Poirier Wedding Photography to get their pointers and suggestions about what to look for when hiring a photographer for your big day, and how to capture forever those amazing memories that will last a lifetime.

Q: How long have you been wedding photographers?

 A: We began our wedding adventure in 2010, and over the last nine years, we have had the honor of photographing more than 450 weddings. Our wedding experience is priceless. We approach each wedding with advanced technical know-how, and we are able to individualize our approach to ensure that we capture a wedding story that is unique to each client.

Q: What primary photographic style do you identify with?

A: Our style is a fusion of photojournalistic along with a modern casually posed flair. We approach each wedding as a love story waiting to be captured. We believe in preserving all the beautiful details of your wedding to complete your story. We love to photograph everyone having the time of their lives celebrating your love as a married couple. Real reaction and real emotions are what we strive to capture. We also understand that there is a time during the day to direct and lightly pose you both, along with your family, for those must-have family formals. We stay true to the immediate family portraits that we all have come to love over the years. Our images are fun, authentic and timeless.

Q: Do you have experience shooting in various lighting situations?

A: Yes, we are skilled photographers and can work in all types of lighting situations. Whether rain or shine, day or night, a wedding must go on, and we pride ourselves in the ability to capture amazing images regardless of the elements presented to us. We love natural light photography, but what do you do when there is no light? As wedding photographers, we need to be fully prepared to work in any type of lighting condition, because you never know what you may encounter on the wedding day. Therefore, we are considered full-gear wedding photographers, meaning we will bring all the proper equipment to each event we photograph. Do not make the mistake and just trust any photographer for your wedding day. Choose an experienced and equipped photographer, because you only get one shot to capture your wedding day.

Q: Can couples see an entire wedding from start to finish?

A: Absolutely! This is one of the most important things a client can ask of the photographer. Wedding photographers need to work fast and be able to shoot in any type of lighting situation. We are seasoned, experienced wedding photographers and know the ins and outs of the unpredictable, moment-driven nature of weddings. We love it and are happy to showcase any love story our clients would like to see.

Q: Do you offer video services?

A: This is a new adventure for us, but our team now offers video. Over the years, during our wedding adventures, we have discovered that weddings are fast-paced with lots of emotions at every turn. You plan your wedding many months, and sometimes years, in advance, and before you know it, the day is over in the blink of an eye. Our goal is to make sure clients enjoy every moment while in the moment. We believe a wedding is an intimate celebration with family and friends and should not be a production with a large team pulling the bride and groom in all different directions. Our team works flawlessly together to beautifully capture the day without being obtrusive or competing for the shot.

Q: Tell us a bit about the wedding collections you offer.

A: Our wedding collections are à la carte, which gives clients the freedom to custom design the collection that will best suit their needs. Most couples receive about 800 to 1,000 images. We do remove duplicates, test shots, images with eyes closed, etc. The high-resolution files are included with all wedding coverage. The files are delivered via a private online gallery that is viewable worldwide. From the gallery, clients are able to download directly to their computer.

Q: Do you travel for weddings?

A: We do! We are based in Palm Beach and Tennessee. Although many of our weddings are in Florida and Tennessee, we love to travel wherever clients would like to take us. We have photographed weddings in Maine, Cape Cod, the Bahamas, the Florida Keys, and our most favorite magical location, the Disney World Wedding Pavilion.

Q: What kind of equipment do you typically bring with you?

A: We carry more than $20,000 in professional Nikon digital camera equipment to every event we photograph. We use Nikon D3s and D750 camera bodies and carry a full line of Nikon professional lenses. We are full-gear wedding photographers and bring all the proper lighting to skillfully document each wedding. We have multiple lenses and camera bodies as backups in case of a malfunction.

Q: Are you available to shoot extra hours?

A: Of course. All wedding coverage begins with eight hours. This coverage fits us best to properly capture a wedding and not miss any priceless moments. We offer a hands-on approach to photography and work with clients closely to design a perfect schedule for the wedding day. If more wedding day coverage is needed, we will be happy to add it on for an additional fee.

CCTV Agent Provides Top-Of-The-Line Security Camera Services In Wellington

Tatiana Yaques first began riding horses as a young girl growing up in Miami. In high school, her trainer moved to Wellington. Yaques began commuting from Miami to Wellington to continue her equestrian training and fell in love with the community.

It was the early 1990s, and Wellington looked vastly different than today. Yet the village has always been beautiful and welcoming, and it stayed in her heart. Even after Yaques graduated from law school and began practicing law in Miami, both she and her husband knew they wanted to return to Wellington.

The opportunity arose when James Yaques, Tatiana’s husband, was presented with a job offer from Palm Beach Central High School in Wellington, and they both knew it was kismet. He accepted the position as band director, she transitioned to a position at a law firm in West Palm Beach and they moved to Wellington.

That was 14 years ago, and the Yaques family plans on remaining in Wellington for the rest of their lives. Their two daughters were born at Wellington Regional Medical Center and both attended Equestrian Trails Elementary School.

As an attorney, Yaques represented many Wellington businesses and residents. Her practice focused on commercial litigation and land use law. “I had the opportunity to represent and become familiar with businesses in many different industries, weighing and weaving in business interests with whatever legal issues a client was facing,” she explained.

As an advocate, it was also her job to become an expert in her clients’ industries. For these reasons, Yaques knew that her law practice gave her great insight and experience into the business world.

While Yaques enjoyed the practice of law, there comes a time in everyone’s lives where they examine where they have been, where they currently are and where they want to be in the future. Her goals were to have more time with her family and to own her own business.

In searching for a business opportunity that would best match her skill set, Yaques discovered CCTV Agent, the largest security camera company in Palm Beach County. It was a strong and well-established company, with a loyal customer base, a long history of success, and a great reputation for quality and service. After reviewing the company’s history, she made the decision to purchase CCTV Agent, becoming its CEO.

“CCTV Agent is not your typical security camera business,” Yaques said. “In many ways, it parallels the way that people view Wellington. Wellington is large, but it retains its small-town feeling. Wellington offers exceptional facilities and has high-caliber people behind them. So does CCTV Agent.”

CCTV Agent is a large-scale security camera business with a small business feel. When clients call or e-mail them, they are always answered with live and local support. As CEO, Yaques is always available to any of her customers. If a client needs a service call, they will typically see a CCTV Agent tech on site, who can resolve their problem quickly, instead of having to wait weeks for someone from a different county to find time to come help them with a problem. “CCTV Agent offers only top-of-the-line products, because we believe in offering clients quality for their money,” Yaques said, adding that the company warrantees all of its products.

CCTV Agent specializes in commercial installations, having installed and serviced security camera systems in shopping malls, schools, homeowners’ associations and condominiums, retail establishments and government facilities. In fact, CCTV Agent installed all the security cameras used by the Village of Wellington in its facilities, including the Wellington Community Center, the Wellington Municipal Complex, the Wellington Amphitheater, the Wellington Tennis Center, the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Environmental Preserve and other locations.

As a lifelong equestrian, Yaques has owned horses for many years. She has been very involved in the equestrian industry in Wellington as an attorney and is quite familiar with the needs of the industry. The family and their horses live on a farm in the Little Ranches neighborhood. Their oldest daughter rides and competes in the pony hunters at the Winter Equestrian Festival and other shows.

As an equestrian, Yaques appreciates the deep connection between horses and their humans. “Our horses become our partners, and it is our responsibility to protect and care for them,” she said, adding that she believes Wellington’s equestrian community is in need of a strong and dependable company that it can turn to for security systems.

CCTV Agent can fill that need because the company’s experience and expertise in providing security camera systems is second to none, Yaques said, noting that her experience in the equestrian industry, combined with the company’s experience in the commercial arena, make it the ideal match for the Wellington equestrian community’s security camera system needs.

In addition, Yaques also knows how important the sense of security is for everyone living in Wellington.

“The Village of Wellington is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States. Some of the reasons so many people choose to make Wellington their home are because of the beauty of its neighborhoods and the great sense of community that exists here,” she said. “Another reason is the sense of security that they feel in this serene, but busy village.”

The word “security” has many meanings, but CCTV Agent knows that the feeling of security is the single most important thing that people can feel in their homes. Security is an important issue for many of the neighborhoods in Wellington. Many people make the choice to buy a home in an HOA or condominium community in Wellington based on their desire to live in an area that has additional security and that can provide a greater peace of mind because security concerns are addressed on a community-wide basis, Yaques added.

CCTV Agent has partnered with numerous HOAs and condominiums in Wellington to install security camera systems that help add to the security of these communities. With Yaques at the helm, CCTV Agent intends to continue providing high quality security camera systems and unparalleled customer service to those in Wellington and beyond.

For more information about CCTV Agent, call (561) 249-4511 or visit www.cctvagent.com.Fea

RESCUE GROUPS Step up to SAVE COUNTLESS ANIMALS IN NEED

If there’s one thing that Wellington-area families cherish more than our wonderful lifestyle, it’s our animals. Many of these pets live like kings with good food, lots of love, plenty of room and medical attention when they need it. But what about those not so lucky? Life can be grim for animals who find themselves lost, abandoned or stuck in a shelter. Luckily, there are a number of nonprofits that have stepped in to save them.

Amber’s Animal Outreach

Amber Nelson was just seven years old when she started helping established rescue operations in Broward County. Now 18 and living in Loxahatchee with her parents Kelly and Troy, Amber has already logged three years as a foster parent for a number of dogs through her own organization, Amber’s Animal Outreach.

Kelly explained that their nonprofit is not facility-based, but rather a foster operation.

“Amber takes in dogs that are about to be euthanized unnecessarily, gets them back to health and fosters them until they are adopted,” she said. “Many of the dogs are love-starved when she gets them. We also get calls from people going into nursing homes, who love their pets but can’t take them with them. If we can help, we do. Even though we are small, Amber saves hundreds of dogs every year.”

Like most rescues, the challenges for Amber’s Animal Outreach are twofold — getting funding and finding the right home for the right dog.

The hard-working teenager depends on donations acquired primarily through fundraisers and her Facebook page.

In an effort to find potential adopters, Amber and her supporters spend just about every other weekend at PetSmart, hoping to find homes for the dogs. She also is a presence at Roger Dean Stadium during baseball games.

“All this started because Amber couldn’t stand the thought of dogs being put down,” Kelly said. “As her mom, just seeing her following her dream makes me happy. Her love and compassion are amazing. She was home-schooled and just graduated this year. We’ll see where her path takes her now.”

To support Amber Nelson in her mission, visit www.aaodog.org.

Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary

On six acres in western Loxahatchee, Elizabeth Accomando operates Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary together with her husband Steve, and daughter Mary Montanaro. The group received its nonprofit status in 2015, although they’ve been rescuing all kinds of animals for the last 20 years.

“We take in dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, ferrets, turkeys, tortoises, cows, pigs… everything except horses, and that’s only because of the expense. Most come from Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control, and we take them, so they are not euthanized,” Elizabeth explained. “The small dogs have their own building, and the larger dogs are in a different building. The chickens are in coops. The cows roam the entire property.”

Although small, Barky Pines has rescued hundreds of animals.

“We do fundraisers and are always looking for sponsors,” Elizabeth said. “Our for-profit business is a mobile auto body repair, but all the leftover money from that goes to the animals. We also apply for and receive grants, but we are always, constantly on the hunt for funding. Right now, we need more housing to save more lives.”

Elizabeth and her family take care of all the animals themselves.

“We’re in the trenches, not just sitting on a board. Once an animal is rehabilitated, we find it a home,” she said. “We do screenings on our potential adopters, but the geriatric dogs generally stay here for sanctuary, and we hospice them and care for them until it’s time for them to move on. We also find family companions for families with special needs. Some dogs go on to become comfort dogs after we have taken our time to make them that type of pet.”

The work is difficult but rewarding. “It’s a lot of work for no money, but getting them better, healing them — especially the ones that we can adopt out — it brings such joy, not only to the dog or cat, but also to the family,” Elizabeth said. “Making that match, completing their family; now that animal gets love in a home of its own.”

Once an animal is adopted out, Elizabeth stays in touch with the family through social media.

“It’s our Barky Family, as we call it,” she said. “We love hearing all the stories and about the joy and happiness that the animals are bringing to the families.” Learn more about Barky Pines at www.barkypinesanimalrescue.com.

Luv-A-Pet

You don’t need lots of acreage to rescue animals. In Royal Palm Beach, Denise Willoughby has put together a group of volunteers who foster pets in their own homes. While Willoughby works full-time at a nursing hospital, foster volunteer Kat Calloway helps keep things humming along at Luv-A-Pet.

“Denise used to foster animals through Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control (ACC),” Calloway explained. “But it bothered her that she never got to see where the animals were going. So, she gathered together a group of ladies she knew and founded Luv-A-Pet in 2004.”

Key to the operation is the M*A*S*H (Mobile Animal Surgical Hospital) unit, where veterinarian Dr. Virginia Sayre donates her time to provide low-cost vaccines, as well as spay and neuter services for area pets. Volunteers like Calloway allow the unit to park on their property, then take to the web to publicize its current location.

“We’re small, but we try to make an impact wherever we can,” Calloway said. “We take in dogs and cats we get via word-of-mouth, Facebook and the ACC, if they’re full. We also take in strays. Some of these animals are broken, some are sick, some have astronomical medical bills, but Denise won’t turn them away. I find that admirable. Because we have no designated space of our own, we are completely dependent upon our foster volunteers.”

Calloway got involved in 2015 when her son was earning community service hours by showing some of the foster kittens at PetSmart in Royal Palm Beach, in hopes of finding adoptive homes for them. In addition to adoption events, Luv-A-Pet uses Petfinder, Facebook and word-of-mouth to place the rehabilitated animals.

“Some kitties who needed fostering came my way, and it became a labor of love,” Calloway said. “I have two dogs of my own but have since determined that I am a cat person. I only take in cats and kittens.”

More than 100 cats have since found their way through Calloway’s home.

“I own the ‘crazy cat lady’ label,” she smiled. “As for Luv-A-Pet and Denise, I will never leave her. She genuinely cares for and loves the animals and will do whatever needs to be done to give them happy lives.”

Luv-A-Pet held its big auction fundraiser at the end of August and hosts other events to raise money throughout the year. All proceeds go toward caring for the animals. Although the need is great and the task is daunting, the loyal volunteers at Luv-A-Pet never miss a beat to save lost souls.

Learn more about this nonprofit at www.luvapet.net.

Danny & Ron’s Rescue

Ron Danta and Danny Robertshaw had always rescued dogs, but things got official when the pair jumped in to save 600 suddenly homeless pups following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That’s when they organized as the nonprofit Danny & Ron’s Rescue.

Based in Camden, S.C., where they work as horse trainers, Danny and Ron have long been providing dogs for Wellington families that they meet at equestrian events. Their story has been immortalized in the documentary Life in the Doghouse, currently available on Netflix.

Danny and Ron have turned their own house into the ultimate safe haven, personally caring for injured and abused animals until they are ready for adoption. Each dog receives a wellness check from a veterinarian, then is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed, groomed and loved like part of the family.

Prior to Katrina, Danny and Ron would go to the shelters, save four or five dogs from euthanasia, rehab them a bit and adopt them out to friends in the horse community.

“We’d go to the greyhound kennels, where 150 dogs were scheduled to be put down, pick up six or eight greyhounds and take them home to our South Carolina campus,” Ron recalled. “Since Katrina, we’ve rescued 11,500 dogs.”

The couple were at their second home in Wellington when that deadly storm changed their lives.

“We had just bought a house in Wellington the year before, so we were there when all the chaos began,” Danny said. “Many of our friends were involved with the horse rescue, but when we turned on the TV and saw all the stranded animals, we felt that that was where we could really fit in. It touched our hearts and caused us to take big steps in that direction.”

Since then, they’ve rescued dogs from junkyards, freed animals chained to trees and saved abandoned pets living on the streets. They rescue over-bred, long-caged puppy mill dogs; bait dogs used in dog fighting; and shelter dogs about to be euthanized.

“In Danny’s barn, we used to do cats, too,” Ron said. “We had cages on both sides of the aisles and caging across the aisle and over the tack room. We used to call it the Kitty Hilton. But once we started doing such huge numbers of dogs, well, it’s hard to rescue dogs and cats in that volume and keep them all safe. So, we focused on dogs.”

While they love to place dogs in loving Wellington homes, they also support the work of the many other animal rescues.

“With five airlines showing the Netflix movie, we get calls from California, from Europe, from far away,” Ron said. “We ask them to go to their local shelters and save a life.”

“All we want is awareness in the world,” Danny said. “If each person who appreciated our movie would help one animal or one shelter, that’s total gratification for us.”

Learn more about their mission at www.dannyronsrescue.org.

Panther Ridge Conservation Center Puts Its Focus On The Survival Of Majestic Cats

Cheetahs are the second-largest big cat in the world, right behind the mountain lion. To hear a cheetah purring loudly, all one has to do is meet 14-year-old Charlie when he is around Judy Berens, founder of the Panther Ridge Conservation Center.

“I came to Wellington originally because it was a fabulous place to show horses,” recalled Berens, who competed as a hunter rider until 2010.

Her passion for horses eventually expanded to include exotic cats.

“I started in the early 1990s,” she said. “Then once I had all my appropriate licensing, people would call me and say there was an animal that needed help. I went from being a pet owner to a rescue, and as the years have gone by, we have become much more involved in the conservation of these animals because they are absolutely disappearing from the face of the earth.”

One such case of a rescued animal living at Panther Ridge is Toltec, a 12-year-old ocelot. The cat was living at another facility for wild animals but was severely abused there.

“He kind of wobbles around like a drunk sailor, but he is the first ocelot to ever receive stem cell surgery in the world,” Facility Manager Sadie Ryan said. “We did that for him about three years ago, and it helped, but he will, unfortunately, never walk normally.”

Now Toltec’s life is filled with enrichment training conducted through positive reinforcement, along with a variety of other treats.

“He also gets special CBD popsicles to help with his arthritis and loves his toys,” Ryan said. “Toltec is a fanatic for some expensive cologne, too. He thoroughly enjoys a good scent sprayed in his enclosure.”

Originally based in Wellington’s Palm Beach Point community, the growing nonprofit moved last year to a much larger home in Loxahatchee Groves.

Currently, Panther Ridge houses 19 exotic cats representing many different species, including clouded leopards, jaguars and even a rare fishing cat.

Mateo, a three-year-old jaguar, was transferred from a zoo to Panther Ridge, where he was hand-raised. Now that he is reaching maturity, the team has arranged for a two-year-old female named Onyx to be his future girlfriend, once the facility infrastructure is complete.

“The long-term plan for them is to start a breeding program for jaguars, in association with the Zoological Association of America, so that their cubs can go to other facilities and spread their genetics within captivity to maintain a healthy captive jaguar population,” Ryan said, adding that many years from now, the hope is to once again return jaguars to the wild. “Once there is a protected area for them to thrive in without being poached and hunted.”

Several other cats in the collection came to Panther Ridge from other facilities, some because of the animal’s safety and others for a unique opportunity.

“I’ve gotten to know a lot of people in the zoological community, and I have a real fascination with clouded leopards,” Berens said. “Then we were given an unusual invitation — to become part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) for these cats. We had to meet stringent regulations, and now have successfully bred healthy cubs. The next group of cubs that we have, the SSP coordinator will come and determine which other facilities they will go to.”

Lura and Malee were the first two clouded leopards born at Panther Ridge, where they were hand-raised and well-socialized. Development Director Kandice Seitz shared the importance of having them.

“This is one of the only places you can go and get up close and personal with cats that are Class 1 endangered species, and we are very lucky to have clouded leopards here,” Seitz said. “It is very rare to see this many clouded leopards in one place. It’s just an amazing place that’s great for small kids, too, because it’s not too big for them to enjoy, even in the summer. Since our move a year ago, we’ve tried to create a more user-friendly facility for the public.”

Having a background in fundraising, Seitz never expected to be so involved with exotic cats.

“I’ve been here about three years,” Seitz said. “I actually went on my first tour with a group of prospective donors, and little by little, I began bringing people here to visit. Once I found Panther Ridge, I knew this is where I wanted to work.”

Seitz, like other docents and volunteers, also provides support for the facility by working directly with staff and even some of the animals. It is a love for the creatures in their care that brings the team together.

As the nonprofit grew in size, Berens made the difficult decision to move the facility and give up her time with horses.

“Horses can be put to pasture, retired or sold. There is no other safe option for these cats. These animals won’t survive without certain care and treatments,” Berens said. “But the quality of life for these special creatures is our priority. Our food bill alone is $45,000 a year for 19 cats.”

Berens, now championing exotic cats for almost 20 years, is hands-on every day — feeding animals and keeping a strong personal relationship with them, even the challenging ones.

“Fishing cats like Minnow here are very rare to see. Not a lot of facilities have them. In fact, they are notoriously difficult to deal with,” said Berens, who personally visits him every day. “He came to us at only five weeks old, and he was injured and had been weaned too young. On top of that, they were using the wrong formula. The long-term plan is I would like to get an unrelated female and breed some more fishing cats.”

Other species that can be seen at Panther Ridge include the caracal, serval and panther (also called mountain lions or cougars). Guests can also arrange personal encounters with a few of the animals.

The Panther Ridge Conservation Center is located at 2143 D Road in Loxahatchee Groves. It is open to all ages, and tours are available by reservation seven days a week. Call (561) 795-8914 or visit www.pantherridge.org for more information about the different programs available.

Protecting Exotic Species Is All In A Day’s Work At  McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary

With a focus on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wild animals, McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is a nonprofit that melds all facets of this important mission. The eight-acre facility started out as a small, private space for Mark McCarthy and his exotic animal collection.

“At the time, in 1990, there were very few houses,” McCarthy said. “I talked to the neighbors beforehand, and they are my best ally. They never complain — and it gets loud here sometimes.”

The noise level isn’t due to loud music, but the sounds of exotic wildlife ranging from lions to lemurs. The sanctuary is a permanent home for more than 150 animals, in addition to a wide array of temporary creatures there receiving treatment for injuries before heading back into the wild.

While McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary works with many species, the rescue, rehabilitation and release process is for native animals only. Every year, the facility handles countless squirrels and birds, but this past season proved to have some surprises in store.

“We received an otter who was completely nonresponsive,” Office Manager Barbara Drury recalled. “He was unconscious for three or four days. All that time, we were still giving him medicine and treatment, so we were thrilled he pulled through. Eventually, he recovered and grew up enough to be released back into the wild.”

A reptile-guy for sure, McCarthy started his love of animals with snakes. When he was just 16, he moved to Florida by hitchhiking from Michigan to Miami with a backpack full of snakes and a dream to work at the Miami Serpentarium. Some dreams come true. He was hired on the spot.

Throughout his 30-year career working with animals, McCarthy also spent a significant amount of time in the television, film and print production business, during which he collected more exotic species, including birds and big cats. These animals often came to him under scary circumstances.

“I came back from Africa and had just brought back my wife, Aneth, and I get a phone call at 3 o’ clock in the morning from Officer Rick Brown from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission,” McCarthy recalled. “He does the Orlando area, and said, ‘Mark, I’ve got a problem. I just seized a tiger and a cougar out of a Motel 6 up here in Orlando, and I have nowhere to put them.’ We go up there, and sure enough there was this magician who was wanted in Minnesota for abandoning his facility, and he was literally doing magic shows out of his van on International Drive.”

Animals needing to be rehomed is a big concern, as the exotic pet industry often finds uneducated owners in deep trouble dealing with more than they expected. For example, nearly 30 large African spur-thighed tortoises, who grow to weigh well over 100 pounds, lived at McCarthy’s at one time.

“I built this place on birthday parties, and those parties turned into teachers seeing me, and eventually all these school programs on top of the production jobs,” McCarthy said. “I really enjoyed the school shows — it was probably my favorite thing to do. I mostly focused on elementary schools, but this grew so big, I don’t do them anymore.”

Now that McCarthy no longer travels to schools, guests are able to come in person to visit the animals at the sanctuary by calling and reserving a spot in one of the available tours.

Guided tours run multiple times a day, Tuesday through Saturday. Aside from getting the chance to see some rare creatures such as ligers (yes, that is a real thing), another benefit are the guides themselves. McCarthy prides himself in having keeper/guides — individuals who work with the animals every day and are able to share personal stories and insights with guests.

One such keeper/guide is Alexis Opisso, who was happy to share the story of Larry the Nile crocodile.

“Crocodilians have one of the strongest bite forces in the animal kingdom, and Larry here was a pet surrender. He was bought as a birthday present for somebody’s daughter. They were keeping him in a bathtub,” Opisso explained. “We got Larry when he was about three years old. We conditioned him not to come up to us for food. When I go in there to change his water or scrub his tub, he never bothers me.”

She then immediately shifted to fun facts about crocs, like why their teeth are so white and how she finds tooth caps that have fallen out on a regular basis as new teeth replace them.

“Education is a big part of what we do,” Drury said. “Between Mark going out to schools all those years, and all the people who come here with their families — some kids have never seen a tiger up close. So, that experience may inspire them to learn about how we can save the tigers in the wild. Then they grow up to be a child who wants to conserve what we have.”

More than 20,000 people visit McCarthy’s every year, and the organization continues a lengthy track record of excellent ratings on Trip Advisor, which also puts them in the top spot for things to do in the West Palm Beach area.

Despite all the attention, staff keeps the tours limited for the sake of the animals’ well-being. “The tours are scheduled in a way that guests are gone late in the afternoon and the animals can have a normal evening routine to finish the day,” Drury said. “All of this started because of Mark’s first impression, and now all of these other children get a ‘wow’ moment, too.”

McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 12943 61st Street North in The Acreage. To make a reservation for a guided tour, call (561) 790-2116. For more information about the mission, animals and how to get involved, visit www.mccarthyswildlife.com.