“Love the animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled.”—Fyoder Dostoyevsky

In the same way that writers love words and foodies flip over the perfect soufflé, Patty Perry has always had a soft spot for all of God’s creatures big and small.

And like all great loves, it is a relationship that has certainly stood the test of time. In fact, Patty would be hard-pressed to remember a moment when animals did not play a major role in her life.

“I think we’re all born with certain God-given gifts,” Patty says. “For whatever reason they’re given to us, I think we just have to follow the path they lead us down. For me, I’ve always loved animals and I’ve learned so much about them from tangible, hands-on experiences from a very early age.”

Continuing her formal education and by volunteering at a demanding wildlife rehabilitation and education center, Patty not only gained invaluable experiences, but she eventually realized that this was what she wanted to dedicate her life to.

“When I volunteered all those years, I didn’t consider the possibility that this would eventually become WeC,” Patty shares. “But when those amazing seven years came to an end, I realized that I’d sort of outgrown my shoes. I needed a new challenge.”


Armed with the support of friends, family, and co-workers, Patty’s dream came to fruition in 2007 when her Wildlife & Environmental Conservation non-profit organization was founded.

Located in Moorpark, California, approximately 45 minutes north of Los Angeles, Patty is now caretaker to a variety of animal ambassadors including a very complete raptor program and an assortment of cats that include all four colors of Bengal tiger in one exhibit—something only one other facility in the country shares.

While it is virtually impossible for Patty to choose a species she loves most, she eventually reveals she has a particular soft spot for eagles.

And when she is not tending to her animal’s day-to-day needs, she’s either teaching about conservation in schools, churches, and community outreach programs.

Patty also serves as the Vice President for the Feline Conservation Federation. FCF is an international organization for private captive breeders and feline educators.

“It’s amazing what you learn when you go and really get a sense of how animals really exist in their own habitats in the wild,” Patty says. “It gives you a much broader perspective, an intense education and a deeper level of understanding for the animals you’re maintaining in captivity because it’s such a different experience.”

Suffice to say, life in Patty’s world is never, ever dull, which is exactly the way she likes it.

“This is definitely not a job, it’s a lifestyle. It’s not for everybody, that’s for sure,” Patty says. “My house sits in the middle of a wildlife compound, so I basically live with them, and they are my family. I can’t say enough about the people who work with me here and have helped me develop a dream. They’re such incredible support. I couldn’t do it without them.”

WeC is a federally and state permitted facility. It is funded by private donations.