The Tega Cay Wildlife Conservation Society was established in 2023 to protect our wildlife and preserve their natural habitats.
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Overdevelopment and destruction of our forests
have left many innocent creatures without homes and they have found refuge in Tega Cay.
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Animal welfare and environmental concerns have empowered us to promote non-lethal deer management solutions and collaborate with like-minded organizations and communities to adopt these methods into public policy.
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Through public education on living harmoniously with wildlife and environmental conservation, we aim to reduce human-wildlife conflicts and foster a culture of compassion and kindness.
Ruthie Smith
I strongly believe that everyone has a purpose in life, and I was fortunate to realize mine at a young age. Animal welfare is my ambition, and I work tirelessly to implement compassion and care for all animal life. I choose to be a voice for the innocent and vulnerable creatures that have none.
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My passion has inspired my co-founders and me to establish TCWCS. Our motivation is guided by empathy, kindness, and integrity, and our goal is simple: to protect, preserve and promote the welfare of wildlife, its habitats and natural surroundings. Please join us in our mission!
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Quote from Co-Founder of Best Friends Animal Society, Silva Battista:
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“If you don’t understand or accept the basic principle of kindness – that it is an unbroken continuum that encompasses all life, including the animals, and if you dismiss this as not being important – you won’t get anything else right.”
Mary Hayes Ickert
“One of my earliest childhood memories was trudging out into the snow-covered ground in upstate Connecticut to help my Dad refill the bird feeders. Later I learned that he wasn't just feeding the birds but also the squirrels. I remember sitting in front of our big picture window drinking hot chocolate watching the birds flock to the feeder and the squirrels below eating what had fallen out. A few minutes later a fox came out of the woods and I remember watching these 3 different species all share a meal and a moment in the snowy bliss of our backyard where despite their differences, they felt safe and secure.
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That image still pops up in my mind as my love and desire for animals to feel safe and protected has grown over the years. From volunteering at local dog shelters to assisting with rescuing baby raccoons to our now beloved deer population, my passion is stronger than ever to be a voice for those who can not speak for themselves. Animals deserve our compassion and our respect and it's an honor to now be a part of the Tega Cay Wildlife Conservation Society where our vision is to not just help protect our wildlife, but also the environment we all share in harmony under our own bird feeder we call home."