Wednesday
We lost Wednesday late June of 2023 due to old age. In 2022, we welcomed Wednesday to PrideRock after her owner was no longer able to take care of her. She was 18-years-old and many would describe her as sassy, yet sweet – as most African Servals tend to be. Wednesday was a vocal girl and you could always tell when she was excited and/or upset.
We didn’t have Wednesday long, but we’re grateful to be able to give her a safe place to call home for the remainder of her days. We hope Wednesday is now living her best life across the rainbow bridge.
Kashmir
At the end of May, we had to say goodbye to our sweet boy, Kashmir. Kashmir lived a good, long life, but with old age, comes a worn out body. That’s the thing about animals, you do your best to keep them living comfortably, but inevitably, all animals will cross the rainbow bridge.
Kashmir came to us in 2000 with his brother Jamu, when they were just 6 months old. Both boys arrived with ringworm and we worked day and night to rid them of it and return their striped skin into beautiful fur coats. From then on, Kashmir remained to be a happy and sweet-natured tiger. He would always greet you at his enclosure with chuffing and headbutts to the gate and you could just see the affection in his eyes.
As always, this hasn’t been easy on us, but we are just thankful we had 23 years with our precious Kash.
Masala
We were devastated to find out that Masala was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2023. He was taken from us shortly after in July.
Masala came to us in 2017 with his twin brother Tarzan when their current home was downsized. The two were completely inseparable and it breaks our heart to know they will be separated for the first time in their lives. Masala was a goofy, yet sweet tiger. You could find him snuggling with Tarzan one moment, to running around his enclosure playing with his toys. He was also very social. The minute he would see a staff member walk up, he would greet them with face rubs and chuffing.
We miss you everyday, Masala. Tarzan especially. But know that you are living pain-free across the rainbow bridge.
Java
Java lived a long, good life and passed away in June 2023 due to a heart issue called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that she developed at an early age. We were fortunate that we had 8 years of her 17 because ailments such as hers don’t have an exact timeline.
Java came to PrideRock in 2015 at the age of 9 with Rajah. The two came from a circus in Hugo, Oklahoma, and immediately settled into their forever homes. For those who knew and worked with her personally, the best word to describe her was “sweet-natured.” She would always greet you with chuffs and face/head bunting to her enclosure. Java truly was happy to see her people and socialize with fellow tiger residents next to her.
Saying goodbye is never easy for us even when we know we provided the best life possible for our residents. Java girl, we hope you are living your best life across the rainbow bridge.
Hunter
Hunter came to us in March 2022 with the rest of the clowder that was living at a rehab facility here in Terrell. Unfortunately their caretaker was dealing with health issues that ultimately caused her to have to close down shop.
We only had Hunter a few months and in June noticed a rapid decline in his health leading to his passing. We later learned that Hunter was born with a defective liver.
Hunter lived a long life and we estimate that he was about 15-years-old. He was a sweet boy that was very friendly with our staff and boy did he love attention. We’re sad that we didn’t get to spend more time with him, but are happy that we were blessed with the chance to get to meet him. We can now rest assured that he is living pain-free across the rainbow bridge.
Leo
We are absolutely devastated to share that we lost Leo in early September. If you’ve been following us for the last decade, you know that Leo is the heart and soul of PrideRock. Shortly after Labor Day weekend, Leo was acting unwell, and at 24-years-old, we sadly knew it was his time to cross the rainbow bridge. It never gets easier to lose one of our residents, but with Leo, it’s been especially hard.
Leo was a unique and rare type of lion due to the fact that he was of Barbary descent. His mane was majestic, beautiful and large. Beyond his beauty, Leo was known for how friendly and affectionate he was and stole the hearts of our staff and volunteers. Leo came to us in 2013 with his mate Cleo and were the refuge’s two lovebirds. They’d spend their days washing each other’s faces and taking care of one another. It was evident he missed Cleo after she passed in 2017, but Leo continued to be the king of PrideRock. In the mornings you could hear Leo’s magnificent roar for miles and those vocal vibrations could be felt deep into your chest. At times you would even find Leo and Diego having a sing off – a sound that can’t be forgotten.
Words can’t describe the pain we are feeling from his loss, but we are happy to know that he is finally reunited with Cleo. We sure felt lucky to be able to experience a lion like Leo but will miss him daily. RIP sweet boy.
Babu
At the beginning of December we lost our sweet Babu. Babu was approaching her third birthday, so needless to say, this loss was shocking and heartbreaking. Sadly, we had recently learned that Babu was born with reproductive issues which had taken a turn for the worse. That said, Babu became very sick and her time to cross the rainbow bridge came all too quickly.
If you’ve been following us for awhile, you know that Babu was our first bobcat. She came to us a small kitten, so this hasn’t been easy on our staff. Babu was playful, sweet, social – everything in which you’d imagine a young bobcat. You could count on the pitter patter of her paws following close behind you when you walked past her enclosure because she truly loved her caretakers. Babu, we already miss you more than you know. RIP, sweet girl.
Bagherra
Bagherra came to us with Kumal about 10 years ago after their time working in the entertainment business. Bagherra was a sweet boy with a fun personality. We’re thankful he was able to live out the rest of his life in a relaxed environment, which was well-deserved.
Unfortunately, in February of 2021, Bagherra suffered a stroke and crossed the rainbow bridge. While he lived a very long life for a Tiger at 20-years-old, it’s never easy to say goodbye to our fur babies. RIP sweet boy.
Keisha
In February, we lost our fierce lioness, Keisha. This has been a hard loss to swallow, especially because we welcomed Keisha as a cub 30 years ago. Keisha lived a good, long life for a lion. (Outside of captivity lions live 10-14 years.) However, it doesn’t make it easy to lose one of your fur babies. Keisha was our “little tank” because she was so strong and stout. She made her presence known and it was very apparent that Keisha was the boss here at PrideRock. We will miss you, Keisha, but hope that you are living your best life across the rainbow bridge.
Katie
Katie came to us with her sisters Willow and Sasha. She passed away in February of 2020 due to heart complications and we were completely heartbroken. Katie was a sweet girl that brought us endless joy and we miss her energetic personality daily.
Zoe
Zoe was truly a favorite at PrideRock. She came to us 13 years ago when she was 2-years-old from a family in South Texas. If you walked by her enclosure, she’d always come out of her shelter to greet you and purr. Imagine a large house cat that craves attention and that’s what you got with her. There was not a mean bone in her body which made it even harder to have to say goodbye to such a precious animal. We’re relieved that she’s no longer in pain and hope that she is pouncing around cougar heaven.
Shana
Shana came to us in 2011 with her companion Tigger. Both came from a breeding facility in Indiana and instantly fit in here at PrideRock. Shana was a tough girl and while being one of our smaller tigers, her roar could knock you off your feet. She was a little more on the aggressive side at first, but after losing Tigger, she softened. Our staff enjoyed working with Shana and commented on how she was always a laidback, sweet girl, but don’t you mess with her food.
She enjoyed her time at PrideRock playing soccer and as many know, perching and laying out on her big concrete tube in her pen. Shana passed away in August of 2020 and we will miss her greatly but are at peace knowing she is now with her buddy Tigger.
Tony
Tony was 20 years old and lived a great life here at PrideRock, but unfortunately, with old age, comes complications. Recently, Tony had an abscess drained on his shoulder and we learned that this included a tumor. We tried to remain optimistic, but sadly, it was Tony’s time to cross the rainbow bridge.
Tony came to us in 2012 from West Virginia. He was 12 years old at the time and joined us with Tiggy who passed away in 2017. For anyone who came into contact with Tony, you knew instantly how sweet of a boy he was. As Corey has said, “he didn’t know he was a tiger.” Tony rarely growled and was excited to see people. We’re so devastated by his passing, but know that Tony is living it up in tiger heaven.
Loki
Loki came to us in 2015 after being rescued from the side of the road by his previous owner. As with many of our residents, his owner’s living space was no longer the best situation for Loki, so he came to live at PrideRock. Loki was a sweet wolf-dog and despite living with several recurring illnesses in terms of hernias and heartworms, he was a happy boy.
After 14 years, Loki passed away in August of 2020 and is now in dog heaven. We will miss him greatly.
Allie
Allie was born at PrideRock to Mia in 1998 along with Jake and Ruby, who sadly have passed on. It was a wonderful experience to bottle feed them and raise them in the house with us. We were the first things they saw when they opened their eyes so we were mom and dad. That time was one of the most rewarding of my life and something I’ll always remember. Allie has blessed our lives for many years and has grown into a big beautiful lioness with a wonderful disposition. She will be forever missed.
Pharaoh
Pharaoh was a sweet lion that came to us as a cub from a breeder that had used him in shows. We kept him on the bottle for a long time, which we believe created that strong bond he had to humans and enhanced his sweet personality. We were saddened when we lost our handsome boy in April 2019. Pharaoh is missed every day.
Toro
Toro was a shy, beautiful soul who came to us with her siblings, Rowdy and Toro. The three of them taught us everything we know about bears. We are so grateful for the time we were able to share with her. Toro passed in the spring of 2019.
Sinbad
We got Sinbad as a young tiger when we lost another beloved male tiger to help our broken hearts heal. Sinbad filled the void in a big way and went on to live out his life at PrideRock for the next 23 years. We were just starting our journey at the time so he was with us from the beginning. He came to be known fondly as Captain Sinbad by friends and volunteers through the years and had a very distinct personality. He had to get to know you before he warmed up much, but then he was full of chuffs. Sinbad passed away peacefully in May, 2018. He will always be missed and holds a very special place in our hearts.
Casey
Casey was one of four cougar cubs born at PrideRock due to an accidental breeding. We bottle fed him and his three sisters and bonded strongly with all of them. We lost his three sisters in recent years so Casey was the last to go after almost 20 years. He was a special, beautiful boy and could often be found lounging in his hammock or high shelf. He loved to stalk volunteers but did his share of purring too. Casey passed away peacefully in July, 2018. We miss Casey terribly and will always remember those four sweet baby cougars that we hand raised from ten days old.
Cherokee
Cherokee, or Cherry, was a special cougar. She didn’t particularly care for women but bonded immediately with our Operations Manager, Corey. Cherry died peacefully in her sleep March 18. She was 23 years old.
Tiggy
Tiggy arrived in 2013 with Tony from a resort in West Virginia. The two stayed together for the remainder of Tiggy’s life, and after getting used to their new surroundings they settled in happily in their new home. Tiggy passed on April 17th, 2017 at the age of 17.
Rambo
This big, beautiful boy was with us many years and had quite a story. Some friends had to move him along with all their other exotic cats quickly because of a motorcycle gang that was threatening their safety. Prior to living with them, he had spent the first years of his life in a dark basement not ever knowing what daylight was. Needless to say, we were happy to take him and give him the best possible life with lots of room and plenty of sunshine. He brought us tons of joy through the years, and passed on April 24th, 2017 at the ripe age of 20.
Cleo
This spectacular lioness crossed over the rainbow bridge in August of 2017. She spent her life with her mate Leo, whom she loved and looked after every day. She could often be found cleaning Leo’s face and showering him with affection. She and Leo came to us from the same location as Tony and Tiggy, and we feel so blessed to have given her a loving home in her later years. She passed at the age of 18, and we and Leo will miss her terribly.
Mia
PrideRock Wildlife Refuge lost its 28 year old mama lioness Dec. 14, 2016. She was the mother of Allie and Ruby. Mia lived with Keisha and they spent many hours together lazing in sun, or on their platform. Keisha has been in her den all day since Mia died. Animals grieve too.
Jamu
Jamu and Kashmir (left to right) were brothers. They spent many days and night by each others’ side. They sometimes argued, like brothers do, but shared ther lives together. Jamu passed over the rainbow Dec. 16.
He was known as our little “conehead” due to the permanent bump on the top of his head. Kash is now alone at PrideRock and our staff and volunteers will do everything to help him through losing his brother. Jamu was 16 years old.
Golden
Golden was one of three Exxon Mobile tigers who arrived at PrideRock in 2004.
Golden died January 10 from unknows causes. She arrived with her sisters, Mia and Kelly, who preceded her in death from cancer. She was probably close to 20 years old.
Board Member
With over 30 years of experience working with companies, individuals, and law firms, Matt has provided management expertise and oversight, business advice, and legal counsel to a wide array of companies, corporate managers, and investors. Through the course of his career, he has worked in law firms of all sizes and has founded and operates his own firm. Matt also has served in a wide range of roles on the corporate front, including CEO, COO, President, Vice President of Sales, Director, Board Chairman, corporate secretary, and General Counsel. These roles have included companies of all sizes and in many disparate industries, from consumer products to drug development to artificial turf. Matt also serves as a managing partner and general counsel for Invicta Funds, LLC.
Matt received his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University. Matt and his wife Andrea are passionate about animal rescue, volunteering with local dog rescues. They also both have had a long affinity with Pride Rock, that goes back many years.
Board Member
A love of animals, the outdoors, and a keen eye for photographic composition help Nancy in her work, whether one on one, or in an environment with multiple subjects. She has worked her trade at various wildlife sanctuaries and refuges, including PrideRock Wildlife Refuge in Terrell, Texas; Out Of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, Arizona; and S.O.S. Care in Valley Center, California. Her photographic work has appeared in the May/June, July/August, and September/October 2014 issues of the Feline Conservation Federation Journal, as well as multiple issues of the Fountain Hills Times. She is driven by a love of animals of all kinds, big and small. In 2014 Nancy was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Basic Husbandry of Wild/Exotic Felines by the Feline Conservation Federation. Nancy lives in beautiful Fountain Hills, Arizona with her two furry kids.
mzmriz@usa.net
Landscape Maintenance
stevenhagy@gmail.com
Assistant Animal Keeper
blewis_20@yahoo.com
Marketing Director
kayla@priderock.org
Operations Manager
coreyafeline@gmail.com
Board Member
Growing up in Rhode Island, Ms. Ohmann was a member and instructor at the Rhode Island Ballet Arts Academy. She also danced for 7 years with the state ballet group, Festival Ballet of Rhode Island. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree from Rhode Island College.
Several years later she relocated to Texas a with her company in Terrell, TX, previously known as Vistawall, now Oldcastle Building Envelope and still works there in Human Resources. She is a member of the National Chapter of SHRM, Society for Human Resource Management and Trinity Valley Human Resource Association. She holds an Advanced Certificate in Human Resources from S.M.U., Southern Methodist University. In her business role she provides full Human Resource and Leadership Development support for several locations of her organization including the main office in Terrell.
For many years she was on the Board of Directors for the Terrell Chamber of Commerce and during that time served on their Executive Board for Economic Development. As part of her Chamber experiences, she was instrumental in bringing the program “Work in Terrell” to success. As a result she traveled to Austin with the Chamber, City and other business leaders to accept the State of Texas Economic & Workforce Development award. Carol started the School to Work-School to Life program with the Terrell I.S.D. and local businesses to bring students and businesses together to help build skills and careers. She and her business are avid supporters of the Terrell Career and Technology program. During her tenure with the Chamber and continuing today, she is involved with and volunteers for various community and charitable activities.
Carol has been on the Board of Directors for T.A.E.A, Terrell Alliance for Education and the Arts since 2002. As part of this board she was a founding member of the E!Terrell Performing Arts Series which brings a diverse set of performances each year for the Terrell and surrounding communities as well as educational experiences and outreach for the local school districts.
Ms. Ohmann is very honored to be asked recently to join the Board of Directors of Pride Rock Wildlife Refuge. This is a wonderful organization committed to providing permanent sanctuary and shelter to mistreated and unwanted wild animals, primarily lions, tigers, cougars, bears and wolves. She is very excited and looking forward to helping with these successful and noble efforts.
cohmann@obe.com
Board Member
Andrea is an Animal SensAbility Master, Healing Touch for Animals Practitioner, a Shamballa (MDH) Reiki Practitioner, Natural Earth Medicine Healer, gifted Communicator, and an Intuitive Counselor for pets and their people. She provides a gentle touch and holistic approach that influences the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of all kinds of animals through energy, connection and intention. Andrea is also an experienced volunteer wildlife medic and rehabber. She holds a certificate in basic felid husbandry of wild/exotic felines through the Feline Conservation Federation. Andrea resides in Fountain Hills, AZ with her beloved English bulldog, Jack.
critterdoc1@cox.net
Board Member
Tom joined the PrideRock Wildlife Refuge Board of Directors in November 2016. He is the president of Texas Lamp Manufacturing, a third-generation, family-owned business since 1946. Tom is a native of Dallas and attended Texas A&M University. Tom also serves on the board of The Share Center in Kaufman County.
txlamp@airmail.net
Board Member
espo@asvfd.org
Board Member
Carlton joined the Chamber staff in March 2010 as Vice President. Carlton attended Abilene Christian University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and holds a Certificate of Continuing Education from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute and the University of Arizona’s Institute of Management. Carlton is a member of the Texas Economic Development Council, Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives, serves on the Board of Directors for Star Transit, Kaufman County Crimestoppers, and is the Kaufman County representative on the North Central Texas Workforce Board.
carlton@terrelltexas.com
Board Member
Tricia Smith is a dynamic, highly motivated, compassionate professional with a demonstrated track record of success; uniquely combining sales management, team building and corporate vision. Tricia has devoted her life to the ultimate goal of acting as a Community Advocate and Master Consensus Builder. A confident decision maker and effective problem solver; she has been able to work independently or as an integral part of a team effort.
triciadsmith@gmail.com
President & CEO
hollimang@gmail.com
Board Member
Wildlife Refuge with her husband in 1992, (formerly Pride & Pack) and became Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer when it became a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in 1998. She attended Abilene Christian University and Southern Methodist University and obtained a paralegal certificate. She currently works at Jackson Walker, LLP in the Dallas Arts District. Her true passion is caring for her animals at PrideRock which are the loves of her life.
cholliman@priderock.org
