Most visitors to Claws 'N' Paws Wild Animal Park see the animals, enjoy the exhibits, and create lasting family memories. What many don't see is the work that happens behind the scenes each day, the routines, relationships, and dedication that keep the zoo running long before guests arrive.

As PTN host,  Deanna Fontanez discovered during a behind-the-scenes visit, the day at Claws 'N' Paws begins with animal care. Every morning starts with staff checking on each animal, making sure they are healthy, comfortable, and have fresh water before moving on to the many daily responsibilities that follow.

Head Zookeeper, Pamela Voglino shared, “First thing we do when we come in the morning is check all the animals. Make sure everybody's okay. You never know, there could be a surprise baby or something that we didn't know about. So, we make sure everybody looks okay. Check all of their water levels. Make sure they all have fresh water. And then we start our day by cleaning. It's a lot of cleaning. To clean up after the animals and always prepping food. There's somebody always making diets for the animals. And one of the biggest parts of our job is enrichment. So you think, you see the animals and you walk around, you see they have u maybe a bag or a ball or something in their pens that gives them something to do. Well, every day we have to come up with something original for them because you don't want to do the same thing all the time. It keeps their mind active, keeps their bodies moving, things like that."

Those daily responsibilities help create something even more important: strong bonds between the animals and the people who care for them. Over time, trust develops through consistency, patience, and countless shared experiences.

Pamela told us about one of those relationships, “One of my favorites is a porcupine. I raised her, brought her home every night, put she was on a bottle. She used to run around my house. And she still lives here today. She recognizes my voice even now, and comes over, lets me rub her belly. Things that you wouldn't think a porcupine would do."

Our cameraman was surprised at the story, "Sorry. I'm sorry. Did you say you had a porcupine in your house?" Everyone laughed and Pamela responded, “Mhm. Yeah. Lots of things. Bears, porcupines, raccoons, monkeys, everything."

For Senior Zookeeper Carina Fabbricatore, those connections are one of the most rewarding parts of the job and play a vital role in the animals' care and well-being.

Carina shared with us, “Through all that and being here for so long, you do create really strong bonds with the animals. And that's great when you have a strong bond because then they trust you and you can do any kind of medical you know things you need to do to them. It's a lot easier. So it is really great to have the strong bonds and some animals when you earn their trust it feels great because not everybody does”.

During her visit, Deanna had the opportunity to go behind the scenes with Carina, meet several animals up close, and experience firsthand the work that happens beyond the public’s eyes. It was a day filled with unforgettable moments, something Claws 'N' Paws strives to create for every guest who walks through its gates.

Another fun thing Deanna found out was that the park has become the backdrop for many meaningful life events over the years, with animals like Jethro the giraffe becoming part of family milestones and cherished memories.

"Somebody got married right here where I'm standing in front of the giraffe. She specifically asked us if she could do that, which I thought was fantastic. So, it was our first wedding, our only wedding. And then somebody else announced the gender of their baby in front of the giraffe too.”, Carina shared.

Known for its family-friendly atmosphere and interactive experiences, Claws 'N' Paws focuses on creating meaningful connections between visitors and animals, especially for younger guests.

“Our zoo is actually geared towards children and families. So, you can come here and what we really want is for these children, the new generation to get some kind of an experience that they remember. We try to have interactive experiences with the animals. So we have giraffe feedings, capa feedings, tortoise feedings, parrot feedings, and we want that the kids to experience something. Go into the petting area, let the goats jump on you cuz you'll remember that. And then hopefully in the future, they'll care more about animals. It might reshape their direction in life like it did for me. And then, you know, care about the environment and care about protecting the animals that you saw.”, Pamela expressed.

For the zoo's staff, one of the greatest rewards is seeing families return year after year, creating traditions that span generations.

"Our biggest thing, because we've been around for 52 years, is that we get generations of families. So, we all the time will get people coming and recreating photos that they took when they were little up at the Dino Outpost. It's kind of nostalgia, you know, so they take the same photo they took when they were three. Or I have grandparents here that are like, 'Oh, I took my daughter here when she was little and now I'm taking my granddaughter here. Um, so it's it's a very family oriented park.”, Pamela shared.

While visitors may leave at the end of the day, the work behind the scenes continues. From animal care and enrichment to building trust and creating memorable guest experiences, the team at Claws 'N' Paws is dedicated to making every visit meaningful. The next time you explore the zoo, take a closer look, because behind every enclosure is a story most visitors never get to see.