[14] In 1995, they incorporated Wildlife on Easy Street, Inc. in Florida as a Not For Profit Corporation with the stated purpose of "acquisition, shelter, feeding, breeding and socialization of exotic and non-exotic animals; public education and awareness to benefit their wild counterparts.

[5] The sanctuary featured a bed and breakfast experience that allowed guests to spend the night with a young wild cat in their cabin.

[17] In September 2000, Wildlife on Easy Street applied to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for accreditation as a Certified Related Facility.

The application was denied in March 2001 for various reasons, including concerns about the amount of visitor contact with the cats, lack of any trained zoological professionals on staff, insufficient formal veterinary programs and unfinished perimeter fencing.

[20] Joe Exotic attempted to hire a hitman to kill Carole Baskin, chief executive officer of Big Cat Rescue,[21] who had won a lawsuit against him in 2013.

[21][23] In October 2014, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission inspected BCR based on a complaint and issued a warning for "maintaining a Leopard in an uncovered outdoor cage >1000 sq.

[29] One of the stated main goals of Big Cat Rescue is to end ownership and trade of exotic felines in the private sector entirely.

[39] In January 2011, the center received attention for its rescue of "Skip", a bobcat, who had likely been hit by a car on Florida State Road 46 and had a crushed pelvis.

[43][44] The sanctuary's owner, Carole Baskin, has voiced her displeasure with the show, stating that "it was like watching a dumpster fire, you just couldn’t turn away from it", and explained that her rivalry with Joe Exotic was somewhat blown out of proportion, as she claimed to have never actually spoken with him.