Eight miles from the Florida line, tucked away behind a dirt road, turn right, and yes, you've arrived.

The Tiger Stripes sanctuary is off the beaten path, but once you're here, life is a breeze.

"It's a permanent facility to house exotic animals," said Chris Kilpatrick, the founder of the sanctuary. "And it's also going to be a retreat for underprivileged children and handicapped children."

Chris Kilpatrick started Tiger Stripes three months ago, after he was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to leave his 30 year career putting on animal shows behind him.

Tiger Stripes is a non-profit animal sanctuary that's dedicated to rescuing exotic animals with no place to go.

"This is little Lexi, a cougar" said Kilpatrick, as he snuggled up to her. "She's about two-and-a-half-years old now."

Tiger Stripes is a retirement home for these animals.

There are eight tigers, two bears, two cougars and two wolves.

They spend their days relaxing at the sanctuary.

Honey and Jazzy the bears live in their night housing unit.

The plan is to build an enclosure so they have more room to roam.

But times are tough and the sanctuary needs to raise more money to build it.

It could even rescue more animals... if, it had the money.

"All the money basically came from my savings and unfortunately I had to sell my truck and my car," said Kilpatrick.

In the last 30 years, Chris has looked after and trained more than 30 tigers.

Now, he's ready to slow down.

"They lay under an oak tree all day if they want to lay under an oak tree all day," said Kilpatrick. "They swim in the pond, if they want to swim in the pond. They do what they want to do. If they could smile, they would be smiling."

---------------------------------------------

Tiger Stripes Exotic Animal Sanctuary plans to open this summer.

They rely on donations.

For more information about this hidden treasure, click on their website: www.tigerstripes.org

Or call the sanctuary at (229) 506-9099.

----------------------------------------------

Support breast cancer awareness at the "Boobapalooza" benefit at Mathis Auditorium March 27 from 3 p.m. to midnight.

All proceeds will go to Chris Kilpatrick and the Tiger Stripes Exotic Animal Sanctuary.