This Struggle Cannot Be Overcome By All

Last week, I found myself on the road to Ohio with our newest volunteer, Mary, to pick up two new residents. A few weeks ago, we received an email from Tiffany Poulton, the Executive Director of The Richard E Flauto Wildlife Foundation. After inheriting the Sanctuary with the sudden loss of her former fiance, Rich, Tiffany has been struggling to survive for the last five years and doing anything and everything in her power to keep the Sanctuary alive. Unfortunately, as the years have passed, Tiffany has found herself working 2-3 jobs and along with her father, holding the sole responsibility for the 24 animals in her care. After attempting fundraising and volunteer recruitment efforts to no avail, she has decided that she must dissolve the Sanctuary, and thus, find placement for all of her animals. While we were only able to make a dent, we have been able to rescue two of her girls to become companions to two of our boys.

When Rich was a young child, he once told his mother, "Mom, when I grow up, I'm going to have lions and wolves." Little did his mother know at the time, that even Rich was in for a surprise when he matured. It was actually due to the loss of a common house cat that Rich began his rescue efforts. Tiffany remembers the loss as one that practically destroyed Rich. A cosmetologist by trade, Tiffany happened to be working on a client one day who announced that she was a "wolf-hybrid breeder" and invited Tiffany to come feed one of the newly born pups. Thinking that going to visit may cheer Rich up, she made arrangements to take him to the breeders house two days later. In the meantime, however, Rich and Tiffany were surprised to see the breeder on the evening news, charged for several counts of animal cruelty. When Tiffany explained to Rich that this was to be his surprised, his response was, "We have to do something to help them." Many of the womans animals were placed with another breeder who was very overwhelmed by the new arrivals. Rich and Tiffany picked up three of the pups to ease his burden, and thus began their rescue efforts.

In the coming years, Rich began seeking out wolves suffering abuse. He was able to rescue several wolves from an illegal fur farm, a petting zoo, and several irreputalbe breeders. Many of the animals he rescued were saved early in life, and thus, Tiffany & Rich bottle fed many of the residents at the Sanctuary.

At the age of 31, Rich died of a sudden heart attack. At this point, since Tiffany and Rich were not married yet, and due to the unexpected circumstances there was no will, the Sanctuary property was foreclosed on and put up for auction. Realizing that if they property was purchased all of the animals would be destroyed, Tiffany began scrambling to raise enough money for the 10% downpayment. At the auction, she was forced to bid large quantities against other bidders, as when the subject of the wolves was brought up, the general concensus was "We'll just shoot them." She was able to win, though she still had to search for the funding.

At the time of Rich's death, Tiffany knew nothing about wolves, their care, or the upkeep of a Sanctuary. Left with nothing but hope, her family and a few select friend's of Rich began tireless efforts to learn everything they could. With time, Tiffany founded the foundation in honor of her belated fiance. New enclosures were built. Fundraisers were attempted. An educational outreach program went into effect. However, in the meantime, all of the scrambling to simply survive had left a few of the females unspayed, and soon, the arrival of 11 wolf puppies became all that could be worried about. After the pups were born, the females were immediately spayed, however, there was now a population of 24 animals, and things were not getting any easier.

Throughout the years, Tiffany lost much of the support she had had when Rich first died. He had been a good friend, and many people wanted to honor his memory by assisting at first. However, with time, life gets in the way of volunteer work all too often, and soon, Tiffany, with some help from her father, became the only care-giver. Fundraising efforts were a flop, and educational programs brought little interest let alone funding. Tiffany realized that she could not survive anymore, working two jobs, and living out the life that was someone else's dream. At this point, an email was sent out to several Sanctuaries, including ours.

Our isolation enclosures are now occupied by two beautiful females, Maki & Kamia. Maki is a 5 year old Arctic/Timber cross who will hopefully finally give companionship to our newest boy, Cheyenne. Kamia is a 6 year old British Columbian/Timber cross who has a very sweet, calm disposition. We are hoping that she can take Meea's place in Fenris's heart, as Fenris is getting older and less playful, and Meea is simply languishing in an environment that is not someone's backyard.

The car ride was very stressful to the new girls, however now they are beginning to settle in to life across the country, and soon, we are sure they will begin singing with the chorus as well.

As Seasons Change

Spring is in full swing and summer approaching, and the howls of the compound are strong with the change of season, loss of winter coats, and life revealing itself all over the ranch. It's been over a month since I've written, and it's simply because of changes and business, excitement and distraction, losses and gains, and everything else in between.

The Summer is bringing extreme change with it... Over the years, Candy Kitchen Rescue Ranch has blossomed into Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, and it feels as though just now, finally, Wild Spirit is finally embracing itself and developing into the Sanctuary and Educational Facility it has worked for all these years. There will be so much more effort, evolution, and time, but we are on the verge, and with the changing seasons, the people are howling inside as much as the wolves.

Simple changes have happened... New volunteers coming in, the Wolf Kitchen finally being usable and the Wolf Trailer finally carried far, far away. The remainders of the original compound, while leaving their nostalgia, are finally being removed to signify the physical transition. Walkways are being modified/beautified... Enclosures are going through spring cleaning and maintenance, and our office is moving to its new location, slowly but surely, allowing for the beginning of our installation of public restrooms.

Our resident's lives are also changing in some ways. Cheyenne, our newest boy, has moved to a big enclosure on the hill and anxiously awaits the arrival of a girlfriend from Ohio. Rain, our girl who was meant to be with Cheyenne, showed us rather clearly that she was a perfect match for Ashlar, and after residing with him for only a week, they have become a playful, affectionate couple that bring smiles to the faces of any and all passers-by. Kaisa has finally found a home, and within a few weeks, they will make the drive from Missouri to pick up their newest family member. We believe that Meea will also be finding a home, a wonderful couple from California who recently moved in, leaving Fenris with an older lady more to his interests. We hope that Greebo & Hooter, Wapahnee, & possibly Shauntehey will be quickly following in their luck.

A Sanctuary in Ohio that is closing down has requested our assistance, and with time, we may be receiving several of their animals. We have also recently received news that 5 Arctic wolf puppies will be joining our family. While deserving, low-to-no content wolf-dogs are finding homes, other animals needing rescue are finding their safe haven at our facility.

Not all change has been pleasant, however. Several of the animals we currently house are growing very old, beyond 15 years for many, and with age has arrived many health problems. While it is difficult, this too is a sign of evolution, time, and the passion that originally began our effort all those years ago when these animals were rescued.

Also, we unfortunately lost a more distant relative of the family -- an animal who's life was able to educate and inspire many, while acting as an ambassador. One of our dear friends, Dick Thayer, a board member, volunteer, and family member, recently lost his partner, Arrow, an Alaskan Noble Companion Dog who represented the availability of wolfy-looking animals with a disposition taht could be matched by no other. With the assistance of Dick, Arrow was able to teach many people about how difficult it can be to tell the difference between a wolf and a dog, as well as inspire many potential wolf-dog owners, to find in his breed an equally beautiful animal, wth a personality that belongs in a home. We lost Arrow while he was at work, and while his death greatly pains us all, we feel honored to be blessed by his presence, and that he respectfully passed while doing what he did best --educating & inspiring the public. Our prayers are all with Dick, and we know that his strength and Arrow's lingering love and spirit will pull him through as well.

As summer approaches and our residents begin losing their winter coats, liberating them to the heat and activity, we too are shedding our winter securities and with the assistane of a new crew of summer volunteers, are beginning to embark upon many life-changing activities to better our Sanctuary and expand our outreach goals.