AUGUST 2014 newsletter

conservation 路 education 路 preservation

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center AUGUST 2014

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SSP meeting - 2014 路 Darlene attended the 2014 meeting hosted by the Endangered Wolf Center. It was very informative and always nice to share information, meet new friends and say hello to old friends.

Darlene and her favorite tool

As we were driving back from an exhausting weekend in Truth or Consequences, NM, we decided to stop for a quick lunch in Santa Fe. It was a really beautiful town with unique jewelry and architecture that was liquid art. I bought a pair of earrings from one of the many Native Americans who brought their wares to sell. I was happy to contribute to something truly original. As we walked to leave after a delicious authentic lunch, I saw this statue with Saint Francis and of all things a wolf that was beside him. It was in front of this massive church with a mission bell where many tourists lined up to take photos. What is interesting to me is that I just came from a meeting where the ranchers were so hostile and would love to kill the wolf and any predator that gets in the way of their ranching business and made comments about how evil the wolf was. I wish I had this photo and ask them why Saint Frances was walking side by side with this vicious evil wolf?

YEAH!!!!! Our Broadmoor bathroom is now complete! It’s a BEAUTY! LADIES ROOM

MENS ROOM

Phil was just not thin enough and had to be pulled out.

Somebody has to do the dirty jobs around here and luckily Danielle was small enough to go down the toilet into the tank to sweep up any concrete pieces before it is used for the 1st time.

• Our very own Danielle is modeling a shirt from the Mountain Top experience ride cycling group. As you can see they used our beautiful wolf Koda as the main attraction.

• Updated information board.

• New fencing that goes completely around the swift fox enclosure.

• Our flourishing water feature for our swift fox.

• The bush (Honey locust) that grows over a foot a month.

• Some of Katie’s garden creations.

End of summer day out at Mt. Princeton. We all look possessed with joy!

Darlene and Katie

Class was held with Dr. Kristin demonstrating on Casey our dog on how to listen to the heart and lungs. Because of this class we found out that Casey has a mild heart murmur which now she will be treated for. Labs were also performed and Darlene discussed what she learned from the Mexican SSP meeting she attended in St. Louis at the Endangered Wolf Center. Classes will be held monthly at the Center. It looks like a future project may be a classroom.

Leave No Dog Behind! DNR secretary confirms that wolf hunt opponents American Humane Association were removed from advisory committee americanhumane.org

By Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio

The American Humane Association took to Capitol Hill with members of Congress and three of the military hero dog teams we reunited to talk about the need to bring home all of our warrior dogs upon retirement and reunite them with their human handlers. Our event was a resounding success, gaining worldwide exposure for this important mission through international news coverage, including NPR, ABC News, Fox News, the BBC, the Sean Hannity Show, and many more!

But the fact remains: there are still hero dogs out there waiting to come home. We need to bring ALL of our military hero dogs back upon retirement -- and we need your help.

Please make a donation today so we can continue our mission to reunite the four-legged veterans with the human soldiers with whom they have forged such an unbreakable bond, and so that these hero dogs can enjoy the retirement that they have so greatly earned.

With an unparalleled ability to sniff out and detect weapons and Improvised Explosive Devices, it is estimated that each military hero dog saves the lives of between 150-200 soldiers. And when not keeping warriors out of harm’s way, these dogs provide our troops with companionship and an invaluable sense of normalcy and home under almost unimaginable circumstances.

Yet when our human soldiers end their tours of duty and return home, their faithful military dogs do not always follow.

Your generous gift can change that, enabling us to reunite these military teams, and provide our canine warriors with medical care they so desperately need after years selflessly serving our country.

Your support will also allow American Humane Association to continue all of our programs to protect our nation’s children and animals.

Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp revealed at a DNR Board meeting recently that the agency removed people who were staunchly opposed to wolf hunting from the state’s Wolf Advisory Committee.

While a lot of the public discussion during the meeting was about a new wolf hunting quota, some of it was also about a change over the last two years in the makeup of the DNR’s advisory committee on wolves.

Stepp confirmed what her critics have alleged: that wolf hunting opponents were by and large kicked off the committee.

“When we’re charged to manage and to implement a hunt, coming in and telling us, ‘Don’t hunt wolves,’ is not a productive way to run a committee, frankly,” said Stepp. “That’s just the candid way to lay it out.

We had to have people who were willing to work with us in partnership, and be willing to help us and advise

us along the way in implementing state law.”

Rachel Tilseth of Wolves of Douglas County Wisconsin was a volunteer DNR tracker of wolves for about a dozen winters, and attended a few meetings of what used to be called the Wisconsin Wolf Stakeholders Group. Tilseth testified about the wolf hunt proposal during the meeting.

She later said she didn’t care for Stepp’s remarks.

“I was just appalled that somebody like Cathy Stepp, who’s in charge of this important issue, is saying something like that,” said Tilseth. “It sounds to me like it’s a committee that they want made up of wolf-killers.”

Several DNR staff are on the recently created Wolf Advisory Committee, as are representatives of several pro-hunting groups. A smaller number of wolf hunting skeptics also remain on the committee, including a representative of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

BE A VOICE

for the Mexican Grey Wolf Please send your comments to: CWWC · P.O. Box 713 · Divide, CO. 80814 or directly to: USFW · Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2013-0056 Division of Policy and Directives Management USFW Service 5275 Leesburg Pike · Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 or electronically: www.regulations.gov Search for Docket FWS · Comment Now. Include: Name · Date · Address · Comments

Full Moon TOURS

SEPTEMBER 5·6·7 Standard Full Moon Tour Meet and greet Keyni our ambassador wolf before the tour. Tour starts immediately after and lasts approximately 1 hour.

One Saturday night a month!

Full Moon Feeding TouR This tour combines our FEEDING TOUR with our FULL MOON TOUR. The Friday before and Sunday after our Full Moon Tours.

ADULTS: $25 (13 years+)

CHILDREN: $15

(8-12 years) No kids under 8

Wear warm clothes & good boots.

Bring a camera and a flashlight Check wolfeducation.org for dates and check-in times

Standard Tour

ADULTS $15 · CHILDREN $8 10 am, noon and 2 pm Tuesday-Sunday 1 hour educational tour

FEEDING Tour

ADULTS $20 · CHILDREN $10 Every day except Thursday (and Monday) 1 hour educational tour while your guide feeds the wolves.

WALK on the WILD SIDE

$75 PER PERSON Reservations for Thursdays or Sundays Guided nature walk in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with a wolf.

YOUTH FOX PHOTOS

$100 for up to 4 children (must be 8 or older) Your child will have their picture taken with our red fox.

ALPHA PHOTO SESSION

$150 for the first two guests (must be 18 or older) $50 for each additional guest, up to 4 people Get up close and personal with our wolves or foxes. Not only will you be able to interact with our wolves, but a staff photographer will also capture this ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.

Each group will receive up to 15 photos on a CD to take home.* *We do our very best to capture the perfect photos with our animals, however, some days may be better than others, as each animal has an individual personality. You will receive up to 15 photos. Some will be natural and it’s possible to get a posed shot, but there are no guarantees. Your time in with the animals can vary, depending on how cooperative they are.

All tours have limited space and have our no-cancellation policy.

Reschedules are allowed May-October only!

FEATURED COLORADO ESCAPES

By Carri Wilbanks · www.catchcarri.com

It all started when Darlene Kobobel rescued a wolf-dog in 1993 in Lake George, Colorado. When she learned that the animal, named Chinook, faced euthanization at the local animal shelter because of her “wolf-hybrid” label, Darlene took her home. She began to research the issue and after discovering the controversies and misunderstandings surrounding the wolf-dogs, she was determined to provide a safe haven for unwanted animals.

What started out as purely a rescue operation eventually evolved into the Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center after ten years. Kobobel realized that it was time to spearhead more widespread education about wolves so that even more animals’ lives could be saved in the end.

Today, the Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center educates the public through tours and programs about the importance of wolves, coyotes and foxes to our ecosystem. The center also promotes forest, land and water conservation and provides natural habitats and quality living for animals entrusted to its care that cannot survive in the wild.

I talked with Darlene about the challenges she faced founding and running a wolf sanctuary and the future of wolves: Q: How did the Sanctuary come to be?

A: I was financially challenged so I worked three jobs to support the animals and myself. The poles for the wolf enclosures were t-posts and I had concrete wire as fencing. My gift shop was a 10 x 10 area in the living room of my little house, where I made gifts to sell to help support the Center. Today, CWWC is 70 acres with 16 wolf, coyote and fox enclosures, 5 employees, several volunteers and interns, and a worldwide reputation.

By Peggy Swager · www.peggyswager.com

Q: What are some of the things that it will take to secure the future of wolves?

A: The wolves are up against bad politics and special interests. I believe that if every person who says that they love wolves and want to help them would actually call or write to USFWS (United States Fish and Wildlife Service) and let them know that wolves are essential to a balanced ecosystem and that they are against the delisting of the them in the lower 48 states like what is being proposed right now, that it could possibly help. There is a comment line at 1-800-344-9453 Ext. 0.

Having accurate information and putting pressure on elected officials is another way of being a voice, but we need greater numbers of people to work together. If we do not become a strong voice now, we will lose our wolves in the next 10 years. Money is the true evil, as the biggest threats are selling hunting permits and the greed of some ranchers. Our precious wildlife is diminishing and they are losing protection from our government. Please be a voice. We can help point you in the right direction.

A lot of people don’t realize that voice is a powerful training tool. I was taught voice as a training aid over forty years ago when a taking horse riding lessons.

I quickly learned to always use a calm voice when working with a nervous horse. When working with dogs, I learned to use a motivational tone of voice as a reward. But, I’ve seen people use a motivational tone of voice at the wrong time. I’ve seen people use my techniques to successfully calm down their dog, but then they reward that point of success with a motivational tone in their praise. This typically tenses the dog who just relaxed, reducing the overall success of the exercise. Another dog who emphasized that not all dogs find a motivational voice constructive when training is a dog named Abby. In the Youtube video below, you can see how trying to use a motivational tone of voice can be counterproductive.

Q: What is something readers would be surprised to know about you or the sanctuary?

A: When I was a young girl, my biggest fear was wolves.

http://youtu.be/GLeZIxg8Da0

Q: What is the biggest challenge of running the sanctuary? And biggest reward?

A: The biggest challenge is always money to sufficiently run the sanctuary and to provide the animals with the best care in every way. The biggest reward is twofold for me. One, I can give these animals a forever home with space, good food, enrichment and lots of love. The second biggest reward is watching the reaction of our guests when the wolves howl at the end of our tour.

Hutson and Reggie need a home together. They are 2-yr-old brother & sister husky/shepherd mixes, spayed, neutered, microchipped, all vaccinations current.

Hutson weighs 50lbs and is very friendly! She loves to go for walks, chew on bones, have her belly rubbed. She’s been in obedience training and is doing well. She knows sit, down, stay, wait, and how to walk with a loose leash. She is very motivated by food, and can’t stop wagging her tail when showing off her tricks for treats! She would do best in a house without other dogs, except for her brother.

At 70lbs, Reggie’s a big guy, but very gentle and sweet! He likes to stay close to his people, take walks, and play with his sister, Hutson.

He’s had some obedience training and is doing well at sit, down, stay, wait, and loose-leash walking. He likes the work—and getting treats for his efforts—and would do well in a home where he can continue working on obedience skills. He is crate trained, house trained, stays off of furniture, and knows to only chew on his toys. He would do best in a house without other dogs, except for his sister.

I won’t take up too much space..

I promise!

SLVAWS TCRAS Hi there. My name is Connor and I am a very special guy! You could call me a “perpetual puppy” as I have a disorder called Cerebellar hypoplasia (non-human); I was born without my cerebellum being mature. I am quite endearing, you will fall in love if you just sit and watch me for a little bit. This disorder does not affect my lifespan, just my maturity level. I need a home that is filled with patience, structure and a good routine for me to follow and I will thrive. I will do very well in a home with another dog to help me along my way and to show me the ropes! My favorite time of day is when I get to play with my doggie friends, we have a great time! Come visit me, even if to just get to know me and my sweetness just a little bit better.

CWWC will pay you $200 towards the shipping to a qualified home from the Vieques Humane Society

Adopt SLV Animal Welfare Society 719.587.woof (9663) www.slvaws.org Non-Profit Shelter Monetary Donations Needed

TCRAS the no-kill shelter in Divide, CO 719.686.7707 tcrascolorado.com

working together to find loving forever homes

Vieques Humane Society - Vieques, Puerto Rico, a small island located off the mainland’s east coast, for many years offered no veterinary or animal rescue services. During the early 1980’s, a handful of concerned immigrants from the states and a few local residents took a serious interest in improving the welfare of the animals. They began by feeding the island’s multitudinous strays and soliciting the help of veterinarians from Puerto Rico to sterilize them. By 1987, the Vieques Humane Society and Animal Rescue, Inc. was officially established as a non-profit organization.

Today they still offer the only veterinary services on the island and have developed strong community based programs. www.viequeshumanesociety.org

iPad app featuring The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is NOW AVAILABLE on iTunes.

Spirit Wolf Energetics Holistic Animal Wellness

working together to make a difference “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” ~ Immanual Kant

Natural Resources Defense Council www.nrdc.org

www.aza.org www.projectcoyote.org

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.”

Therapeutic Benefits

TO: _______________________________________________________________________________ FROM: ____________________________________________________________________________ FOR THE AMOUNT OF: _________________________________________________________________ AUTHORIZED BY: ______________________ EXPIRES: _____________________________________ Excludes holidays and special events · Please mention you have a gift certificate when making reservations Year round tours by reservation only: Tues - Sun 10am · 12pm · 2pm + 4pm in the Spring and Summer

GIFT CERTIFICATE

Dedicated to educating the public about wolves, wolf dogs, foxes, and coyotes. Although these elusive animals are not often seen in the wild, through our guided tours you will have the opportunity to view them in the most natural setting possible. You will have the chance to view some of some of the endangered species that live at the Center.

719.687.9742 · www.wolfeducation.org P.O. Box 713 · Divide, CO 80814

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center

The Holidays are creeping up on us quickly...

Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center Gift Certificates Make the Perfect Gift for Every Animal Lover...

Energetic therapy is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that utilizes light touch to help clear, balance, and stabilize an animal physically, mentally, emotionally, and instinctually. It may be effectively used for all species including small and large animals, birds, aquatics, and exotics.

Energetic treatments can assist your animal with: · Disease prevention · Improved healing from illness or injury · Recovery from physical/emotional trauma · Calming before & after surgery · Stress management · End-of-life nurturing & support Beth Shemo – HTAP, RMP 719.650.5071 · spiritwolfenergetics@gmail.com

Information presented on this newsletter is considered public information (unless otherwise noted) and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit is requested. Some of the documents in this newsletter may contain live feed references (or pointers) to information created and maintained by other organizations.

Please note that CWWC does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials.

www.bornfreeusa.org

~ Martin Buber

Mexican Grey Wolves www.mexicanwolves.org

www.defendersofwildlife.org

For current wolf articles and to be a voice through knowledge

Wild Earth Guardians

www.wildearthguardians.org

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