PAW
PRINTS - January 2003
The
Voice of Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center, Inc.
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A warm "Hello!" to all of our dear friends and
extended family, and a heartfelt "Welcome!" to
all of our new adoptive parents, donors, and readers.
We are pleased to bring you the second edition of our newsletter
PAW
PRINTS -- to keep you up-to-date on our meerkat residents,
our cheetah project, and our latest endeavors!
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First of all, a big thank you to everyone who adopted
a meerkat, bought T-shirts or books, or donated
funds for either our lovable resident meerkats or toward our
exciting cheetah project. We are so honored and grateful to have
been included in your holiday giving. Thanks to you, the meerkats
enjoyed a holiday overflowing with tasty treats (a veritable "smorgas-bug"
of goodies) and colorful new toys. Your donations also allowed
us to purchase more mundane, but very necessary, items such as
bedding, baskets, wood chips for snug den boxes, heat lamps and
heat pads for warmth during our winter season. (Yes, it really
does get cold in the high desert at this time of year!)
For this, our second edition, we thought it would be fun to introduce
you to some of our other residents -- human and otherwise
-- who reside, work, and volunteer at the Center.
But first, let's give you an update on what's been happening
the last three months:
Getting The Word Out
Public Relations
- Four seniors from the Otis College of Arts and Design in Los
Angeles visited the Center as part of their graphic arts senior
thesis that features meerkats.
- Pam Bennett-Wallberg, our director, was invited to speak to the Soroptimist
Club of Yucca Valley, California. More lectures are scheduled
for other community organizations throughout the year.
- We were invited to a lecture presented by Laurie Marker, founder
and director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, Africa.
We had the unique opportunity of personally speaking with her
about our own cheetah project and how we might work together
to save the wild cheetah. Laurie Marker was chosen "Hero
of the Planet" by Time Magazine.
Fur, Feathers, Paws, and Claws
Center News
- The cheetah enclosure is now almost 80% complete thanks to
the hard work of Phil Wallberg and volunteers Glen Johnson and
Denise Robertson.
- In November the meerkats were visited by two adoptive parents,
Eva and John Grasberger, who arrived in a helicopter. Phil Wallberg
laid out a landing pad on the acreage while we made sure the
meerkats were advised that the helicopter really wasn't the
biggest bird of prey they had ever seen, but rather a giant,
flying gift basket!
- We are happy to report that all the animals at the Center
are starting the new year happy and healthy.
ANGELS, ANGELS, EVERYWHERE!
Corporate Donors
- Orco Block Company in Banning, California, donated all the
La Paz slump stone blocks and 20 bags of mortar for the cheetah
den box.
- A 2 Z Masonry Company in Joshua Tree, California, donated
the labor of two men to do the masonry work on the cheetah den
box.
- Lord and Sons Construction Company in San Jose, California,
donated all the wire "big cat" panels needed to build
the cheetah enclosure.
- The National Football League (NFL) donated building materials
and office supplies utilized in the VIP Corporate Hospitality
Village at Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, California.
Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center, Inc,. has been included in
an endowment funded by two physicians in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
We are, of course, thrilled and most grateful.
We have also been blessed with stunningly generous donations
from private individuals. However, we feel that it is more appropriate
to acknowledge these gifts privately.
Cheetah Project Update!
We continue to move forward with this exciting and challenging
new endeavor. We recently got word from the San Diego Wild Animal
Park that they are about to begin the next phase of their cheetah
breeding program! It is slated to start around Valentine's Day.
(How appropriate!) We are hoping that Cupid will help things along.
In any case, we should have word by mid-March if a pregnancy has
resulted from their efforts. Keep your fingers crossed!
Additionally, we were honored to have a visit from Marline and
Ralph Bushey, the parents of Laurie Marker, founder and director
of the renowned Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, Africa.
After meeting Laurie and her parents last fall during her North
American fund-raising tour, we invited Marline and Ralph, who
reside here in the United States, to visit. We were anxious to
show them the progress on our cheetah enclosure because they are
so familiar with cheetahs and their needs in captivity. The Busheys
gave us a rousing "thumbs-up" to our project and the
enclosure, acknowledging the great care we took in every detail
to insure the safety and well-being of the cheetah cub.
It is a very exciting time for us here at the Center. We will,
of course, keep you informed on our progress and, hopefully, by
summer we will be sending you a photo of our newest resident!
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From
left: Phil Wallberg, Ralph Bushey, Marline Bushey, Pam Bennett-Wallberg
(and Rooster Cogburn) inspecting the new cheetah enclosure.
© Denise Robertson
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Cheetah Project Wish List!
Although we are 80% finished with the cheetah enclosure, we are
quickly approaching the time of arrival for our cub. These items
are needed to complete the cub's new home.
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Outdoor Items:
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Hoses |
$60
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Chain link doors |
$225
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Roofing material for shade/rain |
$350
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Sprinkling system including labor |
$1100
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Landscaping |
$600
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| Indoor Items: |
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Linoleum |
$225
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Lighting Fixtures |
$150
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Wood for bunk beds |
$150
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Wood panels for service area |
$280
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Electrical including labor |
$825
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Utility sink |
$125
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Plumbing supplies |
$175
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Wood for cabinets/storage |
$650
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Stain |
$100
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Freezer (for cheetah food) |
$300
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We are also in need of a large, late-model van to
transport the cheetah cub and dog to schools and community organizations.
We will be happy to give you more details by phone or email. Of
course, all donations are tax-deductible.
If you would like to help complete our project and you have a
specific item that you would like us to purchase with your generous
donation, please let us know. We are so grateful for the assistance
of our loyal donors who make our work possible. On behalf of all
the animals at Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center, THANK YOU!
Now, we begin our special section highlighting some of our other
residents.
Fellow Earthlings' Spotlight on "Jasmine"
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©
Pam Bennett-Wallberg
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Jasmine is a golden lab mix who was born at The Guide Dogs of
the Desert in Palm Springs, California. This non-profit organization
was founded to help the blind and visually impaired become more
independent through the use of guide dogs. "Jazz" was
placed at Fellow Earthlings' Wildlife Center when she was two
months old. When she is 16 months old she will return to the school
for a final evaluation and for six months of formal training.
If she passes all her tests, Jasmine will become the life-long
companion and "best friend" to a blind person. Although
it will be exceedingly difficult for us to give her up, our adorable
puppy will, most certainly, "jazz" up the life of some
lucky individual.
As "puppy-raisers" it is our job (and joy) to socialize
Jazz. Thus, when we put on her little blue "guide puppy in
training" jacket, we can take her everywhere with us -- grocery
stores, restaurants, libraries, post offices, and any place a
human can go.
One of our fondest memories is of taking Jazz to a coffee house.
After dinner we were enjoying the music of a flamenco guitarist.
Jasmine became a little restless so we gave her a favorite fleece
toy. She, happily, began chewing the toy under the restaurant
table. The guitarist continued to enchant us with his melodious
sounds until, suddenly, he was way off key. The melodious sounds
were now interspersed with harsh "EEE" "EEE"
notes. Frankly, we were embarrassed for the guitarist. Then, he
stopped playing and the "EEE" "EEE" sounds
continued. We had no idea that Jasmine's toy had a squeaker in
it. Luckily, the guitarist and the audience were amused by Jasmine's
"duet."
Jasmine has learned many things in the last year:
- Cats have claws and don't like to be chased.
- Roosters have sharp beaks.
- There is nothing braver than a mob of meerkats.
- Turtles don't have teeth, but they can "bite."
- The ice on a pond should be "thick" before you walk
on it.
We, too, have learned many things:
- You can "walk" a puppy for 20 minuets before taking
her into a store and, then, have her "piddle" on brand
new carpeting. Argh!
- Every errand takes three times longer when you have a puppy
with you.
- The "dog food" aisle in a grocery store is very
interesting to a puppy and very challenging to a trainer.
- Even cranky people smile at you when a puppy is present.
But, most importantly, we have all learned about love.
In closing this edition, we want to express our deep gratitude
for all that you do for the animals. Our life work is dedicated
to improving our planet through the care of animals, and to educating
people about the plight of endangered species. This simply would
not be possible without your support and encouragement. We will
continue this work knowing that you are all marching right along
beside us.
"We
can not do great things . . . only small things with great love."
Mother Theresa
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