Update/Alert - The 'Wide Awake' Rescue (3)

- The Trauma Is Severe!

- Please Send An Email

- Happy Found & Now Safe

- A Change In Plans

***  We Need Your Help!  ***

(read more below)

Update - Dells Wolf (7)

- Letter From Adrian Wydeven

(read more below)

Update - The “Wide-Awake” Rescue

The Trauma Is Severe!

     It has been almost a month since the rescued animals arrived at Wide Awake.  A few of the animals are starting to calm down considerably -- two most notably being Atlantis and Lucan.  They seem comfortable and will approach humans if given a little time.  However a much greater number are still much more stressed, than we would have thought they would be at this stage in their recovery.  They continue to exhibit extreme signs of trauma.  None of the other rescues we have ever been involved with have left animals this terrorized of humans.  We have been rescuing wolves and wolf-dogs for over 12 years and this is the worst case we have ever experienced.  Their past treatment was obviously NOT HUMANE!

     Our experiences with these animals, along with more information that we are receiving about their lives and their capture, have led us to only one conclusion -- their lives (with Jamie) and their capture (at the hands of Gary Tank) were horribly gruesome and NOT HUMANE!

     The photo on the left demonstrates what measures were taken to capture Mucqua, who is blind, 13 years old and weighs all of 38 lbs.  These “manly” men, fearing for their lives from this “vicious” wolf, that was already on a chain, sure demonstrated their total LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND CONCERN for this animal.  This treatment was TOTALLY UNNECESSARY and was NOT HUMANE!

     Our experiences with Mucqua have shown us a very sweet, cautious, scared and ready-to-submit little boy.  Even when capturing him up for medical treatments, he readily submitted to us, once we had a blanket over him, and NEVER EVEN TRIED TO BITE ANYONE.  We did NOT have to use a catch pole or any other tools, beside the blanket.

     If this example is what Gary Tank used on the “BIG BAD WOLF -- MUCQUA”, we can only imagine what he must have done to the animals who did try to fear bite.  It sickens us to our very core.  This explanation however, would totally make sense, when analyzing how traumatized most of these animals are now -- Gary Tank’s treatment of these animals was NOT HUMANE!

     Although our goals and energies are focused on healing these animals from the atrocities they have experienced, we feel compelled to make this information public.  We also feel a responsibility to get these kinds of activities STOPPED!  If indeed the citizens within the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin believe this behavior is unacceptable, they need to do something about it.  It is quite obvious by the remarks of Keith Streff (from the referenced news report) that the Golden Valley Animal Humane Society may need to eliminate the word “Humane” from their name.  In our opinion they are nothing more than an animal disposal operation. 

     Streff said Tank is his exotic contractor for any animal which is untraditional to a humane society.  “Anything I feel uncomfortable handling, I recruit Gary,” he said. “He’s an awesome resource to have.”

     It would also appear that Sheriff Dean Roland (Wisconsin) might also need to adjust his thinking about what the word “Humane” means.  He was quoted in the referenced news article as well:

     “From our standpoint, this is a humane rescue,” Roland said. “This is one of the nicest, most humane documented things I’ve ever seen,” he said of Thursday’s rescue. “I’m glad I’m here to see it.”

     From the sounds of these comments, I would tend to believe that all three of these gentlemen are anything but.  Either that or the beliefs and laws they purport to uphold are severely outdated and in need of significant change.

     Due to this trauma and stress, we are having to postpone a number of medical procedures, which are necessary to return these individuals to physical health.  Until we can help them feel more comfortable with their human caretakers, we cannot chance intrusive procedures.  The procedures along with the stress could be lethal.

Help Stop Inhumane Actions! (Minnesota & Wisconsin)

Minnesota

 Please Send An Email

to the Media,

the Humane Society &

your elected officials

and demand that this STOP!

Copy & Paste 

mail@mpr.org,

readerrep@startribune.com,

readers@pioneerpress.com,

 jkummer@pioneerpress.com,

trish.vanpilsum@foxtv.com,

jacqueline.mclean@foxtv.com,

tom.lyden@foxtv.com,

jeff.baillon@foxtv.com,

gennewstips@kstp.com,

atissue@kstp.com,

investigative@kstp.com,

wcconewstips@wcco.com,

rbattle@kare11.com,

acostantini@kare11.com,

jcroman@kare11.com,

jrdaniels72@yahoo.com,

Click Each for Correct Subject Line -

Each Board Member Must

Be Sent Separately:

Attn: Martha McPhee (CEO-AHS),

Attn: Mark Alfuth (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Randi Weling (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Willie Wakefield (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Barb Sykora (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Dave Spong (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Janet Schultz (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Toni Rosen (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Connie Remele (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Audray Rees (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Wayne Popham  (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Jesse Overton  (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Pat Ormston (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Roland Minda (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Kimberly Korb (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Babs Koch (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Jeff Klausner (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Sargent Johnson (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Libby Hargrove (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Rhonda Ganske (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Ed Clausman (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Carol Brooks (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Marcia Appel (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Cathy Andrews (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Jeff Ament (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Walt McCarthy (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Mark Laub (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Murphy McKee (BOD-AHS),

Attn: Linda Masica (BOD-AHS),

Copy & Paste: 

tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us,

holly.neaton@bah.state.mn.us,

john.whitten@bah.state.mn.us,

mahesh.kumar@bah.state.mn.us,

steven.brake@bah.state.mn.us,

paul.fitz@bah.state.mn.us,

Wisconsin

Please Send An Email

to the Media &

your elected officials

and demand that this STOP!

Copy & Paste:

cmcneal@journalsentinel.com,

cfrink@madison.com,

dhyland@ibsys.com,

boll@wpt.org,

galthoff@capitalnewspapers.com,

gstanley@journalsentinel.com,

jhopson@madison.com,

garrett@wpt.org,

kjames@capitalnewspapers.com,

mkaiser@journalsentinel.com,

news@lacrossetribune.com,

philhasl@madison.com,

rseely@madison.com,

tkoetting@journalsentinel.com,

tkelley@madison.com,

friends@matc.edu,

news@nbc15.com,

news@todaystmj4.com,

news@wxow.com,

newsdesk@cbs58.com,

cagnelly@wkowtv.com,

wisntvnews@TheMilwaukeeChannel.com,

governor@wisconsin.gov,

ltgovweb@gov.state.wi.us,

mindy.walker@gov.state.wi.us,

datcphotline@datcp.state.wi.us,

feedback@datcp.state.wi.us,

     If you believe these behaviors need to change, please send an email to the links on the left.  Without your input this type of blatant disregard for “Humane” treatment of animals will continue.

     If you would like to read more about Gary Tank and his beliefs on Humane treatment of animals, please follow the links below.

     Thank you for your help to stop these atrocities.

Story from: Minnesota Public Radio

MPR Photo: Tim Post

A sign in front of the Gary Tank farm near Pillager shows Tank's frustration with the market for elk. He's accepting money from customers who want to shoot an elk. The Department of Agriculture says Tank's plan is illegal and inhumane.

Link to complete story: 

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/08/13_postt_cwdelk/

Other Links to Tank:

DNR staff believed that Tank still needed a DNR game farm permit and issued Tank a criminal citation.”

http://www.outdoorsweekly.com/news_archive/03_0704_news.html#0704elk

"Gary Tank is a third generation deer rancher that has spent his entire life around big game animals, of all types...  Today Gary Tank owns the largest state-of-the-art collection facility in North America. He has one of the largest deer heards in captivity..."

http://www.stonybrook-outfitters.com/AboutUs/tabid/53/Default.aspx

“Tanks Fatal Attractor”

http://tanksfatalattractor.com/

Happy Is Found & Gets A Name Change

Happy with chain harness

and NOT appearing very happy.

On her way to protective custody and looking better already.

In protective custody and starting to show a little of her puppy resilience.

     Our sincere thanks go out to Julie Turner (WI Animal Control) and Jayne Belsky (Wolf-Dog Rescue) who would not give up the search for Happy -- the animal who escaped from animal control during the round up.  It became very apparent that one of Jamie Willard’s friends had decided that this little girl should go to him for continued breeding.  It was also apparent that this person was hiding her in another county, in order to prevent her being found. 

     Julie and Jayne continued the search and finally found her.  A search warrant was secured and on Saturday the 17th of June, Happy was picked up and went into protective custody.  The scene was so tragic that Jayne could no longer call this little girl Happy.  She had been secured in a homemade heavy chain harness and then chained to a tree with no shelter.  Somewhere along the way she had also received a very large abrasion to her neck.  It took Jayne 15 minutes to remove the chain harness.  During the whole procedure, Happy did not try to bite Jayne once.  No catch poles were required and indeed Jayne’s approach WAS VERY HUMANE!

     We renamed Happy, at Jayne’s request, giving her a name in honor of her two saviors, Jayne & Julie -- J.J.  According to Jayne, “Little J.J. is having a very hard time!!! This is the most sever case of "trauma stress" I have ever seen.” 

     J.J. was  transported to Colorado on Saturday, June 24th in an air conditioned vehicle and with frequent stops for water.  She received a thorough exam, vaccinations from our vet, Priscilla Dressen and then transport to her family at Wide Awake.  She was put in an enclosure between her mother, Kasota, and Atlantis.  Her blood tests indicated that she also is suffering from Heart Worm, malnutrition, dehydration and extreme stress.

     According to those who knew her, she was born on April 11, 2004.  In her short life she has experienced way too many tragedies and inhumane acts by humans.  Unfortunately, where she was confiscated from, there are approximately another half dozen animals contained in the same fashion she was.  This is utterly ridiculous and hard for compassionate humans to fathom.  This is NOT HUMANE!

A Change In Plans

     It has become very clear that this rescue is not going to be a short term proposition.  Our original plan of placing these animals at other sanctuaries, now, has been scrapped.  With the length of time it will take to get these guys healthy, this will be impossible.

     We are now struggling to figure out how to best  accommodate their long term needs.  We need to find additional property in order to build larger enclosures.  We are looking in the Gilpin County area and would appreciate any help that anyone can supply.  This is going to be an extremely expensive and labor intensive undertaking.  Please help us help these animals.  Whatever you can provide will be most appreciated.

     We ask you to please visualize these animals during your spiritual ceremonies and send them the energy they need to survive these challenges.

    As we progress with their medical treatments, spays and neuters, the bills will increase rapidly.

     We need your help to provide essential treatment.  Our financial  and staff resources will be stretched to the maximum.

     If you can afford even a donation of $5.00, it will help.  You can send it via our web site at this link:

      http://www.wolfsanctuary.net/10-funding/10-01.htm#donations

or send it to our USPS address:

          Post Office Box 1544

          La Porte, CO 80535

THANK YOU to all of you who have already helped and to those of you who will.  We will be getting your receipts sent out shortly.

Update On Donations Made To Humane Society

     Thank you for your massive response to our plea for emails to be sent to the Golden Valley Animal Humane Society.  We appreciate your efforts.  Obviously they are not budging their position.  Although we did not expect them to, we are very comfortable that their supporters who donated to these wolves at least know where their donations went.

Update - Dells Wolf

He's Back!

     The latest news on the Dells Wolf has come to us from Adrien Wydeven in an email announcement.  The important part of the correspondence was:

     “Live trapping for the wolf started on 5/9 with original intent to trap and euthanize, but the decision was later ammended to attempt to place the canid in captivity in the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota, when they expressed interest in the animal.

     On 5/19 a wolf was accidentally shot (still under investigatings) within 8 miles of the these farms with depredations, and on 5/20 a 2nd wolf was killed by vehicle on I-90/94 within 12 miles of the site .  Observations of the Dells wolf declined and for a while it appeared that one of these 2 wolves may have been the Dells wolf, or it had left on its own.  Thus on 6/2 all traps were removed. 

     By 6/7 it was apparent that the Dells wolf persisted in the Wisconsin Dells area and was again causing problems. Livetrapping was resummed on 6/12 with intent to send the canid to the Wildlife Science Center. As of this writing (6/21) the Dells wolf has not been caught.  Livetrapping to place the wolf in the Wildife Science Center will continue until the Dells wolf is caught, or leaves the area.”

     If you would like the entire correspondence please email your request to fwendland@wolfsanctuary.net