 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Newsletter - Spring 2001
(click to link to pdf download)
Frank Wendland
The county commissioners' hearing on January 2nd, although somewhat confusing, did result in an agreement to allow Wolf to reduce the number of animals at the sanctuary to 30 by attrition. Therefore our immediate concerns of having animals confiscated and killed were alleviated.
Those of you who have not heard the saga of the county can call for more info or visit our new web site under News (Bulletin 20 Dec 2000) for the blow by blow.
The results achieved at this hearing could only have been achieved with the help of all of the supporters who wrote, phoned or attended the hearing to show their support. We thank you all from the bottom of our souls. We have tried to acknowledge all of you with a letter and certificate, however we did not receive an accurate listing of all who wrote to the commissioners and who attended the hearing. If you took part in this exercise please contact us so that we can thank you properly and have an accurate count.
Having had a chance to unwind from the heavy part of the conflict, somewhat, we are left asking ourselves what it was and is all about. We are grateful not to have animals confiscated and killed but we are totally confused as to how the system works and what the real motivations of the county commissioners were and are. In order to satisfy some hidden agenda we have given away what we believe to be rights as citizens in a free society.
Even though no facts or evidence were ever presented at the hearings to show that Wolf was some sort of nuisance, Wolf is forced to comply with conditions that, in our opinion, are oppressive and totally political in motivation:
* Although the founders own 182 acres, we can only use five for the sanctuary;
* Although legally we could have five separate parcels with five residences on that property, we are allowed to have less than the national average number of vehicle trips per day for a single family residence;
* Although controlled by the number of vehicle trips condition, we are not allowed to give tours of the facility even if the number of those vehicle trips are not exceeded;
* Although no evidence was presented to show that limiting the number of animals would impact the number of vehicle trips or perceived nuisance, we are limited to 30 animals;
* Although only about a half a mile of the access road is on our property, we are required to maintain the entire 2.5 miles from the county road;
* Although no other residences are required to thin the forest for fire mitigation purposes, we are required to follow a stringent plan to accomplish this goal.
The process of going through the special review is mystifying as well. The precept that individuals are "innocent until proven guilty" played absolutely no part in any of the proceedings.
Wolf was forced to provide over $6,500 worth of technical reports showing that there were NO nuisances to neighbors associated with the facility. The few opponents that testified were required to provide NO evidence that a problem even existed. In fact they rejected Wolf's attempts to do sound testing on their property.
* This ordinance was not very well known or publicized;
* This ordinance is generally not enforced, and;
* That the Wolf facility was not much of a concern to the county because of the size of the property and remoteness of the location.
At the hearing on December 4, 2000 one of the out-going commissioners even went so far as to make personal attacks on us and suggest that if he had his way he would have the operation closed down. Representing falsely that we had lied and broken every promise made to the county. To begin with we have never been given the option of promising anything, we have been ordered to do things. Secondly, when the commissioner was challenged to give even one example, he could not.
At the hearing on January 2, 2001 (6 days before two of the commissioners were to leave office) they even got more ridiculous. As the general public arrived to be seated, five sheriff deputies were present and kept half of the auditorium empty refusing to allow Wolf supporters into that part of the hearing chamber. With over 150 supporters present only about 40 were in the actual hearing room. They then refused to let Wolf supporters speak at the PUBLIC hearing stating that they would only listen to residents of the surrounding area. They then proceeded to let two individuals speak that opposed Wolf who were not residents. One residing in Denver and one in Fort Collins.
During my presentation as to why the facility should not be closed down, I was interrupted and prevented from finishing my comments. They then suggested a compromise which would allow Wolf to reduce the number of animals at the facility through attrition. This option seemed strange as it had been suggested twice by Wolf in the previous year and flatly rejected by the commissioners and their lawyers. Again they took stabs at us personally suggesting that we needed to find a way of building a level of trust and respect with the commissioners. We believe that trust and respect works both ways and is built on open lines of communication, something that the commissioners have rejected at every stage of the process.
So just what the heck happened? It appears to us that although the 'politically correct' message, during an election, is to preach the value of diversity and that the commissioners are servants of the electorate, those impressions have been nothing more than ploys to get themselves elected. The real attitude that permeates all of their actions, is that they run the show, bow to their desires and do not question their authority or suffer the consequences.
Not wanting to judge the new commissioners who took office on January 8, 2001, we set up individual appointments with each of the three commissioners in order to give communication and trust a chance. The day before the appointments we received a phone call from their secretary stating that the appointments had been cancelled on advice of the county attorney. If we wanted to meet with the commissioners we would have to do it at a public comment session. What happened to trust and communication?
As we reflect on the entire situation, we are left totally amazed that our country has lost the principles it was founded to protect. We also are left analyzing the mission that Wolf was founded to accomplish. Nowhere in our mission did we even consider spending over $60,000 to right the wrongs with our government. However, without fighting for our rights how do we accomplish the goal of saving animals?
We are considering all options from applying to the county for changes to the current conditions through relocation to a more fair and just environment. Trying to sort out local politics from a distance is a major hurdle not to mention finding the right piece of property within that jurisdiction. If you have any ideas that might help our deliberations, please contact us as soon as possible.
We
still face opposition to our existence by one last individual who owns
property on the road. They are legally challenging our right to access
our property on the road which goes through their property, even though
this road has been used continuously by other land owners for well over
30 years. We are unsure of how all of that is going to conclude and
how much more money we will have to spend to defend that right.
On
September 15, 2000 Kasha had his first surgery to correct a deformity
in both of his front legs (see Kasha's Bionic Leg in the Fall 2000 newsletter).
It has been an extremely trying time for Kasha and everyone at the rescue.
As you may remember, we were very optimistic going into the surgery but
unfortunately when Dr. Randy Fitch went into Kasha's leg the deformity
was the most severe case he had ever seen. Dr. Fitch was unable to do
the surgery as originally planned and had to use an external fixator after
all. Kasha went through the nine-hour surgery quite well. So well that 12 hours after he was placed in a small enclosure Frank had built on our porch, complete with a specially constructed shelter (so he wouldn't have to bend down), Kasha decided to try and climb over the roof of our house by using that shelter. Thank goodness we were watching him very closely and were able to get him back on the ground. With the help of Lorraine May, a dedicated volunteer, Pat was able to move him to the front enclosure where he couldn't climb on anything!
After four months of waiting, Dr. Fitch and Dr. Dressen decided it was time to remove the external fixator. It seems that nothing was going to be easy as the x-rays showed that one of the two complete cuts in Kasha's bones was not completely healed. It was decided to remove the fixator anyway and place Kasha's leg in a splint. Dr. Fitch said, "If he keeps this on for three weeks the bone will heal." Dr. Fitch did a marvelous job of putting that splint on, he used the splint itself, PVC pipe, tons and tons of bandages and tape, I couldn't have taken it off. Of course I'm not Kasha and I'm not a wolf and I don't have a brother named Shaman. The two pups became WOLVES ON A MISSION. They started chewing on that splint the minute Kasha arrived home from the hospital. It took them no time at all to remove and shread Kasha's splint. Being an over-protective person, Pat panicked. Drs. Fitch and Dressen assured both Pat and Frank that Kasha would know how much pressure he could apply to the now bare leg. Regardless, the Wendlands and all the volunteers were extremely nervous over the next three or four weeks. It was like walking on eggs. No one wanted to startle Kasha and perhaps cause him to forget about his leg. If he had snapped that bone we would have to start all over again.
Kasha
is just about healed at this time. Unfortunately the deformity was so
severe that his leg still bows out. The huge twist in the bone is gone
and because of this he is walking better. Kasha will probably never have
completely straight legs but this surgery will help him live a much more
comfortable life. Already we can see an improvement in the way he walks
and his shoulder is much straighter which we hope will lessen his chances
of getting arthritis. Kasha's first surgery plus all of the additional
treatment cost well over $5,000. People have asked Pat and Frank, "why
would you spend that kind of money on an animal?" The reason is still
the same - they are sentient beings. If they had met Kasha they would
know what a very special spirit he is and that he is worth every penny
and more.
Kasha will have his next surgery inlate spring. At this writing a date will be or has been chosen. We will keep you informed about this very brave wolf.
© 2000-2008, WOLF - a nonprofit corporation, All Rights Reserved
WOLF, Post Office Box 1544, La Porte, CO 80535 - USA