We are pleased to announce the appointment of Lindsay Houston to the position of Director of Public Support.

Lindsay first came to know Wolf through a mutual friend, Holly Bartges. Lindsay, at the time, was working in the corporate world, fancy office, car, home, clothes and all of the trappings that go with a high powered, high paying career. Unfortunately, or fortunately, as we have observed with many other professionals, including ourselves, Lindsay was not satisfied with her life. It is what we call the "Is that all there is?" syndrome.

Lindsay was searching for the meaning of her life. She met Mesa, Nanook and Shaman at a public event and fell in love. Not only with the ambassador wolves but with the mission and potential of Wolf itself.

Several months went by, Holly was coming to dinner and wanted to know if she could bring a friend. It was Lindsay and from that point in time nothing would ever be the same for Lindsay again. Deciding that her unique talents could be of service to Wolf, Lindsay quit her job and moved to LaPorte giving up most of the material and monetary security she had known.

As had happened with the Wendlands, her friends and colleagues thought she was crazy. How could anyone give up all of the socially accepted standards of success? Those that took the time to understand soon came to realize that this major life change was something Lindsay needed for her happiness.

Lindsay's contribution to Wolf is to head up fund raising. She will be organizing public events and establishing relationships with foundations for grants. This sounds fairly simple, but anyone who has been involved with these tasks knows what a time consuming and sometimes frustrating job this can be.

Lindsay's background also includes a talent in the healing arts and is a Reiki Master. This fit is also appropriate to the Wolf mission. The emotional, physical and mental healing that the wolves provide is enhanced through a new program being offered by Wolf, 'Wolf Reiki' - Healing with Wolves". Lindsay has spearheaded this new program now being offered at numerous metaphysical stores along the Front Range (see Events). The program has been enthusiastically accepted by the general public and continues to grow.

All of us at Wolf would like to take this opportunity to welcome Lindsay and wish her unparalleled success as Wolf's new Director of Public Support.

The best of luck Lindsay!

Wolf is pleased to announce that at the request of many of our supporters we are now able to accept VISA® and MASTERCARD®. Also we have started building the merchandise section on the website. We will be adding many new items in future weeks, perfect gifts for birthdays, holidays and for you.

Memberships to Wolf are also available should you need to renew your membership or become a first time member. All proceeds go directly to the support of the wolves, so please visit often and help the wolves of Wolf. Hope you enjoy this new page.

Additionally as we mentioned in our last newsletter, anyone who would like to receive their news about Wolf on the web or through e-mail should contact us by e-mail at: fwendland@wolfsanctuary.net

When you choose this method you will not only get your news quicker but you will be helping us save money on printing and mailing costs.

Thank you.

Should an animal be considered and treated like property, a commodity to be used, discarded and endangered at his will? Or should an animal be considered a valuable life, to be treasured and treated as an integral partner in the delicate ecological balance of this planet? The embers of these burning questions continue to smolder as Wolf is, once again, placed in peril by Larimer County officials. Formed nine years ago to save and provide sanctuary to captive-bred wolves and wolf-dogs, we have served as caretakers responsible for the safety, health, and well being of our wolf brethren. Over 40 animals have been given the right to live in safety and harmony with nature. Wolf works in partnership with approximately 20 other wildlife sanctuaries licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture across the nation.

From the beginning we have recognized wolves and wolf-dogs as sentient beings brought to near extinction by mans egocentric approach to the animal kingdom. We understand that a Greater Spirit is directing us on this path and as such we must do everything in our power to challenge the mentalities and laws that controvert the natural rights of animals in our society.

As you know, Wolf cannot reintroduce its captive-bred animals, as is being done with wild populations in Yellowstone and by Ted Turner's large carnivore restoration project in Montana. However, it can and will stand by its philosophy and mission to protect the animals in its care. We are not a group of wild-eyed radicals living in the mountains and fighting city hall. In fact, Wolf is highly credentialed and has tried, within the bounds of philosophical acceptability, to understand and meet the needs of its neighbors and local officials. We have received accolades from the state and federal authorities, which are the governing bodies for our type of facility. It is apparent that Larimer County is not supportive. Just the contrary, they have had no specific guidelines or basis of reference for a sanctuary. They have consistently held Wolf to standards that are arbitrary and capricious, without any basis in fact or fairness. Every action, on their part, can lead us to only one conclusion. They do not wish for Wolf to exist. This, of course, is totally unacceptable to the well being of the lives that have been placed in our care and directly opposed to our spiritual path.

As you may already know, we reached a compromise with county commissioners on January 2nd, 2001, that would allow Wolf to reach the county's mandate of no more than 30 animals at the facility, through natural attrition. This agreement would allow random inspections, by the county, of the number of animals at the sanctuary. Four of these impromptu inspections have occurred, so far this year. The last one on October 30th, where the progress on our fire mitigation plan was also inspected. No violations existed.

On November 6th, our attorney received a call from the county attorney informing him that we were in violation of the zoning ordinance on a contiguous parcel of land we own, where the renter has four animals, in fenced enclosures.

Our impression was that an animal task force, established by the county to recommend changes to the animal ordinances, had made their recommendations and that the county commissioners had passed that ordinance. We believed this new ordinance eliminated arbitrary number limitations and established a more meaningful restriction that was based on the care of the animals and whether or not they posed a safety or nuisance factor to neighbors. Upon investigating this belief, on the county web site, our impressions were validated. Clearly the county commissioners passed the ordinance on December 11th, 2000.    www.co.larimer.co.us/bcc/2000/BC001211.htm #678

The new ordinance stated under Section 4, Subsection F:
Quantity of Pet Animals Restricted:
"In no event shall any person keep at his or her premises more pet animals than can be properly maintained in a healthy condition without presenting a health or safety hazard to the owners, keepers or others and without constituting a nuisance to the occupants or neighboring properties."
www.co.larimer.co.us/policies/animal.htm

Investigating further, it appeared that the zoning ordinances have not been changed, to reflect the overall revisions to the animal ordinances. It does appear, however, that they have been changed to now include shelters, which was not the case when Wolf was first held accountable to this regulation. Under the definitions of Agricultural Uses on page 4-71:
Kennel.
"A facility where 4 or more animals of the canine or feline family over 4 months old are kept, maintained, sheltered or boarded."
www.co.larimer.co.us/planning/planning/land_use_code/section4.PDF

Even though the intent of the new animal ordinance is self-evident, another agenda seems to exist on the part of the county - an agenda that discounts and disregards the lives of sentient beings. As we have pondered our course of action on this issue we are constantly drawn to the words "Think Globally and Act Locally." Wolf cannot and will not accept the county agenda. As such, we have instructed our attorneys to challenge these conflicting ordinances. We will keep you abreast of future developments via e-mail and the web site.

As long as humans maintain our egocentric approach to animals, our neighbors, our world, harmony within the universe will never be achieved. Tragedies such as the events of September 11 will continue. The less noticeable brutalities, visited on millions of animals and humans daily, will not cease. We cannot continue to deny basic freedoms, not only to animals but also anyone we do not respect as equal and valuable. Although each life may be different than our own we cannot, in good conscience, pretend that it is unworthy of our efforts to protect its right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

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WOLF, Post Office Box 1544, La Porte, CO 80535 - USA