...WideAwake Rescue...

Monday morning (Memorial Day) began early again and folks were starting to stretch chain link. Dig guard was being laid down as well, but it was clear we needed more help. The folks from “Wide Awake” sprang into action. They started to layout chain link faster than the stretching could be done. They started stretching as well. They were our “God Send”. They provided the spark to our motivation that indicated we really could make this happen. The battle cry from their leader, Charlie, spread through the ranks, “hurry”! On top of that we did hear that the animals would not be arriving Tuesday -- it would be Wednesday or Thursday.

By dark everyone was feeling much better that this was going to happen, but there was still a long way to go and again it began to snow. Off to our “D, B, SB & B” (Dinner, Beer, Sleeping Bag & Breakfast) and up early again to continue.

Tuesday repeated all of the events of Monday and good progress was being made. However, it suddenly became apparent that because Frank had increased the size of the enclosures, we were going to run short on materials.

One of our outstanding volunteers began the quest for more. We ran her all over the Denver area to find what we needed. It was still going somewhat slower than we wanted. This was also attributed to Frank’s decision to increase the enclosure size. The volunteers were starting to show signs of exhaustion. It dawned on us that we were building these enclosures at 10,000 feet above sea level. The volunteers could also be suffering from altitude sickness.

With all of this going on we still were unsure of exactly when the animals would arrive. The snow started again and continued this time. It appeared that we were going to get some accumulation. Pat was back at the Sanctuary trying to pin down all of the details on the Minnesota end. By dark we were soaked and cold as we headed back to our “D, B, SB & B”. We then found out that the animals would arrive in their air conditioned horse trailer on Thursday morning. However, there would only be 17. One had died (Sosity), and two were euthanized (Trekker & Hammer) and evidently one escaped (Happy) from animal control and was free-ranging at her original home.

Wednesday morning started extra early as everyone was feeling the pressure to finish. Our gofers seemed to arrive just when we needed the supplies we sent them to find. The folks from Wide Awake were kicking butt. Everything seemed to be clicking into place, except the weather. This time it started as rain around lunch and turned into sleet and then snow. It continued for several hours. Outside of a break for lunch, everyone kept working. Dog houses were being finished and checked by the Wide Awake canine, Buddy. Charlie’s battle cry echoed around the build area -- “hurry”! It was getting done, but by dark there were still details that needed to be resolved. As we drove back to the “D, B, SB & B” we were trying figure out whether or not we could finish in time. As we pondered this issue, we figured out that with Frank’s increase in the size of these enclosures the amount of linear footage of fence built would have created a 2.5 acre enclosure, if built in a square. Naturally everyone started throwing stuff at Frank -- what was he thinking -- in 5 days!? This was unheard of -- but through the dedication of all the volunteers involved it DID happen. It was magnificent.      

     
Thursday morning we were at the site by 6:00 am and hitting it hard. Checking the integrity of all the fencing and dig guard, making minor and not so minor adjustments, placing dog houses, getting feeders and water buckets set, placing slash on dig guard, getting shavings into dog houses, placing rocks on strategic places along the stream, cleaning out left over materials and planning where animals would be placed to insure the best chance of a low stress acclimation. Just as the last details were being completed at about 11:30 am, the animals arrived. But they weren’t in an air conditioned trailer the way they were supposed to be.

What were we going to find inside this trailer? Were they going to be alright even without air conditioning?

Continued -> ->