Today the sanctuary community is celebrating the fourth annual Animal Sanctuary Caregiver Day. Here at CSNW, we celebrated a day early because our staff were all here at the same time for Honey B’s birthday party and you can’t share pizza and ice cream over Zoom. Normally we don’t eat where the chimps can see us but there’s not enough room for us to maintain our distance indoors. Notice someone spying on us?
Not wanting to leave Jamie out of the celebration, the team finished lunch quickly and went on a run around the hill.
Burrito tried his best to keep up.
This is what impresses me most about our staff and volunteers. We set aside a brief moment for everyone to relax and eat and all they can think about is making Jamie happy.
I also appreciate the thoughtfulness that goes into their work. Yesterday, Honey B had her first birthday celebration here at CSNW, and the staff, led by Chad, our Enrichment Coordinator, spent weeks brainstorming ideas for her party. It’s easy to throw a party, but this had to be a Honey B party. And it was a hit – so much so that Honey B will not let the party end. Seriously, she won’t let us go in to clean up. I guess we can keep the party going another day? (Update: At dinner she reluctantly let us close off the mezzanine. I made a deal with her that we’d move all the stuff, clean, and then put it all back again. She is pleased to once again be buried in her birthday mess.)
The most difficult thing about being a caregiver is not the physical work, though it can be exhausting. It’s the caring. It’s the relentless searching, day after day, for new ways to make others happy, even though you know it’s never going to be good enough. It is hard and it wears you out. I’m glad we have a day to formally acknowledge the importance of sanctuary caregivers. We are so grateful to our staff and volunteers, and to everyone else in our sanctuary community, for never letting up.
I’m sure this guy is grateful, too.
Tomorrow we celebrate the 12th Anniversary of the arrival of the Cle Elum Seven and Negra’s 47th birthday with our first ever virtual celebration. We hope you will celebrate with us! Join us on at this link for The Queen’s Brunch Facebook Live virtual event at 11:00 am Pacific Time on June 13th (you don’t need to have a Facebook account to watch!).
Happy Animal Sanctuary Caregiver Day to you all !
You are the best, you work so hard, you feel it is not enough…..
But Jamie, Foxie, Annie, Missy, Negra, Jody, Burrito, Willy B, Mave, HoneyB,
Meredith, Nutmeg, Honey, and Betsy, would beg to differ.
Thank you !!!
The staff, volunteers and entire community that support CSNW are nothing short of incredible. A simple thank you seems insufficient but I won’t leave it unsaid. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE ENTIRE STAFF… FROM ALL THE CHIMPS AND CHIMP SUPPORTERS WHO RELY ON FOLLOWING and HANGING ON EVERY WORD AND PHOTO. YOU ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY SO AMAZING!
so glad that the weather allowed for that break, JB. I could have sent more lemonade! But yeah, how dare you all eat ice cream in front of The Boss!? *She* didn’t call that meeting….The Party Police was def on duty!
Have the chimps ever had ice cream???
I hope that this all calms down sooner than anticipated, so that you guys can get some relief.
In the meantime, as CeeCee and Judy have already said, thank you. I know the goofball in chief, with his chow bag wadge, most definitely is glad that you’re all a part of his life!
Spinning w/Foxie, Scootin’ w/Honey B
Annie-Missy,Missy-Annie
Neggie’s night bags
Comfortably Created Nests by Jo
Toe socks with Mave
Unending supply of Burrito’s antics
Apples for Willy B
Racing the gator w/ Jamie
You- staff, volunteers, friends and donors.
(Needs work, but it’s a start)
Happy Animal Sanctuary Caregiver Day to ALL of you!! It takes a special person to care for another every day. It is a massive responsibility. I am sure there are days when you must struggle with compassion fatigue. I know I have experienced this just from volunteering at a shelter, two days a week for a few hours. Knowing you give the best you’ve got and yet it isn’t enough is so right J.B.. And having the freedom to walk out at night after saying your “good nights” and “sweet dreams”, turning out the lights and closing the door behind you knowing they can not leave…yup, that’s hard.
CSNW has THE most devoted, caring, creative caregivers and I especially like how you all work together sharing all responsibilities. You make it all look so easy and I know it is anything but. Your hard work and your love for the chimps and cows shows in their happiness and good health. Your care can be seen on their faces. We see it in your posts. Writing the bog, creating videos, and selecting just the right photo takes time away from everything else you should be doing and still, your writings are eloquent, touching, comical and educational. I really can’t thank you enough for everything, every little and big thing you do. We see it. We feel it. So happy there is now a day just for you! Thank you and much love and appreciation always. xoxo
No one could have said it better than Kathleen. I won’t even TRY. You are all THE BEST.
I also agree with Kathleen. You are amazing special people! This is my happy place, filled with your caring and compassion. I am always struck by the spotless cleanliness. You are a blessing and touch my heart and encourage me. Thank you!
every time I see the new wing, I’m in awe of how things sparkle!
Just had to comment on Honey B holding on to her birthday party vibe for one more day. She is something else. Best party e-v-e-r! Chad, all your efforts and brainstorming paid off, how good does that feel?! I don’t ever want you to give up your day job but, with your creative menus and festivity planning skills you could have a career in Event Planning. lol.
And I agree with Sue on the cleanliness of the sanctuary. It always looks spotless! Maintained inside and out. Always. Even now with your small crew you have not skipped a beat. I am having trouble keeping my own house clean these days. How do you do it?
So just like Honey B, you need to keep your Sanctuary Caregiver Day celebration rolling for one more day!!