Tomorrow, June 10th, is the 5th annual Animal Sanctuary Caregiver Day.
It’s nice that there’s a day set aside to consider this very niche profession. Many caregivers spend their days in somewhat obscurity doing the very emotionally and physically difficult work of caring for captive non-human animals.
Here at CSNW, the caregivers are somewhat more public-facing because all of the caregivers on staff contribute to this very blog, which, to be fair, is an additional duty on top of everything else they do at the sanctuary, but it is also a way that they can share their work and their unique perspectives.
We try to recognize volunteer caregivers here on the blog too, because they are also very important in providing a good life for the chimpanzees and bovines at the sanctuary; plus they improve the lives of the humans too!
For this year’s Animal Sanctuary Caregiver’s Day, I invite you, our dedicated supporters, to submit in the comments of this post what the caregivers at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest mean to you. I know that your words carry a lot of weight for everyone here, and I would love to be able to give all of the caregivers a morale boost after a challenging (though rewarding!) several months.
I personally will be forever grateful for our staff who give their hearts, their time, their expertise, their careful consideration, and their passion to provide the sixteen chimpanzees and four cattle at the sanctuary the individualized care that they so deserve. I continue to be impressed by everyone who works and volunteers here.
Now you go 😉
I think all of you are fantastic! My heart has always gone out to animals. I’m glad that all of you are there to help them. You do so much more each day than we realize. I appreciate you very much. You cook, clean, do laundry, play, and the list goes on. You give all the chimps such a great life each day. It makes me feel good that they are cared for and have a safe place to stay. Thank you!!!
HAHA watching the carers running around the paddock makes me tired, watching them hose down the living quarters makes me think “thank goodness I dont have to do that!” Watching them play and touch knuckles with the groups warms my heart. But the best bit is watching the meals delivered. Anyone having trouble to get their children to eat their vegetables should sit them in front of the vidios showing these magnificent animals crunching down on their carfully selected veggie lunch. Thanks to all the caregivers.
Not a day, or even half a day goes by that i dont think of the sanctuary and the beautiful souls who live, work and volunteer there. I go about my days knowing the chimp people are being cared for by the most dedicated staff and volunteers. I also take comfort knowing how loved the chimp people are after lifetimes of pain and sorrow. Thank you to each and every one of you who dedicate you time and love to all the chimp people who could simply not survive without you. xoxo
As a Board member of CSNW, I send up a HUGE thank you to each and every exemplary staff member who has dedicated their career to ensuring the chimps have an engaging and enriched life. I’m sure we don’t know half of what you do each day to make a positive difference in the lives of the 16, but I’m guessing at times there is an emotional and physical toll to achieve this. A shout out to the amazing volunteers as well who support the staff. CSNW could not be the model sanctuary it is without the collective contributions of both. Honorary pant-hoots to all!
The caregivers at CSNW are rockstars and true heroes! Thank you for everything that you do for chimpanzees!
I want to express my appreciation and admiration for all the Caregivers at the Sanctuary. Each day they give me a front row seat to what’s going on each day. I don’t know how you do it! Cleaning, prepping, interacting, chasing and playing is just the start! On top of that each day we get an eye witness account of the days events with pictures to top it off! Each Caregiver has their own unique voice and sense of humor. Your devotion to all in your care is plain to see>
i am so grateful for all the caregivers for making the chimps and bovine as happy as they can be and are. You have the most magical job to see these wonderful chimps everyday. I am not under any illusions that it is all fun. You caregivers give all of your time and energy to make sure these special chimps live out their lives in dignity and happiness. Thank you all so much!
Maybe it’s kind of corny, but I remember the chimps and caretakers in my prayers every day. Special people doing holy work with other special people. I am grateful to be able to witness it even at this remove.
Thank you for what all of the caregivers do at the sanctuary. Each day it is a pleasure to see what the Blog will cover. Again thank you.
Thank you so much for making the later years of the Chimps lives so wonderful that it almost makes up for the horror of their early lab years ….. Almost.
I think all of you are Heroes :revolving_hearts:
Happy Animail Sanctuary Care Giver Day! :tada:
I have been informed, inspired and motivated by all the Care Givers at CSNW! i appreciate and applaud all of your hard word and effort.
When speaking of CSNW I have often said…I was first drawn to the chimps, I mean chimpanzees in Cle Elum, whats that all about but I have stayed all these years for the people because of their 24/7 genuine selfless unconditional devotion to the well-being and enrichment of all these amazing beings and beyond restores my belief that there are truly good people on this planet modeling foot wear, dancing a jig, planning a party, playing an exhausting game of chase, gator racing or rolling night bags…I am grateful and I appreciate everything you do…everything !!!
So much appreciation to the wonderful Supermen & Superwomen by day and caregivers by night who care for our chimps & bovines. They work long & hard to provide a quality of life, but fortunately its a labor of love. You are much appreciated – thank you for your dedication!
You are all doing a most wonderful mitzvah for these 20 residents at CSN! I can only imagine how physically and emotionally draining it can be. You do what would have been my dream job. Thank you so much for sharing their, and your, lives with us. God bless you all! ? :pray:
To me, caregivers are angels in human form! The chimps are so blessed to have these “angels” seeing to their well being.
I truly enjoy “seeing” the passion that comes across each blog entry. I am amazed at the heart-felt updates that have hooked me into this community. With the photos and the words you each make me feel as if I were there with you all. Thank you for your devotion and the multi-faceted portrayals of all the residents. I appreciate each of you!
I am certain that the Chimps know they have a good thing going on here. There are not many missing “creature comforts.” The variety of choices can be daunting, both for the Chimps and the dedicated staff. The vendors who contribute the fresh fruits and vegetables are a great resource for the natural foods that EVERYBODY loves.
The “coming soon” move for the Wildlife Station crew is a wonderful event. They have no clue what a positive change is forthcoming. If they can be as fortunate as all of the CSNW family, what a grand event for sure is coming for them.
None of this would be possible without the “humans in residence”–full time, part time, and any time, great group of caring, well educated people with their hearts in the right place.
From afar, I am impressed with the work that is completed each and every day.
Thank you, from Texas………Tom
Happy Caregiver Day to all of you hard working wonderful people! You are all amazing humans, and thank you all!
you all are very much appreciated :pray:
whatsoever you do for the least of these, you do for [me]…..so much that is awful in this world, yet in this small few acres of central Washington, compassion, love, and community reign and give hope and meaning….thank you, each of you, and all your supporters.
To all the caregivers- your love for the animals, your true hearts, and your genuine souls come through in so many ways in your blog entries and photos. You lift my heart every day, and I am so grateful for all of you. Thank you!
I so appreciate all of you and what you do everyday! I love animals so much and what they bring to our lives. I wish I didnt have to work full time still, but I am retiring in a few years and I would love to do something and be involved the way you all are! I have the highest respect and the highest regard for each and every one of you!!
Thanks you so much!!!
Along with J.B. and Diana, the caregivers are the heart and soul of the sanctuary. They perform yeoman’s work day in and day out. Their blogs add to the richness of the experience for those of us who can only read them from afar and experience the lives of the animals, primates and bovines vicariously. Bravo!
Yes please! I am happy to sign your praises!
I have nothing but deep admiration and appreciation for the CSNW caregivers and volunteers (and a wee touch of envy too!). A sanctuary job isn’t 9 to 5, five days a week. The sanctuary residents need you seven days a week, 365 days a year. While we see the fun and the funny, the parties and the sweet moments, behind the scenes I know each of you works tirelessly to ensure the sixteen chimpanzees and the four bovines receive the very best care. This means serious scrubbing and hosing, laundry and more laundry, food prep, medication prep, enrichment toy cleaning, always learning new things, and giving all you’ve got so these chimp people can finally feel respected, happy, loved, and part of a family troupe. And you do it with a smile and a wonderful sense of humor.
The words “Thank you” could never begin to cover my gratitude. And as Diana points out, this blog that we all love so much because it makes us feel closer to you and the chimps, is an extra responsibility for each of you. But your writings, stories, photography, videos, puns (:smile:), and personal perspectives are the heart of everything. You bring the sanctuary into our homes. You introduce these interesting, intelligent people to us and we fall down the rabbit hole only to find we will never be same again. You give everyone a little spark of hope each and every day. Best of all….you give the chimps autonomy and dignity.
Thanks for everything! Especially all the “stuff” you rarely show on the blog.
Thank you to all the CSNW caregivers – for all you do for the sanctuary and for taking the time to keep us fans up to date on what’s happening. And in that light – thank you for sharing your art with us – the photos, the writing, the stories, the way you put it all together. It warms my heart to know “our” chimps and bovines (and the occassional kittie) have you, who love and care for them. Cheers to the Caregivers! xoxoxox
Happy animal sanctuary caregiver day to all at CSNW, especially to my favorite daughter SofÃa, un beso! :kissing_heart:
I often think about how physically demanding your jobs are! I always take pity when caregivers are chosen by the chimps to run up the hill or around the greenhouses especially in winter. Thank you for all you do!
I think the caregivers are the life blood of the sanctuary.
” Concern for animals is a matter of taking the side of the weak against the strong, something the best people
have always done”. — Harriet Beecher Stowe
A heart felt thank you to some of the best people!
Every time I see what you are doing with the chimps from Wildlife Waystation, I am so happy they found a home with such loving and caring people!! I volunteered at WW and was able to interact with the chimps, so I love seeing how well-cared for they are and how you have actually improved their lives. Just seeing them outside their cages and exploring the outside takes away some of the pain of losing them!! Thank you forever!!
Happy Animal Sanctuary Caregiver Day to all of you who help keep the chimpanzees happy and heathy. I look forward to the blog and pictures/videos daily and I am amazed that you come up with interesting topics with everything else you have to do. I appreciate every one of you!
Without the caregivers there’d be no sanctuary so THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Your hard work is revealed through the lives of the chimpanzees & the cattle. Kudos to you & Happy Caregiver Day!!!
A heartfelt thank you to caregivers and volunteers at all animals sanctuaries. Your caring, dedication and hardwork continue to make animals feel safe, loved and respected in this world. I envy and appreciate your place as ambassadors for humans. May your happiness and success be rewarded tenfold.
Diana, your words capture the essence of what being a caregiver at CSNW means. There are not enough superlatives to describe our gratitude for what you do…..not always the easiest both physically and certainly emotionally, but everything you do shows up in how happy and well the chimpanzees and bovines are. Everyone who writes a blog gives us their unique perspective on the lives of them all, so we get to know you all as individuals too, and the photos and videos are ever welcome. I hope you all feel the love coming back to you…..it’s even more amazing that the chimpanzees were so badly treated and traumatised by humans for so many years, and just look at their trust in you now. Well done and a HUGE thankyou to you all.
When I see anything from a sanctuary I always think of the people who make it possible. Well done all of you!
The caregivers and volunteers are the best! They almost know what to do before they need to do it. And almost always with a smile on their face. It’s hard to smile when running uphill:joy: When I think of all the little things: tieing troll dolls to scarves, adopting 4 cows to keep the grass under fire control, playing one on one with an animal in sick bay for hours on end, then the big things: getting the vet to Burrito lfor his rattlesnake bitten thumb, constucting all the new chimp areas, and driving to get the new groups at individual times, then driving back to the sanctuary with lots of breaks to check on the chimps, and that’s just a few things in their life we have to to grateful for. Our caregivers work around the clock when they have to but are supported by the volunteers at every step and around every corner. Thank you to the best caregivers and volunteer caregivers ever!!
I could not express it any beter or warmer, and I agree wholeheartedly with all that has been written:
THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU !!!
I like to think that the admiration and gratitude we all feel for the chimpanzees’ caregivers some how floats through the air and helps bring you all the strength, courage and faith needed in your work and multiplies thousands fold the joy and satisfaction you gain asaresult. Yes, we are a bit jealous of your amazing opportunities and access (which we thankyou so much for sharing!) but we know too that we could not help the chimps anywhere near as much as each of you does every single day. THANK YOU! THANKYOU!
i admire, as well as envy, the work you do with these amazing animals. Keep up the good work!
Each and every one of the caregivers is truly an angel on earth. To be cared for by such loving, energetic, creative persons must be a joy for all of the chimps and bovines, as well as having a great sense of fun and humor. They are the best.
A big THANK YOU to all of the caregivers at the Sanctuary. It goes without saying what an important job they have, how hard they work, and that they are so dedicated! I am certain all of the apes are very grateful to all of you for the hard work and love you provide. We are all so lucky to have this blog, which you all work so hard on – from the posts, to the photos. THANK YOU!.
i often wonder where yall get the energy it takes to basically work 24 hours a day! i salute you.
Many thanks to all of the wonderful caregivers at the sanctuary for all you do! You inspire all of us to to treat others with compassion.
Beyond grateful to every Caregiver involved in providing these Chimp Humans with the best retirement life at Sanctuary. Your sacrifices, hard work and dedication are truly appreciated and noticed. Thank you seems grossly insufficient, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the profoundly important work you do!! We celebrate you all today 🙂
Thank you caregivers for all you do – day, night, weekdays, weekends, holidays, every day. You may not know it but I appreciate each one of you every day for taking care of the chimps and the bovines and the land. You are special people.
Happy Caregivers Day. The chimps are so lucky to have you as their chef, playmate, party maker, nurse, protector, cleaner, advocate, launder and whatever else makes them happy. So grateful their are people like you in this world. It is a better place for me and the chimps. Your blogs make me happy every day. Thank you so much.
i dont know where to begin or how to even put my gratitude into words. I worked at the now closed Wildlife Waystation for 18 years and began as a volunteer. I am an RVT and worked in the Animal Health Center. When the WWS closed it was a tumultuous time full of emotion, heartache, worry, anxiety… Knowing that the some of chimps I love have found a new forever home with you has made this transition so much easier. To see the love, care and dedication you all give to not just the chimps but the bovines too warms my heart… The great life you give all in your care is beyond measure. The quality of your work is the quality of their lives and you all give 100% and more! I thank you all with my whole heart. I know first hand that the work you do is hard, both physically and most certainly emotionally. Being a caregiver is not just a 9 to 5 kind of job…you cant just turn it off when you get home or on your weekends…holidays??? what holidays!!! Im always checking in at work on my days off to follow up on a critical case to see how everything is going and I know its no different for you. Compassion fatigue is very real so remember to take care of yourselves as well. You do an amazingly great job! Be proud of yourselves! I am a very proud supporter of you! Big Virtual Hugs to all!!!
Hi Deanna, since today is the annal day to thank caregivers, I want send you a BIG thank you too. Without your love and care the chimps from WW wouldn’tbe the people they are today. My deepest gratitude extends to you and everyone involvedin finding the WW chimpanees sanctuary homes.
WOW! This has to be the most comments I’ve ever seen on ANY blog post! That alone says volumes about how your caregivers are viewed.
I am partial to Anthony Denice, Diana, and Jeeb, because they’re the ones I’ve interacted with the most. Therefore, I have gained a few insights into who they are as people, as well as their hearts concerning the chimps. As Kathleen so astutely pointed out, y’all bring these guys into our hearts and homes each day (although I don’t always have time to comment I still try to read each one), and that changes a person, because thanks to your one-on-one and up-close-and-personal POV, we can get to know the chimps, too, and that’s a special thing.
I always remember the guy who blasted me on IG once about a year ago for singing your praises, and he just refused to believe that anyone at a sanctuary could be THAT transparent; that open; that honest about sharing EVERYTHING that goes on…the good (the parties), the bad (the injuries), and the ugly (the ceremonious flinging of the poop). But it’s THOSE things that make you human, and gives us comfort that what we’re seeing is very real. And meaningful.
So I give a GlitterCat Studios salute to all the sanctuary caregivers, be they paid staff, owners, or volunteer interns. I was raised on a beef and dairy farm, and I fully know just how thankless a job this is when you’re needed 24/7/365. These aminals don’t care that you’re sick, or have cramps, or want to visit Aunt Betty on Christmas eve for dinner but you know you should be at home milking Elvira. But know that we love and appreciate all that you do for them, and ultimately, for US.
Big lubs. :heart_eyes_cat: :heart_eyes_cat: :heart_eyes_cat:
the sanctuary could not run without the caregivers. it’s super obvious that everyone is dedicated to taking care of the kids and working as hard as possible to give them a good life. I can’t imagine all of the things behind the scenes that we don’t see that the caregivers are doing and working their butts off. a lot of people probably say oh, aren’t you lucky to be able to work so closely with the chimps, but I’m sure it’s no walk in the park. I don’t think the chimps can tell you how grateful they are but they are healthy and happy and all of your hard work is noticed and appreciated!
Caregivers and chimps, truly a symbiotic relationship. And I get to enjoy it vicariously through the magic of technology!
A huge thank you from a grateful and faithful follower. I know all the chimps would also thank the caregivers if they spoke our language, but they do so in their own way.
March on in your rubber boots, which for me will never be the same,
Vida in Rhododendendron, Oregon