In today’s touching day of sanctuary, Don and Karen Young are honoring the memory of their beloved son, Ryan Young:
“We honor the beautiful memory our son, Ryan, who would be 49 years old today. He visited the sanctuary on the first anniversary of the arrival of the Cle Elum Seven. It was Ryan who introduced us to the plight of captive chimpanzees through the release and restitution program at NEAVS (New England Anti-Vivisection Society). He dedicated his professional life in the field of sustainability. He would love that the chimps get to have a party on his birthday and that soon the 9 will romp and play and look down the valley from Ryan’s Lookout! Love, Don and Karen Young.”
Don and Karen Young, for whom the chimpanzees’ outdoor habitat, Young’s Hill, is named have made an immeasurable difference in the lives of the chimps. Nearly eleven years since Jamie’s group gained access to the outdoors for the first time, they continue to amaze and surprise us with their leaps and bounds (literally and figuratively) of courage, adventure and joy.
Thank you so much, Don and Karen, for allowing all of us the opportunity to share in the celebration of Ryan and his legacy with you. We will be thinking of you all today and hoping your hearts are buoyed with the comfort of love and cherished memories.
Foxie:
Annie and Missy foraging for prickly lettuce:
Burrito:
Missy:
Ryan’s Lookout, in the currently-under-construction outdoor habitat for Cy’s group, The Bray. Thanks to so many, we cannot wait to see all the ways in which the lives of the nine continue to further bloom when their new habitat is ready.
Willy B:
Gordo:
Dora:
Burrito:
Foxie:
Jamie (leading), Foxie, Missy, Annie and Burrito:
it will be a GRAND opening when the expansion is completed……?
To Arlene and Don,
Thank you for honoring the generous spirit and compassionate actions of your son. I’ve no doubt that Ryan’s noble advocacy on behalf of our simian cousins is attributable to the knowledge and values which he imbued from his parents. The photographs accompanying the blog posting for Ryan’s birthday speak volumes, and on behalf of Burrito galloping through his grass and Missy leaping from her rock, I thank both Ryan and his parents.
This is wo derful. I hope that Ryan can look down an appreciate this. I hope it fills his heart with joy. Thank you for doing this and thank you for being an angel to these beautiful animals.
A GREAT APE thank you to Karen & Don! As mentioned earlier the pictures of the chimps on Youngs Hill are a testament to how much you mean to this sanctuary!