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Archives for January 2024

Riders of the Storm

January 9, 2024 by Chad de Bree

Like a good chunk of the United States, we are going through one doozy of a storm. When caregivers arrived in the morning, this is what we had waiting for us:

With most of the residents deciding not to venture too far outside (if at all), how do you try to stave off cabin fever? I wonder…

Hmmmmmmmm…….

Throughout days like today, caregivers try to offer many types of enrichment and activities to the chimpanzees.

Whether that enrichment is watching The Devil Wears Prada.

Honey B and Rayne were into the movie. (If you’re wondering, Cy is watching from a different spot.)

Forages are also a way to keep the sanctuary residents occupied.

Gordo

Willy B

We can try to perk up their afternoons with an afternoon tea time (caffeine-free of course).

Jamie

Burrito

Foxie

Or they might take matters into their own hands.

Rayne with a snow snack she grabbed from outside.

You read that right! Rayne took it upon herself to grab some snow. And that in itself started a chain reaction. Later Gordo, Mave, and Dora were seen with massive amounts of snow they gathered. Granted there may have been some thievery at play, but is the start of shifting attitudes for Rayne’s group? Only time will tell.

And for the real reason you are probably here, the winner of the Burrito photo contest!

There were many votes, and though I personally loved every single one of the photos and wanted them all to win, there can only be one that stands above the rest!

And the winner is……

*drum roll*

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*drum roll*

Hey Girl!

Thank you all for participating and sending in your votes! Prints of this photo will soon be available for purchase – stay tuned!

Stay safe and warm wherever you might be!

Filed Under: Burrito, Cy, Gordo, Honey B, Jamie, Rayne, Sanctuary, Weather, Willy B Tagged With: cold weather, forage, snow, tea, winter

More birthday wishes for Nancy, from Jonathan!

January 9, 2024 by Katelyn

With another generous gift of sanctuary for the chimpanzees, Jonathan Suttles has also sponsored today for Nancy Suttles in celebration of her birthday!

“Happy Birthday my Love. Your passion for the chimps is awesome!!!”

Thank you so much, Jonathan, for celebrating Nancy on her special day by including the chimpanzees!

Happy Birthday from all of us at the sanctuary, Nancy! How lucky are we to have you as part of the chimpanzees’ care team! Thank you for sharing your own special day with them.

Burrito and Foxie:

Cy and Rayne:

Dora and Lucky:

Honey B and Dora:

Filed Under: Sanctuary, Sponsor-a-day

Happy Birthday to Nancy from Kristy!

January 9, 2024 by Katelyn

Many thanks to Kristy Spencer for sponsoring this day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in honor of her friend, and our wonderful volunteer, Nancy Suttles, on her birthday!

“This day is to celebrate my best friend’s birthday! Happy Birthday Nancy Suttles! The chimpanzees are so lucky to have her as a volunteer. She is so giving of her time. When we get together on our frequent walking dates I enjoy hearing all about the chimps from her. Love you, Kristy.”

This is a beautiful way to celebrate your dear friend, Kristy, thank you! The chimpanzees (and humans) *are* lucky to have her kind heart helping to care for them.

Have a wonderful day, Nancy! Thank you for your hard work, we appreciate you!

Annie and Missy:

Burrito and Annie:

Rayne and Gordo:

Dora and Mave (Gordo background):

Filed Under: Sanctuary, Sponsor-a-day, Volunteers

Caring for Meredith

January 8, 2024 by J.B.

Meredith has always been a bit different from her herd mates — standing up when the others are lying down, facing east when the others are facing west, and so on — but this past summer we noticed that something other than her independent streak was causing her to lag behind her herd as they moved between pastures. By fall, a change in her gait became noticeable. Dr. Erin performed several evaluations, and Meredith even took a trip to the large animal hospital at Washington State University (WSU), but the veterinary team was unable to hone in on a specific diagnosis. Pain management and other therapeutics seemed to help, but not enough.

During her most recent exam at the sanctuary, however, Dr. Erin found radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in Meredith’s front right foot, which meant that we had an explanation for her discomfort and, potentially, something we could treat with greater focus. Dr. Erin consulted with several large animal veterinarians and Meredith was booked for another appointment at WSU.

Meredith, in the chute, undergoing a recent exam:

Dr. Erin obtaining radiographs of the feet and spine:

Amanda treating Meredith with laser therapy:

Another Dr. Erin (Erin Thorlakson, Family and Animal Chiropractor), evaluating Meredith, with Honey observing:

Nutmeg, Assistant to the Regional Chiropractor:

The treatment, known as facilitated ankylosis, would involve fusing the affected joints and would be performed by the veterinary staff at WSU. With everything arranged, we drove Meredith across the state again and the procedure was performed this past Tuesday.

Getting a cow to an appointment 3 1/2 hours away requires starting early, bribing the herd with hay and grain to sort them, and praying to the cow gods that Meredith will load into the trailer without problems:

One last safety check before we depart on our road trip:

Meredith on the exam/treatment table at WSU, surrounded by faculty veterinarians, residents, and vet students:

Dr. Oliverez performing an ultrasound on Meredith’s foot:

Right now we are making preparations so that Meredith can be on restricted activity for a while within her own cozy section of the barn. Weather permitting, we hope to pick her up on Wednesday and reunite her with her family. It will take some time before we can determine if or how well the procedure has worked, and she will likely have to make repeated trips to see her friends at WSU for follow-ups on this treatment and possibly treatments on other feet, but we are hopeful that she will be able to graze the upper pastures with her herd this spring.

Meredith’s home-away-from-home at WSU while she receives her treatment:

By the way, some of you may know that we’ve been hoping to acquire a more powerful portable ultrasound machine for many years now. Thanks to a a whole team of people, including a wonderful family in Montana, our favorite veterinary cardiologist Dr. Nelson, and supporters Brad and Becky (who generously donated the funds!), we were able to purchase a very lightly used machine from an estate at an amazing price.

Don’t forget to vote in the photo contest – it ends tonight, January 8th at 6:00pm Pacific!

 

Filed Under: Cattle, Meredith, Sanctuary, Veterinary Care Tagged With: ankylosis, arthritis, cattle, chimpanzee, chiropractor, cow, Meredith, northwest, rescue, Sanctuary, veterinary

Burrito’s Big Birthday Bash!

January 7, 2024 by Grace

Yesterday, our dear Burrito turned 41. Can you believe it? To me, Burrito personifies youth, playfulness, & goofyness, so it’s hard to imagine that he is a day over 21.

We adore our dear Burrito for so many reasons, not the least of which being the fact that after just a few moments with him you’re smiling- no matter what kind of mood you were in beforehand. It’s like he is his own scientific principle and instead of Newton’s Law, it’s Burrito’s Principle: Emotions other than happiness cannot exist in the presence of Burrito.

Burrito’s back story makes us appreciate his reliably happy disposition even more, I think. Burrito was born in a lab in 1983 and used in research when he was just over a year old. Then, he was moved and used as a ‘house chimp’ before being leased out to an animal act. He spent one year outside of the lab before being sent back into research.

His story, like many others, is hard to hear and, often, hard to reconcile with the chimp that I know today. He greets me in the morning with a game of chase, then throughout the day he has a caregiver or two race him around Young’s Hill, then play a game of tug-of-war. All between grooming with his chimp family, watching his neighbors, and the other shenanigans he gets into throughout the day. Knowing what he has been through and seeing who is he today is a privilege and we owe it to him to share his story (and his joy) with as many people as we possibly can.

So, in honor of Burrito and all he is, we celebrate him every chance we get!

Yesterday, staff and volunteers put together a big birthday bash that included snow cones (with fresh fallen snow!), slinkies, giant kongs, coconuts, a Young’s Hill forage, TV time, and a special dinner of spaghetti with special sauce of sweet potato, red pepper, avocado (and love, of course).

Check out the video for the full party and don’t forget to vote for Burrito’s photo contest! It ends tomorrow, January 8th at 6:00pm!

 

Burrito’s Birthday Bash in Photos:

Burrito’s birthday wouldn’t be complete without Giant Kongs and Slinkies (and snow-cones)!

The sun came out for a bit, so Burrito’s group enjoyed a lunch forage on Young’s Hill:

Annie (back), Negra (middle), Burrito (front)

Everyone got into the party spirit!

Jamie enjoyed her spaghetti on her table:

Negra:

Filed Under: Burrito, Caregivers, Chimpanzee, Enrichment, Latest Videos, Most Viewed Videos, Party, Sanctuary Tagged With: Burrito, chimpanzee, chimpanzee sanctuary, Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, Party

Bubba Bubba Burrito!!

January 6, 2024 by Ellen Brady-McGaughey

Today is the one and only Burrito Chimpanzee’s 41st birthday!! We have been celebrating him all day (and have more celebrating to do with him this evening). We will share videos and photos from his birthday festivities tomorrow since we have some more fun to include from this evening. For now, I thought what better way to celebrate Burrito together than a compilation video of some of the many things we love about him! We are so lucky to know and love Burrito, and are incredibly thankful to have been able to celebrate his birthday today with friends – both chimp and human. Many thanks to Paulette for sponsoring Burrito’s big day today, we are so grateful!

Don’t forget to cast your votes for our Burrito photo contest!

Happy Burrito Day, everyone! Enjoy some goofy pictures I got of the birthday gentleman earlier this week.

Filed Under: Sanctuary

Happy Birthday, Burrito!

January 6, 2024 by Katelyn

Our heartfelt thanks to Sheeru Singh for sponsoring this extra special day of sanctuary (one of two today!) in honor of our beloved Burrito on his 41st birthday!! Sheeru shared this really lovely message:

“Happy Birthday Burrito!!! Wishing you the best, always and forever. May you be blessed with all the happiness and love you deserve. And many thanks to the staff, followers, and donators of Chimp Sanctuary NW. It is all because of you that we are able to wish Burrito on his birthday. Your love and care for these chimps prove that there is still some humanity left in this world. Thank you, Sheeru Singh”

Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful heart, Sheeru!

Our chimpanzee friend of nine-plus-lives seems to have found his own personal fountain of joy and youth. Whatever life has thrown at him – and it’s been immensely more than any being should have to endure – he miraculously comes out the other side and with each passing year he is seemingly even happier and more wildly energetic and endearing than before. We are immeasurably grateful for Burrito’s resilient and joyful soul and for the privilege of having him in our lives and the gift of having him in our hearts.

Happy Birthday, Bubbie!!!

Of course, we’re on the stepladder fetching the ginormous pasta pot off the top of the shelf now, so be sure to tune in later to join us in celebration of this beloved guy.

And there’s still time to vote (or vote again) for your favorite Burrito photo (the winning image will be made available for purchase). The contest ends Monday, January 8th at 6:00 pm (PST)

Filed Under: Burrito, Sanctuary, Sponsor-a-day

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