Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
Thanks so much to Jeffrey Abramczyk for sponsoring this day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees as a way to celebrate his own special day!
“It’s my birthday and what better way to spend it than celebrating it with the CSNW chimps.”
We so appreciate this and your thinking of the chimpanzees, Jeffrey! Have a fantastic day of celebration!
Cy:
Jamie:
Honey B:
Gordo:
I’m not sure how to start this post.
Ultimately, it is about the legacy of support that’s possible and how that ties into the fast-approaching Sweet 16 Online Auction, with some history behind some of the pieces of artwork featured in the auction.
The reality is that we’ve lost several donors over the past few months. It can be a strange experience to know someone by name because they are a supporter, often never having met them in person, and to receive notice of their passing. I’m not sure why there’s always an element of shock to learn someone is no longer here. I think I need to create some sort of ritual to mark the passing of donors and to celebrate their support.
For some donors, we’ve had the privilege of getting to know them on a more personal level. Diane Mattis was one of these people. She was a Level I volunteer in the chimp house for several years, sometimes picking up donated produce on her way. In my mind’s eye I can still see her folding blankets and smiling. She was always so upbeat, and she loved being able to help. We talked about her ailing mother who was under her care and eventually passed, and her job at T-Mobile, from which she eventually retired. She frequently talked about the chimpanzees and the sanctuary with her friends, creating more supporters with her enthusiasm.
Diane enjoyed participating in our in-person auctions, first as a volunteer, and then as an attendee. She began collecting chimp-focused art at these events, and she made a big impression at HOOT! 2019 with her winning bid of $9,000 (!!) for the gorgeous Negra in the Sun mosaic by Lisa Wathne, inspired by artist Margaret Parkinson’s painting of the same name.
When Diane hung the mosaic on her wall, she sent me an email with a picture of it, saying:
Hi Diana. I just had to share this with you. I feel so fortunate to have her in my home. It’s really special to me. Last night was great fun. Glad your fundraising goal was met and then some. Can’t wait to meet Honey B, Willie B, and Mave. So exciting. That was the best news of the night.
Thanks for all that you do.
Diane
In 2020, during the pandemic, I had a zoom call with Diane just to catch up. She showed me more of her prized auction art that was hung around her condo. Shortly after our call, we had a virtual event and online auction, and Diane bid vigorously on another mosaic created by the talented Lisa Wathne, this one of Jody, inspired by a painting by the equally talented Cheryl Feng. Diane won that mosaic for the bid of $5,375. I packed it up and shipped it to her and received this email message when it arrived:
Oh my! Just got her. I’m speechless. She’s even more beautiful than I expected. The colors are beautiful. I’ll take a photo as soon as she finds her place. Thank you very much.
Diane passed away in November of last year. Her friend, who is also named Diane, let us know. She wanted to make sure we knew that Diane had specified that all of her primate artwork be gifted to the sanctuary. Last week, J.B. and I met up with Diane G. and picked up these very special donations in time to put them in the Sweet 16 Online Auction. Diane Mattis would be thrilled to know that someone else will get to enjoy these pieces, and that they will raise more funds for her chimpanzee friends in Cle Elum.
Art is far from all that Diane left the sanctuary. She named Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest as the direct beneficiary of her IRAs and one of several beneficiaries of the remainder of her estate. We don’t know yet the total of her final gifts, but we think we can use the donations towards our next big project – a support building for staff and volunteers that will give us more room to prepare enrichment, which is one of the tasks that Diane did as a volunteer ten years ago.
The Sweet 16 Online Auction celebrates birthdays and anniversaries, which reflect the passing of time and all that’s happened in between. Sixteen years of donors and volunteers like Diane who have have created, nurtured, and supported the sanctuary, even after they are no longer here. Register for the auction now, and keep an eye out for more items being added before it starts on June 10th.
If you haven’t already, please consider naming Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in your will like Diane did. You can create or update your will with ease for free with this tool from Frewill or let us know here if you’ve named or intend to name the sanctuary in your will already.
Patrols around Young’s Hill with Jamie are pretty much a daily occurrence- even today, when the wind is winding, Jamie was off on a walk first thing this morning! She found me again later in the morning when I was rinsing some toys and gestured to a pair of boots that had been donated a few weeks ago that she loves. I gave her one, thinking that’s what she wanted, and when she took it out of the food chute I thought I had gotten it right on the first time. So, I was feeling pretty good about myself. 🙂 A few seconds later, though, I looked up to see Jamie squeezing the same boot out over the top of the playroom door before chucking it down at me. Feeling like I actually hadn’t gotten it right, I picked up the boot and put it on. Voila! Jamie took off and together we (and Missy!) went for a walk around Young’s Hill.
I recorded the whole walk to share with you today, because I find that I always feel re-centered after a walk with Jamie. Something about the calm pace she takes, the quiet, the view, and the moment that you’re sharing with her is grounding. I thought it might be for you, too, so please enjoy this ten-minute walk around Young’s Hill with Jamie (and Missy).
Those of you who pay close attention to the blog may be thinking, “Wait…don’t you already have a volunteer named Krissy?” Well, they DID have a volunteer named Krissy, but NOW they have a full-time caregiver named Krissy! How lucky am I??
My journey is a little different than many past and present caregivers at CSNW. I graduated from Washington State University (go Cougs!) in 1994 (not a typo) with a BA in Sociology with an emphasis on Social Work. But, like so many others, I left school and never actually used my degree. I spent the next few years as a bookkeeper, a relocation coordinator for a real estate company, and a software developer.
I’ve always had a great love of animals. While working as a software developer, one of my cats became very ill, which led me to learn about nutrition’s important role in our pets’ lives. A simple diet change had such a profound impact on my cats’ health that I decided to open a healthy pet food store. In 2006, myself and a dear friend opened The Whole Pet Shop in Woodinville, WA, and 18 years later it’s still going strong! 7 years ago, my husband and I moved to Roslyn WA, and opened another Whole Pet location. This is around the time the chimps came in to my life.
I first learned about CSNW at the Roslyn Farmer’s Market. I knew right away that I wanted to volunteer at the sanctuary (how had I never heard of the Cle Elum 7??) My first shift was on December 5th, 2019. By January 2020 I was invited to train to become a level 3 volunteer, which means I would get to have safe interactions with the chimps and to serve meals. Tug of war with Bubs, doll toss with Fox, perimeter walks and grooming with James? Sign me up! I promptly began preparing to train to be a level 3 volunteer, which included various reading assignments and tests. One such reading assignment was Next of Kin, by Roger Fouts, about the journey of Washoe and her signing (ASL) chimpanzee family that ended up at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. This book changed my life. I highly recommend this book, just be sure to read it with a box of tissues!
Unfortunately, my training halted almost before it got started, by a little thing called Covid 19. In order to keep the chimpanzees safe, the sanctuary shut down its volunteer/intern program. I wanted to stay involved with the sanctuary, so I prepped all of the chow bags for the 10 chimps living at CSNW at the time. That’s approximately 10,920 bags of chow in a year (I did the math)! After a long 18 months away from the chimpanzees, I was invited back to the sanctuary and became a level 3 volunteer! Yay!
So how did I become a full-time staff member? I tricked them! Ha – just kidding. I worked hard to show my dedication to the chimps, and I simply started throwing my hat in the ring as job opportunities presented themselves. And here I am now, shifting my career path at 52 years old. Proving you’re never too old to dream, and more importantly to realize your dreams!
May is a tough one to see leave. The neon spring grass of Young’s Hill and the Bray, chimpanzees and humans enjoying the ease of still respectful temperatures, fields and canyons covered in purple and yellow flowers, forests dense with layers upon layers of green, blooming with birdsong. But June blooms with an abundance all it’s own. An honoring of coming home and the celebration of precious lives lived through all the many seasons *you* make possible.
Pace yourselves! What will really be a month-long celebration begins on June 6th when Dora turns 35! There are countless things to love about Dora. First of all, just look at her! Also, that she is half of the endearing pair, “Mora” (Mave being the other half of endearment). I love that she “bobbles” her head in greeting to you, even through two windows and across two rooms. I love that when you ask her if she wants a certain food item and she does NOT she will emphatically shake her head “no”. I love that the rims of her smoothie cups all have Dora-shaped teeth marks. Dora has a love/hate relationship with smoothie service at times and whether she wants you to let go of the cup, or she’s annoyed and told you in no uncertain terms she’s not interested in that dang smoothie, she often bites the cup while staring at you as you serve it to her. I refer to these moments as the Spirit of the Tiger being in her. She’s wee, but fierce. Like someone else I know (Foxie!). I think I took a photo of some of her cups lined up because they secretly delight me….let me see if I can find it…
“Mora”:
Ah yes… 🙂
Then on June 11th Honey B turns 35! Honey B’s glorious and glittering mind is, well, mind-blowing. Her mischief making, while keeping everyone on their toes, delights and amazes us all. She’s a dedicated brawler with zero fear and though we really wish she weren’t for both her and her group’s sake, it’s one part of the whole Honey B we adore. Honestly, if she were your ride or die, you’d be set. Despite her penchant for rumbling, she’s also one of the silliest and most playful in her group. It’s an absolute delight to watch her growing relationships and her newly expanded courage to venture onto the Bray. While her first ventures outside were also brawl-inspired (chasing the guys in a fury), she can more often be seen just enjoying her time out there. We could not be prouder of her and how well she’s navigated all the changes in her life these last few years.
She is unique in all ways Honey B. Something that always makes me smile is how she will offer to share her food with us. This is an extremely un-chimpanzee thing to do. But with eyes full of sincerity, she’ll hand you a bean or a carrot and wait for you to “take a bite.” Just the other day she pushed out a page from one of her prized peanut butter magazines for me to take. When I realized the high value item it was I politely declined and offered it back to her, but she refused to take it and motioned for me to lick it. Then she proceeded to stare at me until my pretending to put it through my mask satisfied her, or entirely more likely, gave up in pity for me. Honestly, I love everything about her.
And if you’ve followed us for awhile, you know June 13th is a biggie. It’s the anniversary of Annie, Burrito, Foxie, Jamie, Jody, Missy and Negra’s arrival to the sanctuary after spending over 30 years of their lives in biomedical research. This year will be sixteen years of life in sanctuary!! And sixteen chimpanzees who have called the sanctuary home.
And our Sweet Sixteen Art Auction will officially kick off that week, from June 10th – June 16th. Be sure to register now so you can keep an eye on all the beautiful art being added for this special online event!
Seven chimpanzees on Young’s Hill! Even Negra. 🙂
I like to think beloved Jody is still out there strolling with her family (Jamie, Foxie, Burrito, Annie and Jody):
June 13th also marks two more birthdays!
Negra turns 51! June 13th is Negra’s honorary birthday, given to her in honor of her start of a new life coming home to the sanctuary. J.B. and Diana have both shared that when they first met Negra they hoped she would be able to enjoy at least a couple years in sanctuary. Sixteen years later Negra continues to surprise and amaze us with new levels of comfort and courage. Just when you think you can confidently say what she will or won’t do, we find her at the top of the hill enjoying spring grass, or taking in the view from one of her structures, or showing up at breakfast with a troll doll in hand, or playing hand tickle with us and laughing. She does things in her own time and choosing. Exactly as she should. I think I love this most about her. She follows her heart and won’t be swayed. And she never stops growing. Despite all that has been stolen from her, all that she’s endured, as soon as she was provided the time, space and dignity to be herself, she set about doing just that.
As you are probably well aware, comfort is a priority for Negra. And if you, too, relish a cozy bed, hers will give you nest envy. I particularly love her princess in a pea style nests that rise up in a cloud half way around her, and even more so when she tucks things like coconut pieces and Hawaiian rolls underneath for snacks. Brilliant Neggie. What a privilege to witness how she chooses to live her life now.
And Terry turns 34! The sweetest of gentle giants! Terry is one of those people who lifts your heart because he’s always happy to see you and wants to greet you straight away. He loves to sit with his humans and groom us. Terry’s hands and fingers are immense and yet he is the gentlest soul, grooming us with such care, as if we might shatter into pieces at any moment. When he wants to reposition our hand for a better view (*of course we always practice safe interactions to make sure the chimpanzees cannot grab any part of us and we never extend our fingers or pass through the caging) he will very slowly and very gently move your hand with the tip of his finger. I’ve seen this chimpanzee man literally bow the steel caging during displays and yet he is so kind. I’m in awe of him and his gracious heart. I love him so much.
On June 20th we welcome the summer solstice! At it’s best, it’s a time of easeful days and nights when the chimpanzees enjoy roaming outside, countless forages in their outdoor habitats and hot days spent relaxing in their open air greenhouses. It’s the time of year where we never know if Jamie will choose to stay out light for evenings walks, or if you might find Annie enjoying the summer night from her nest in the greenhouse as she gazes out over hill, or sweet Mave sound asleep in the outdoor chute as frog chorus fills the night air. And what’s going to happen this year?!
And Annie’s sweet son, Virgil, turns 35! Virgil is thriving at his sanctuary home, Save the Chimps and it thrills us to know he’s safe and loved by his chimpanzee and human family. We are so grateful to have this to celebrate. (Photo courtesy of Save the Chimps):
His sweet mama, Annie:
And our bovine family! If all continues as planned with Meredith’s healing process (if you missed it, Dr. Erin wrote a wonderful update on the bovine ladies here), her and her mama, Honey, and auntie, Betsy, will be making their way toward their summer pasture soon. Nutmeg’s absence is of course palpable and we hope days of sunshine and endless grassy pastures will hold his family and their hearts.
Meredith, Honey and Nutmeg a few summers ago:
Beautiful Betsy:
And bookending this glorious month of abundant celebration is June 26th, the third anniversary of the arrival of Cy, Dora, Gordo, Lucky, Rayne and Terry! Three years! I had to double check that. Considering how much has happened in their lives in this time it doesn’t seem possible that it’s only been three years. And every bit of that is thanks to YOU!
Dora nesting, Gordo, Lucky and Terry grooming and Rayne below:
Lucky, Rayne and Cy on the Bray:
Cy, taking a well-deserved break from wrangling his family:
And please know we are always celebrating you as well! Not one single thing any of the chimpanzees or bovines have experienced within the last sixteen years would have happened without you. Please, really take a moment and think about that. Think about what their lives have been in the past and what their lives are now. YOU made that possible. No words could fully express our gratitude to you.
And if you have a birthday this month, Happy Birthday from us all! Just celebrate all month long with us, the chimpanzees, and the bovine ladies!
