Today is Animal Sanctuary Caregiver Day, a day co-founded by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) & the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance (NAPSA), as a way to celebrate and recognize the contributions of animal caregivers to the sanctuary field.
You know how amazing the staff and volunteer caregivers are at Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. You know they are some of the most big-hearted, hard working people out there. They take their jobs seriously and put everything into providing for the chimpanzees and bovines.
Their hard work and the results of that work are shared every day through this blog for you to get a glimpse into what sanctuary life is all about.
For this year’s Animal Sanctuary Caregiver Day, I once again invite you to share your thoughts about the staff and volunteer caregivers and the work they do in the comments. Let’s hear it for the caregivers!
And a huge shout-out to all of the volunteers, who play various important caregiving roles. If you are interested in volunteering, visit our volunteer page!
P.S. The Sweet 16 Online Auction features a painting, Spring Rayne, by staff caregiver Ellen! Bid on it to celebrate all caregivers and the many talents they bring to our world!
I’m sending a HUGE hug from faraway Hungary to all caregivers, volunteers, vets, assisting stuff, helping neighbours and other golden-hearted humans in and around the sanctuary! You’re amazing souls, I truly admire your dedication, obsession and humbleness that this type of work requires! The chimp chums are in the best hands with you!
Thank you to all of the caregivers, including Diana, J.B. and the volunteers! It is so evident how much you all love these chimpanzee by your blogs and the live-stream events, and that you really go above and beyond for them! On behalf of the chimps as well as us humans, we all appreciate everything you do!
A huge thank you to all of you. Your dedication and thoughtfulness in providing such amazing enrichment for the chimps. Everything you do is obviously with great love for each character individually. Then you share all these beautiful stories and pictures with all of us! Your efforts made me fall in love with them and follow them all of these years. You are all truly amazing.
That is so true!
Thanks to all of our caregivers for working tirelessly to ensure our chimps and bovines enjoy the best life they can have. You are appreciated!
I am in awe daily of everyone who either works or volunteers in any capacity at the Sanctuary. We get a small glimpse of the dedication and the love you have for the sanctuary and it’s residents when we read the daily blog. I look forward to reading it and watching the videos of the chimpanzees/ cows that we all love so much. A big THANK YOU to each of you.
Big thank you to all of the caregivers! You guys make sanctuary possible. You guys really go all in for the chimps (and bovines) and I am in awe of the dedication it takes to keep the sanctuary running. I also want to give a big thank you for the daily blogs. I know it can’t always be easy finding time to write and post, but I am so so so thankful to have a window into the workings of the sanctuary and its residents.
Same! hear hear for the blog writers!
The chimps and bovines are living their best lives thanks to CareGivers of all titles! I continue to be amazed at the coordination of care and level of care these chimps and bovines recieve everyday. Amazing humans who I admire!
A HUGE shoutout to all the caregivers and volunteers! The love and care and fun you provide to these beautiful chimps never ever goes unappreciated and without all of you giving 500% we would not have the opportunity to share with you all that love and care and fun you share with us! The world is a better place because of all of you. Much love and hugs to you all!
Just because the chimps don’t use our speech doesn’t mean they haven’t the ability to communicate how much they all love and appreciate you all!
We see it reflected in their faces and their interactions with you: the way Burrito looks at Chad, his most favorite dude to hang out with. Foxie counting on Katelyn to be the best babysitter around. Jamie giving JB an uncharacteristic smush face at the window during the pandemic. Neggie giving kisses…I remember her coming to the mesh to check on her human friends when they were given time to say goodbye to Jodie. Honey Bs smush face when Anna brought little Luna in. And all of the squeaks telling the creative kitchen staff how much they enjoy your culinary creations!
This week, I saw a zoo mark the birthday of a female gorilla with…nothing. No extra enrichment (when she’s demonstrated in the past that honey inside of boomer balls were her favorite thing), not even her favorite food. As a matter of fact, they were showered with a ton of cabbage, something they all dislike. And all I could think of was, “CSNW would have done this so much better!”
And an extra thanks for sharing pics and video with us. EVERY. darned. day, so we can see for ourselves that your love and care for them are returned tenfold.
I appreciate the love you all show in everything you do for the chimps and the love the chimps show you in return.
It is a great service too that you share images of this care with us. It serves as a reminder of what caregivers of animals do behind the scenes every day that no one sees or knows about.
I hope sometime in the future one of you will write a book about the experience.
Thank you so much for your loving commitment to the chimpanzee people in your care. You are providing service of the highest order.
i agree with all the heartfelt sentiments expressed here! Many thanks to all CSNW caregivers for their compassionate and loving support of these amazing chimpanzees…and for sharing your adventures with all of us!
:sparkling_heart::tropical_drink::sparkling_heart:? I send all you wonderful, kind and compassionate caregivers a Mega thankyou, not only for the amazing work you do for the sanctuary but also for taking the time to bring the sanctuary and its beloved residents a little closer to us- especially those of us in the far corners of the globe! You are all champions !!
Thank you! Not only for the care and love you provide every single day for the inhabitants of this amazingly beautiful sanctuary but also for the time and effort you put into these daily blogs that I do so look forward to every day. I greatly appreciate being able to get an up close and personal view of these fascinating and entertaining individuals that call CSNW their home. Much love to you all! :heart::heart:
I couldn’t state it more perfectly!
I look forward to seeing the blogs each day. It shows how much love and care the caregivers, vets, and volunteers show both the chimps and the cows. Watching the chimps and cows enjoy their lives at the sanctuary must bring you all joy.
All of the caregivers take such intelligent and compassionate care of my friends who reside at the CSNW, and I endorse all of the previous comments. Neggie, Betsy, Terry, et al (to say nothing of Benny and the Barn Kitty) are so fortunate to have human friends like you in their lives.
The video that first caught my eye, pulled me in, and captured my heart, was the video of the Cle Elum Seven venturing outside onto Young’s Hill for the very first time. I was so moved by the anxious feelings of everyone. The reassurances shared. The fear and excitement over the new, long anticipated, experience. Chimps and onlookers alike!
I remember J.B. narrating (unless I am mixing this video with another, similar “Out of the Box” video at that time!) and his voice was so soft and sincere. Honest. I didn’t know where to look because as much as I was fascinated by each chimpanzee person, the reactions of the caregivers and volunteers was just as emotional. Happiness, tears, holding your breath, sharing smiles, laughter, and genuine pride and love for The Seven and the bravery you all were witnessing before you. I was moved by it all.
Current and past caregivers and volunteers of all kinds give so much of themselves all day, everyday. Food prep, medicine maintenance, cleaning, playing, running, feeding, cleaning, washing/drying, photographing, did I mention cleaning?, playing tug, wearing boots, planning parties, being spit upon from mouthfuls of water, and….being smacked by Jamie on her Brown Alert! All in a days work. And if that’s not enough, you sit down when there isn’t a minute to spare to record a personal observation from your day and share it with us on the Blog. And through it all, each of you oooze with love and respect for the residents.
You all join together for the big celebrations and the scary moments like Burrito’s snake bite. You sleep over in the chimphouse to be close when needed. And nothing proved your magnificence more than your blog posts over loosing Jody. I will never forget your openness and honesty. I appreciated every thoughtful post. YOU are why I am here. Without you there would be no rescued chimps from the biomedical laboratories and “entertainment” industries getting a newly deserved life. So, yes, I am more than happy to say thank you! Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart.
Bravo, Bravo. Hugs and standing ovation to sll those who CARE to GIVE their time, talent, energy and love to the work that they do every day. You are all heroes. We all know it and so do the chimps.
Many, Many thanks to everyone who lets us br a part of the daily routines of both chimps, bovines and staff! You are all angels and have the best jobs, ever!!! addicted to daily updates/videos. A HUGE pant-hoot to all ?
It moves me to read the comments and I have nothing to add….and second every word written above.
Thank you.
Can’t say it better than all these comments! You and your work are “food for the soul” for all those who are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of both through the Blog. Thank you!
To all the caregivers – you are all amazing for everything you do THANK YOU. We truly appreciate you everyday BLESS YOU.
Huge hugs and deep gratitude for all the caregivers! The photo of Grace holding Terrys foot made me tear up because I do the same thing! It is tellingbof how much he and how much they ate all truly loved!!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, to all the wonderful caregivers :revolving_hearts: