Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary for primates.

Katelyn

Happy Summer Solstice!

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“Happy Summer Solstice!”, wishes from Dylan Most!

Thanks so much, Dylan! We love that you’ve chosen these past many years to welcome the arrival of summer by giving a day of sanctuary to the chimpanzees, cattle and all their wild neighbors.

Negra enjoying watermelon shaved ice:

Bumble friend:

Meredith and her mama, Honey, enjoying their new summer pasture:

Lupine:

Jody:

Rayne relaxing in her greenhouse:

Flutterby friend:

Cy enjoying the sun:

Foxie during a past Fourth of July celebration:

Bluebird friend:

Barn Kitty enjoying the sun:

Welcome, summer! Wishing you all a season of the abundant beauty and ease only summertime can bring.

Jamie:

Happy Birthday, Betsy!

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Thank you so much, Betsy Barnard, for celebrating your special day with us! This is such a really lovely day of sanctuary you’ve given us all.

“It’s my birthday! I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate my time on Earth than to help care for this wonderful family of humans, chimpanzees, cats, dogs, cattle, and the land they live on. So glad to have you all in my life!”

Happy Birthday, Betsy! We are so grateful for your generosity and all you help make possible for the sanctuary and those who call it home. We hope you have a beautiful day!

And birthday greetings, human Betsy, from your Buddy, bovine Betsy:

Burrito:

Barn Kitty:

Foxie and Jody:

Dora:

Gordo:

In memory of Terry Lee & Theresa Hood

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Debbie Reintzell sponsored this lovely day of sanctuary in memory of Terry Lee and Theresa Hood, adding to this very special day as we celebrate birthdays, memories and hopes for the future. Debbie shared this heartfelt note about her gift:

“In memory of Terry Lee and his mother Theresa Hood. Terry left this world in 2012 after a strong and courageous fight against cancer. Terry loved life and his world around him. He was a terrific writer of poetry and wrote his heart in poem. Theresa was Terry’s mother. Theresa left this world just last week. She is now reunited with her son Terry. Theresa loved watching the videos I shared with her of the chimps and was so excited to have chimp Terry become my pal. I didn’t even realize that Terry and chimp Terry’s birthdays are just 5 days apart. So Happy Happy Birthday to both Terrys and to Neggie as well.”

Thank you, Debbie, for thinking of both Terrys, Theresa, and Negra today and giving us even more to be grateful for. We truly appreciate you including the chimpanzees in your life, and especially for being sweet Terry’s Pal.

Rayne and Terry:

Negra:

Burrito and Negra:

Terry:

Happy Birthday, Negra!

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Thanks so much, Tami Roy, for generously sponsoring this amazing day and getting one of our biggest celebrations of the year off to a special start. Queen Negra is turning 49 today!

“Happy Birthday dear Negra! You are beautiful inside and out, and I know you are an inspiration to the others. We all love you so much! Have a wonderful day!”

We truly appreciate you thinking of Negra and making her day extra wonderful, Tami!

It’s a big day here at the sanctuary! In addition to Negra’s honorary birthday, Terry is turning 33 AND it’s the anniversary of Negra and her group’s arrival to their sanctuary home fourteen years ago, all of which we are celebrating together this year as The Trifecta Jubilee!

We love you, Neggie! May you reign long, well, happy and full of your very occasional, very loved Hawaiian rolls. Negra during her recent recovery:

We always know spring has fully arrived when Negra makes her appearance on Young’s Hill to collect fresh grass:

It’s the only time of year we often lose sight of her:

Until her royal nest calls:

Be sure to tune in later today for the grand celebration and another wonderful Sponsor a Day!

Birthday wishes from Jane!

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Thank you so much, Jane Fantoni, for sponsoring a day of sanctuary in celebration of June birthdays and for sharing your own special day with us all!

“Happy Birthday to all June birthday chimps and human chimp-lovers! Since I have now officially turned the big 7-0 (plus 1 day) I am delighted to celebrate joy with you all. Wishing you all big hugs and many more happy days to come.”

Happy Birthday to you, too, Jane! Thank you for your kind and generous heart and for allowing us to celebrate so many wonderful events, chimps, and humans along with you.

Dora and Honey B:

Burrito and Missy:

Rayne and Terry:

Dora, Lucky and Cy:

Annie, Negra and Jody:

Happy Birthday, Donna!

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Thanks so much, Donna Dinsmore, for choosing to celebrate your special day by sponsoring a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees!

“This is my birthday and I would love to have the chimps celebrate it with me.”

Donna, there are so many ways you could spend today and it means a lot to us that you thought of the chimps! Happy Birthday from all of us here at the sanctuary!

Missy:

Missy’s daughter, Honey B:

Terry:

Gordo:

Rayne and Willy B:

Happy Birthday, Karen!

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Sisters, Julie and Karen Olson, are long-time friends of the chimpanzees and we’re so happy to get to join in Julie’s celebration of Karen for her birthday!:

“I am sponsoring this day for the chimps in honor of my sister Karen’s birthday. She hasn’t had the best year in many ways. One thing that brings her joy is keeping up with the daily doings of her favorite chimps. She has followed their journey ever since they arrived at the sanctuary. Happy Birthday, Sis, and may the rest of year get better from here on out.”

Thank you so much Julie and Karen for your dedicated friendship and support of our sanctuary family!

Karen, we hope today fills your heart, just as you both help make possible for the hearts of all the chimps and our tiny bovine herd. Happy Birthday from all of us here and all the good thoughts for the year ahead!

Generally speaking, I’d say the sanctuary’s siblings are much the same as most siblings. Laughing one minute, fighting the next, but still sharing a lot of joyful moments together. It’s a delight to watch their relationships grow whether they’ve been together for years or are just getting to know one another after years apart. Regardless of time spent together, it’s particularly endearing to see their shared connections and similarities, both physically and in personality.

(A side note about our resident siblings: Cy and Lucky are full siblings, Dora and Gordo are half-siblings, and Rayne is half-sibling to Lucky, Cy, and Honey B!)

Half-sisters, Rayne and Honey B:

Mave, Rayne and Honey B:

Half-sisters Lucky and Rayne making a Dora sandwich :):

Mave, Honey B, Rayne and Lucky: