Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

Happy Birthday, Karen!

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Julie Olson sponsored today’s day of sanctuary for the chimps and her sister, Karen Olson! She shared this message about her gift:

“I wanted to sponsor a day for the chimps in honor of my sister’s birthday. I know this is a gift that truly means a lot to her. She loves all creatures great and small!”

Julie, thank you so much for always thinking of the chimpanzees and including them in your family celebrations!

Karen, we hope this is the best birthday yet! We’re so happy to celebrate your special day with you and are so grateful to you and Julie for always holding the chimpanzees in your hearts and for the difference you make in their lives.

Happy Birthday from all of us here at the sanctuary! This guy is always up for a celebration (as long as it involves food, playing and food!):

In memory of Robert Ruggeri

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Rachel Ruggeri sponsored a day of sanctuary for the chimpanzees in honor of her father, Robert Ruggeri. Rachel shared this touching message:

“I saw on the blog today the word…independence. And no single word could better describe my father, Robert Ruggeri, who would have been 82 years old on this day. Though he passed away five years ago, we think of him each and every day and we are grateful for the independence he fostered in each of his children. He loved all animals, most especially chimpanzees, and he would be so happy to know the gang of seven was discovering their independence in the hills of the sanctuary amid the Eastern Washington skies. “Freedom over security” was among one of the many of my father’s favorite sayings. Like the gang, here’s to hoping that my father has found the freedom and independence he so desperately craved…”

Rachel, thank you for sharing such a loving and powerful tribute about your father. It seems beautifully apropos for the chimpanzees. We are so honored to celebrate Robert’s memory with you and your family.

Ten years in sanctuary, and the chimpanzees continue to explore and embrace freedom and independence in their own meaningful ways more and more with each passing day. And we couldn’t be more honored to bear witness to their daily self-discoveries of bravery, adventure, joy, love, and healing.

Foxie relishing the accomplishment of her first courageous climb to the top of Twister:

Negra bravely traversing the shaky bridge for possibly the first time:

Annie, first to the top of the new structure:

Jody, enjoying the freedom to rest:

A spring celebration, just because

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It’s watermelon season and since the chimpanzees haven’t had a party in days, we thought what better thing to do than have an impromptu watermelon bowl party! Just because! We halved personal size watermelons and filled them with blueberries, strawberries, purple cabbage, cucumber, mini-peppers, avocado, wild roses, and chives. And what chimp party is complete without sparkling cider?

Jody:

Annie:

Negra collecting bowls:

Missy:

This guy:

Jamie lingering over the wild roses, one of her favorite things to eat:

Everybody has their favorite parts and style of eating the bowls. Foxie was all about the bowls themselves, scraping as much off the rind as she could:

The chimps spent most of the afternoon in various locations of the chimp house deep in watermelon bowl-induced naps. I came upon Annie, sound asleep in the greenhouse with the breeze blowing on her hair. But at one point she managed to find a bit of rind leftover to chew on before drifting back to sleep. She didn’t even open her eyes!:

Spring has just been a kaleidoscope of birds swirling through the cacophony of their songs, yellow and purple wildflowers covering neon green fields, warm days and cool breezes, neighboring wildlife going about all their wild lives…I mean, it’s just amazing. An ode to life, and sometimes death, just watching it all. And the fact that the chimps and their home are at the center of all this is a celebration all it’s own. We hope you are all soaking in all the beauty of this season as much as the chimps. It’s because of you that all their days are ones to celebrate.

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

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The chimps’ good friend, Lisa Stuverud, sponsored today for them as a way to celebrate her own special day! Lisa shared this lovely message:

 “I turned 60 this year, a HUGE accomplishment for me so I made a list of many things I was grateful for, things that had helped me get to 60. One of the things was ‘I am grateful for having passions in my life especially when they sustain me’ and today the passion I have for all animals especially Jamie, Foxie, Burrito, Annie, Missy, Jody, Negra and everyone in and around Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporting their passion will sustain me. I have often said that these seven chimpanzees and the people who selflessly support them give far more than they could ever take by showing such resilience, healing, love, kindness and devotion. Today, that will sustain me once again and I am so grateful to have this shared passion in my life.”

Lisa, thank you so much for such a lovely, inspiration-filled gift for the chimps! We are so incredibly fortunate that the chimps are surrounded by so much love and passion for their well-being and grateful ourselves that you are part of their chimp family. All of us here wish you the happiest birthday yet!

Annie and Missy:

Burrito and Negra:

Jody and Foxie:

Jamie and Missy:

Today is for Matt Hillman!

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Today was sponsored for Matt Hillman by his 5th grade students at Huff Elementary School! They shared this wonderful message about their gift:

“Years ago, Matt volunteered his time at the sanctuary and fell in love with the chimpanzees. Mr. Hillman’s 5th grade students would like to make a donation in honor of Mr. Hillman for the wonderful job he did teaching this school year!”

This is such a wonderful thing to do! To all of Mr. Hillman’s students, thank you for giving such a compassionate, thoughtful and inspirational gift. It gives us joy and hope to see such gratitude for your teacher and care for the chimpanzees.

Matt, thanks so much for sharing your love of the chimps with your students! All of us at CSNW hope you have a fantastic day!

Jamie is quite studious herself. She really loves books!

Happy Birthday, Carrie!

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Paul and Jenara Miller sponsored today for Carrie Miller!

“Happy Birthday to Carrie, who introduced us to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW!”

Paul and Jenara, how kind of you to celebrate Carrie by including the chimpanzees and adding to their lives! Thank you so much!

Carrie, we hope you have the best of birthdays yet!! We are so grateful for all the love of Burrito and his family that you share not only with them, but with the humans of your world as well.

Your pal, Burrito, in all his much adored “Burrito-ness”:

Happy Birthday, Alisa!

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Today was sponsored by Ed Brooks in honor of Alisa Lemire Brooks! Ed shared this beautiful and touching message about this gift:

“Today is Alisa’s birthday. Her deep love for animals and especially those who need our help is a cornerstone of her life. The family of chimpanzees at the sanctuary have been a part of our lives for a very long time now. A visit to the sanctuary of few years back is a treasured memory. Giving a donation to Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest so that all the beautiful work there continues to receive support is a present directly to Alisa’s soul. These have been hard times, we have lost three elderly dogs, all rescued, all living long happy lives, and filling ours with their presence. Maizey, Ruby and Lil are all part of this gift to the chimps as well. Love”

Ed and Alisa, this is such a beautiful tribute and gift in so many ways and we’re so touched by your compassion. We all send our heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your loved ones, Maizey, Ruby and Lil, and we’re so honored to celebrate them today along with you and the chimpanzees. The chimps are so fortunate to have you as part of their family.

Alisa we hope this day is filled with joy, comfort and love, just as you’ve brought to the lives of so many of our fellow animals. We’re so grateful to have hearts like yours in the world. Happy Birthday, from all of us at CSNW!

Joyous Missy and Burrito:

Comfy Jody and Jamie:

Foxie and Dora love:

Annie and her heart full of love:

And of course at the top, we have Negra, reveling in the peace all these amazing gifts bring.