Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

Katelyn

Happy Birthday to Gary Smith!

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Today was sponsored by Kery Shaw and Terran Baylor in honor of Gary Smith and his wife, Kezia Jauron, on his birthday. Kery and Terran are long-time friends of the chimps and advocates for animal welfare and they shared this message about Gary and Kezia:

“Gary Smith and his wife, Kezia, have decades of experience in advertising, marketing, and public relations for a range of clients and product. They left the profitable world of corporate high-tech PR to create Evolotus in 2006. Gary focuses on media relations and account management. Their company, Evolotus values strong and lasting relationships with clients. Gary and his wife have dedicated their lives to advocating for animals trying to help those who have the same goals, such as documentary film makers, non profits, wellness and personal growth individuals, vegan companies, including so many more individuals. The list goes on. The work that Gary and his wife do is incredible and so crucial to our movement. “Evolotus also has a reputation for representing clients that are working for a better world, so journalists know that when we approach them, we have something important to communicate. We don’t just promote; we educate the market and the public, we raise awareness, we make people think and feel differently than they did before. “Happy 50th Birthday Gary!!! What an extraordinary individual YOU are. So glad we bonded over Animal Place, chicken rescues and Tony Kanal! We look forward to bringing you here, so we can bond even more over chimps! – Much Love, Respect & Gratitude, Kery & Terran”

Kery and Terran, thank you for always thinking of the chimpanzees and for celebrating the work of Gary and Kezia!

Happy Birthday, Gary! Thank you for all you and Kezia do to make a difference for our fellow animals. We hope you have a wonderful day!

Jamie:

In memory of Bessie Venema

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This gift of a day of sanctuary was generously given to the chimpanzees by Jennifer Wallace in memory of her grandmother, Bessie Venema. Jennifer shared this touching message about Bessie:

“Today is in memory of my Granny Bess. She was a very influential person in my life and someone I think of a lot. My Granny was such a kind person and never had anything bad to say about anyone. She always made my French toast exactly how I liked it with a lake of maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar. She would play Scrabble with me for hours, letting me win with all the triple letter and double word scores. She sang silly songs to me and always let me lick the batter from the cookie bowl…although she would gently slap my hand and say I was going to get Salmonella. Granny taught me to sew and brought me hot tea when I was sick. I always felt loved around Granny. I miss her dearly and hope she knew how much I loved her with all my heart.”

Jennifer, thank you so much for wanting to do something for the chimpanzees as you honor your Granny Bess and how much she means to you. We are touched to be included in your celebration of her and happy to honor her here today. We wish you a day of comfort, peace and joy as you remember her. And we so appreciate you helping to ensure all those things for the chimps.

Negra may not be significantly older than some of the other chimps, but she seems to be considered the granny of the group, and most definitely the Queen:

Happy Birthday, Meg!

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Today was sponsored by wonderful friend of the chimps and humans, Meg Lunnum! Meg graciously chooses to celebrate her birthday each year with the chimpanzees and we couldn’t be happier than to be included in celebrating a human we are so happy to know is in the world. Meg shared this message about her day:

“I like to honor all the primates at Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW on my birthday. This year I would like to include some new, casual chimpanzee friends I met at the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee.”

Meg, many, many thanks to you for all you do not only for the Cle Elum 7, but for all animals far and wide! And thank you for sharing your new friends, Bo, Binti, Daisy, Jimbo, Debbie, George, Mwelu, and Ripley, with us! Our thoughts and hearts are with the staff, caregivers, and chimpanzee family at Knoxville Zoo over the loss of their beloved Debbie. We are honored to have a chance to learn about her and her family and to celebrate them along with you, Meg.

From all of us at CSNW, we hope you have the happiest of birthdays yet, Meg! And extra good wishes from your pals, Annie and Negra. We’re so lucky to call you our friend.

Happy Birthday, Don and Dor!

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Today we’re thrilled to celebrate the birthdays of two of the chimps’ and humans’ long-time friends and supporters (and twin sisters!), Donna and Doreen Hughes, who chose to honor their special day by sponsoring a day of sanctuary for the chimps!

“Doreen and I would LOVE to Sponsor A Day in honor of our birthday celebration! There is nothing more important than sharing this day with beings that matter to us! We were so lucky to visit the Cle Elum 7 this year and the wonderful people who work with them ..our birthday celebration just wouldn’t be the same without helping the chimps! Yes, we sponsor Foxie every year, but we love each and every one of the chimps! Cannot wait to see them again in 2018! While we are celebrating in the Big Apple on this day, we will also be thinking about the Cle Elum 7! Happy Birthday to us!”

Don and Dor! Happiest of days to you in the Big Apple from Foxie and all her friends (we count ourselves in that lucky mix) here in the country! We’re just so happy you were born and that we get to celebrate your special day with you both. Thank you, from our hearts, for all you do to make the world a more magical and compassionate place just by being yourselves. May your year ahead be filled with all that enchants, inspires, brings joy, and delights your hearts!

Among the sun spots

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Despite snow and storms being predicted these last couple of days, we woke to a sunny, but frosty cold day. And ALL the primates have been soaking in the light:

Jamie surveying her frozen Queendom:

She climbed around licking all the melting frost off the structures:

And just hiding out for a bit of privacy while her staff wait patiently in the wings:

Foxie among the sunspots in the greenhouse:

Beautiful Missy in a rare moment of tolerating the camera:

Annie wasn’t up for eating cold snow and decided to sit in the sun and wadge paper from her chow bag instead:

Even, unbelievably, the Queen made a run OUTSIDE for a snow snack:

Foxie grimacing from the cold on her way back to the greenhouse. In her rush to get back she dropped three of her dolls outside, but several minutes later she scurried back out to collect them and take them to warm up in the chimp house:

Cold winds couldn’t stop the boss from her duties, who figures we can always run to stay warm:

Thank you, Gabi!

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Today was sponsored by Gabi Ford with the simple, but heartfelt sentiment: “I get so much enjoyment from seeing the Cle Elum 7.”

Gabi, thank you so much for your gift for the chimps and contributing so generously to their lives. I am pretty sure you speak for us all. While we are all here together to ensure the chimps receive as much as possible to thrive and flourish in their lives, it’s incredible to see what a source of hope, love, compassion, inspiration and pure joy they are for so many of us.

Negra:

Foxie:

Jamie:

Missy and Annie:

Jody:

Jody relaxing

Burrito: