Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest
Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary
The next time a stranger asks me what I do, I think I will answer that I’m part of a paparazzi team for some high-profile niche celebrities, focusing on positive images and stories.
The camera was clicking away when I was taking these photos of Queen Negra today:
Co-paparazzi J.B. captured this image of the devilishly handsome Willy B while he was in the Courtyard.
Diana and I recently adopted a dog named Benny and he came to live with us, along with our dog Abbey and our cat Loulou, at the sanctuary. As soon as he was acclimated to his new home and family, we brought him to meet the rowdy neighbors up the driveway. Not all of the chimps like dogs, particularly when the dogs are loud and reactive, so we have been careful not to bring some our dogs around too often in the past. But Jamie seemed to understand that Benny is harmless and would even make a good moderate-pace running partner. Now we just have to find some tiny cowboy boots for dogs!
By the way…and I mention this not just because Bob Barker, through his charitable foundation, is a supporter of CSNW…but the more observant among you might wonder why Benny isn’t neutered. He just needed to recover from an illness before it could be scheduled.
The introductions continued today with our first successful all-female quad group date in the front rooms. Dora, Honey B, Mave and Lucky all spent the afternoon together with lots of play and grooming interactions!
Today’s itinerary is, per usual, quite full.
Our staff is staying busy with ongoing social integrations between the two former Waystation groups, regular cleaning and organizing in the Chimp House, and special projects around the sanctuary.
In place of a wordy update, I’m just going to upload some photos I’ve taken of the sanctuary residents basking in the warm autumn colors (and crisp October breezes).
On any given day you can bet that we are cleaning around Cy and Lucky. These two are known holdouts and when they decide to stay somewhere they settle in for the long haul. Pretty much if they decided to stay in the front rooms you have no luck in cleaning the front rooms. Though this may throw a wrench in our schedule, they are great company!
Cy reading his magazine in front room 6 while we clean front room 5 and the chute.
Lucky taking a little snooze next to Cy.
Today we also put a “Foot Box” in front room 5 just like on the other side of the building. The purpose of the foot box is so that the chimps can present a hand or foot and we can get a x-ray. Obviously the foot box is new and it has to go through a rigorous inspection process by the chimps. I would say it passes their inspection standards as you will see in the video above.
Rayne and Gordo looking in.
Terry taking a little peek!
Bonus!
Missy, Jody, and Burrito have a very nice grooming session.
Missy and Annie grooming themselves.
I had so many thoughts going through my head when I was taking the walk in the video above.
I believe that the true beauty in this world is in these small, transitory moments and recognizing how quickly time passes. I feel it with the seasons too. I see the leaves changing, their colors taking my breath away, understating that a big part of the spectacular beauty is knowing that their display will soon be gone, and the next season, the next year, the next decade, will arrive before I even have time to process that one moment in time.
It’s cliche, but life is brief. We are so fortunate to have this outlet of the blog to capture and share the small moments and invite you to take a minute to appreciate them with us.
If you subscribe to our e-newsletter, you should have received an email this week that included information about National Estate Planning Awareness Week. This week is all about acknowledging the briefness of life and preparing for the future.
We are so grateful to be able to honor supporters and supporters’ loved ones in various ways at the sanctuary, including receiving some legacy gifts that have helped care for the chimpanzees. As I said in that email, whether or not you include Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest in your estate planning, I do hope you will take advantage of the free tools we offer to create your will and set up your estate in whatever way you desire.
Take a moment to do something really important–you won’t regret it.
Back to those precious fleeting moments, I give you Gordo in a box:
Who was able to hold the most food from this afternoon’s forage?
Burrito:
Negra:
Jamie:
