A Volunteer Story

My 2 weeks in the USA

By Erik J., Netherlands

(Photo below by Erik J. 10/2005)

I arrived at Peace River Refuge with the only notion that I wanted to volunteer my time for a worthy cause. I had no idea what to really expect and this was my first visit to the United States. I was ready to learn about exotic animals in captivity and ready to get my hands dirty.

In the mornings we were doing the standard feeding schedule. At first we would start with feeding the farm animals (goats, horses, cavies, tortoise, mule, deer and the best part, the bears). Feeding the bears was a lot of fun, because the sisters Dolly and Molly like their fish and the fruits and are ready and waiting. After that first run it was time to learn to prepare the food for the primates (tamarins, lemurs, capuchins and spider-monkeys). We spent quite some time chopping fruit and vegetables in standard portions and then afterwards bringing it to the monkeys. It's funny to learn each animal has it's own favorite fruits and veggies, but moreover I learned that diet is a very exact science and the animals need to get a well-balanced diet at all times. For example, the best part was having Fatso (a really fat Spider-monkey) on a diet, and in doing so, we had to temporarily separate him from the others, and that was quite challenging. I noticed that after a few days he outsmarted us and we had to come up with new strategies... those guys keep you inventive.

After the primates it was time to chop the fruit for the fruit-bats. This is a lot of work, and it is nice to see there is always somebody willing to help with the food-prep. In the afternoon there was time for doing various activities: Collecting produce (fruit, vegetables, fish, pastries and live-stock feed) at the local shops. Then we ended up sorting out the produce, cleaning up the terrain and the animal enclosures.

We also spent time building new "enrichment" items for the animals, like new ropes for the monkeys or new toys for the tigers. If you don't mind you can also help cutting up the meat for the big cats (jungle cats, lynxes, servals, cougars, tigers, wolves and one leopard). This activity definitely makes you dirty in the process.

At the end of the afternoon it was time for the grand finale: Feeding the cats, this was done together with the animal coordinator and we would take 2 big crates of meat to the enclosures. This was a serious activity and it was good to see that you were able to learn each animal’s behavior during feeding. Some can be aggressive and some are very gentle, but you always had to keep in mind that, no matter how gentle they are, they stay wild animals.

Depending on the load of activities we would finish in the end of the afternoon or at the beginning of the evening. In the evening there was time to chill out a little at the camp fire and sometimes we would go out for dinner. Most times we were tired and resting in front of the TV and getting to bed to be prepared for another fantastic, busy and educational day. 

I had a really, really, really great time. If you're thinking of doing this, just do it!! Be prepared for the heat because in the summer it is very hot and very humid. Take a lot of old clothes (you will get dirty!!) and long trousers, otherwise the bushes, fire-ants and mosquito’s will have a ball with you. 

The people on the project were very nice. Volunteers are treated as family. You are always welcome in the house, in the kitchen, behind the TV and even in the bathroom. It is clear that they need and like having volunteers and that they act like that. 

I had a really great time. I recommend everybody to be part of this project. I will certainly go back some time.

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Construction Help Needed!

The Paw Project

Declawing may result in permanent lameness, arthritis, and other long-term complications. It is actually illegal in many countries.

An organization out of California called The Paw Project iadvocates animal welfare, promotes public awareness about the painful and crippling effects of feline declawing, rehabilitates declawed cats through paw repair surgery, and supports measures to end the unnecessary practice of Onychectomy (declaw surgery).

Read Naala's story here. Viewer discretion advised.

There are many myths, misunderstandings, and misinformation concerning declawing. If you are considering having this surgery done on a cat, whether it is an exotic or domestic cat, or if your veterinarian has suggested it, please take a few minutes to learn about this major surgical procedure before you make a decision.

To read a list of Frequently Asked Questions by The Paw Project, click here.

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You Think You Want a "Pet" Monkey?

The reason why sanctuaries such as ours exist is because these animals more often than not end up becoming a danger to humans and to themselves when held in inappropriate conditions. Exotic animals require very special nutritional, medical and emotional needs. When the time comes that these animals need medical attention, many people will realize that it is difficult to find a good veterinarian that specializes in exotic animals and that the medical bills associated with the treatment are much higher than any procedures on a dog, cat or other domestic animals.

The other issue is that of personal liability. As with dog bites an owner is liable for any damage or harm that comes to a human being caused by his or her animals. The big difference is that with wild animals, the risk of anyone getting hurt by a bite is much more prominent. Wild animals are cute when they are little, but they grow up and after a few years their wild animal instinct will become evident and frequently take over. Many monkeys will live 40 years or longer, maturing to the point of aggression and becoming unhandleable in only 2-3 years. The cute little animal now becomes a danger to those around it and by being put in a dangerous situation, the animal more than likely will meet a fate that could result in death. Most states require decapitation of an exotic animal if it bites someone – this is the only way to test the animal for rabies to ensure the safety of the person who was bitten.  Vaccinations and quarantine periods only apply to domestic animals and ferrets, because those are the only species that have been extensively studied for this purpose.

Many people start with the best intentions but just don't realize that exotic animals have very special needs that require experience, lots of funding and excellent resources to care for the animal. Every time an exotic animal is allowed to come into contact with people, there is a threat of a bite and that translates to a direct threat to the animal’s life.

Pet monkeys will become aggressive and are a good example of why it is not a good idea to have an exotic animal as a personal pet. The following link will take you to a presentation regarding pet monkey ownership. Some of the pictures in this presentation are quite graphic and thus, viewer discretion is advised.

Click HERE for the presentation and save it to your PC to open. Once you save it pick Powerpoint from the list of application to open the file with.

This presentation was made possible by www.petmonkey.info

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