Louisiana Wolves

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The habitat behind you is home to the two wolves, Jacob and Zola. The Sanctuary was contacted to rescue Jacob after he was found on the “loose” in a Louisiana neighborhood in 2021. Jacob was later introduced to Zola, a female Wolf rescued along with several other animals from the infamous Tiger King Park in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The two hit off immediately and are usually spotted in close proximity to each other. The habitat you are currently standing over, is home to a beautiful, female black wolf, named “Moon.” Her beginning in life was quite tragic as one of many wolves bred by a notorious exotic animal owner/breeder – also in Louisiana. The turning point in their story were the neighbors that called authorities after observing lifeless animals on the breeder’s property. Moon was one of the lucky survivors and the Sanctuary was promptly called to rescue her as we had recently helped with Jacob just a year earlier. The locations of these wolf rescues merely a year apart, along with other factors, lead us to believe Jacob came from the same owner. We’re so thankful for the concerned calls made by those neighbors and the tried-and-true adage: “If you see something, say something”!

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Carnivore Nutrition Center

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The tan building just to the east is by far the most important building on the property! Certainly that’s the case if you ask any of the animals. This is the Carnivore Nutrition Center where, in the months when the Bears are awake, 100,000 pounds of food a week or so is processed. When the Bears are hibernating, that number drops to about 40,000 pounds of food a week for the carnivores. All of the food is currently donated from big-box stores located in the Denver metro area. The Sanctuary has three trucks and three drivers that go to over 60 stores each week up and down the front range of Colorado. This excess food, often having 2 or 3 days before expiring, is then brought to the Nutrition Center where our army of wonderful volunteers sort the food and prepare it into diets for the animals. The carnivores primarily eat meat blocks that are a combination of beef, poultry and pork to which eggs, vitamins, minerals and other supplements are added. The Bears eat primarily fruits and vegetables along with fresh fish, seafood, grains and some red meat. The Grizzly and Brown Bears eat a great deal more red meat than do the Black Bears. Typically, the carnivores are fed 3 to 4 times a week while the Bears have food in front of them all the time since they are foragers, just like humans.

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Veterinary Care

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If you look to the west you will see a modular home in which employees live. The lower level is the Sanctuary’s well-equipped veterinary clinic. The animals that are rescued and live at the Sanctuary enjoy world-class veterinary care that is provided in many different ways. The Sanctuary has a full-time veterinarian and veterinary technician that work closely with the Animal Care staff and keepers. Most primary care is handled here on-site. The clinic is specially designed with a lifting system so that animals weighing hundreds of pounds can easily be moved around the clinic and into position for surgical procedures. The sanctuary also works very closely with the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins. The teaching hospital is able to provide specialized doctors and care as well as provide CT imaging and MRIs when needed. Additionally, the Peter Emily International Veterinary Dental Foundation, located right here in Colorado, provides critical root canal therapy and other advanced dental care. Believe it or not, the number one health problem at the Sanctuary is simply old age and the chronic conditions that accompany it. As they age, many of the animals begin to suffer from osteoarthritis and other muscular-skeletal problems associated with their previous lives where they did not receive adequate nutrition, were perhaps declawed, and spent all of their time on hard, concrete surfaces. We are proud of the care we give each animal and know that it is only through the generosity of our supporters that allows us to continue such high quality care for the animals.

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Hoof Stock

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As you look towards the veterinary clinic you may see various hoof stock animals like Llamas and even an emu. Yes, the Sanctuary is primarily devoted to rescuing large carnivores, but sometimes other animals just need a home. For example, one of our rescued horses was part of a package deal when we rescued a Tiger from an elderly woman in Oregon. “How are we able to take in these other animals?” one may ask. The Sanctuary does not extend its carnivore habitats up to the road but rather, leaves about a 200-foot buffer. This prevents people from doing dumb things along the road. As a result, there are many acres of pastureland available for our rescued hoof stock, and allows our making a good use of otherwise unused land. Many long-time supporters may recall the herd of Alpacas that was rescued in 2012 which now lives very happily at the Refuge. Visitors may also see Camels, Horses and even a couple of Mules that were faced with being euthanized when their entire substandard facility was completely shut down.