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Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
by Sandy Dean
The DFW Coalition hotline is staffed by 50 trained volunteers from across the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. Working 2 or 4 hour shifts, from the comfort of their homes, they answer calls, primarily from the public…calls from people who have questions, concerns or problems with native Texas wildlife. Usually the issue can be immediately resolved by the hotline volunteer who provides information, advice, and techniques for handling wildlife conflicts. Partnering with various rescue organizations and wildlife rehabilitators in the area, the hotline volunteer can also arrange for injured or orphaned animals to be properly cared for.
On occasion, volunteers will also receive calls about non-native Texas wildlife or even about domestic pets ….for instance swans at an apartment complex or pet rats in need of a home. While the Coalition does not have the resources to handle such calls, they can often refer the caller to other organizations which can assist….Or that’s what our volunteers are SUPPOSED to do. Sometimes, as I recently discovered, instead of deferring these out-of-scope calls elsewhere, a few of our volunteers took the initiative to go above and beyond the call of duty to help animals in need. Here are two of those stories.
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| Chimpanzees In Trouble
Many of you may recall the story that came out in the news last fall concerning an animal sanctuary called Primarily Primates. This facility, located in San Antonio, housed approximately 800 animals, including monkeys, large jungle cats, and others. Primarily Primates was accused of animal neglect and misuse of funds and was put under court-appointed receivership until an investigation could be conducted. Lee Theisen-Watt was entrusted with the responsibility of assessing the situation, taking inventory, and saving as many animals as she could. It was a horrific task, and a heartbreaking one as well. There was much that needed to be done, from care-giving to cleaning and rebuilding cages, to … you name it. Ms. Theisen-Watt appealed for help from nearby volunteer organizations, and the DFW Wildlife Coalition had two dedicated and courageous hotline volunteers who responded to the plea. Our very own Shari Hightower and Rhonda Burkhardt, using vacation days to take off from work, drove to San Antonio to spend a long weekend helping with the cleanup. | |
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| Photos courtesy of Shari Hightower |
At first, Rhonda was a little apprehensive about the trip.
"On the way down to San Antonio, I had an uneasy feeling, nervous about the conditions we might find these animals in and an urge to drive fast because I could hardly wait to get there and help".
Once they arrived, it was obvious that the primary work to be done was cleaning of the animal living quarters and cages. The work was dusty, dirty, and tedious.
"At one point I was crouched in a cage about 2 1/2 feet high cleaning it out, but as unpleasant as the job might have been in any other circumstance, it felt so good to be helping the animals."
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Rhonda Burkhardt, left, and Shari Hightower, right, cleaning cages at the Primarily Primates sanctuary in San Antonio, TX. |
Both Shari and Rhonda felt that the experience was rewarding and their time well-spent. Shari had these observations:
“All of the animals we saw appeared to enjoy the fresh food and bedding now available to them. They are in good hands and I am glad I was able to help, even if it was cleaning soiled cages. It was worth it.”
Rhonda and Shari have both been involved with the DFW Wildlife Coalition for several years. Shari does a tremendous job working behind the scenes, helping to produce the volunteer orientation manuals, flyers, and mailers. Rhonda attends many of the Coalition’s outreach events, helping at the booth and talking with the visitors about wildlife issues and about the services we offer. She also works with our volunteers to provide improvements to our reporting processes.
We are so fortunate to have these gals on our team! Prudi Koeninger, president of the Coalition agrees.
“These are two volunteers that do not wait necessarily to be asked to help they jump in and make valuable contributions.”
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Lenny’s Fish Story
Lenny McClarren, another one of our dedicated volunteers, got an unusual call from the hotline last November. I prefer to let Lenny relate his story in his own words:
“In business they say the customer is always right but when it comes to people describing wildlife this isn't necessarily the case. Today we got a call to help a Koi in distress. The caller said the fish had been stranded in a steam and she was worried that it would die in the cold weather we experienced Nov. 30. She told us that the fish was in only a few inches of water and didn't seem to be able to get away and that it was right behind her apartment. She also described the fish as being perhaps one foot long.” |
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Lenny McClarren |
“Well in an ideal world this would have been nothing harder than catching the fish in a net and transferring it to a bucket of water. Prudi had already found a company that specializes in water landscaping that has a large tank for the fish they use to stock backyard ponds. They could provide a safe place to release the fish. But in real life things aren't always so easy. The stream was in fact behind the apartment but at the bottom of 30 foot drop-off. The stream was inaccessible from either side so I had to go down stream several hundred yards to find an entry point. The hike back through the thick underbrush would have been a little difficult under any circumstance but was even worse with accumulation of ice and snow.” |
“The caller's observation that the fish was in a narrow shallow pool may have been correct a few days earlier when she first saw the fish but Thursday's storm had also brought rain. With the rain the stream had grown and the water was flowing through the ravine swiftly. The extra water had also made the water deeper and the fish was now in a pool that was about 10 feet wide and 4 feet deep. In the murky water it was difficult to even see the fish but it wasn't difficult to catch and in a few minutes I had netted him. But when I brought him up it was obvious my 5 gallon bucket was going to be a tight fit for this guy who was almost 2 feet long and pretty hefty. The walk back to the car was a little more treacherous while carrying a full 5 gallon bucket.” |
“10 minutes later the Koi was being transferred to a stock tank, safe at last."
It’s hard to keep from smiling, but I know Lenny’s adventure wasn’t funny at the time! But his observation is so true: callers don’t always give an accurate description of the problem at hand!
Lenny McClarren has been a Coalition resource volunteer since its inception, in 2004. He is constantly working to further benefit all urban wildlife, not only through the DFW Wildlife Coalition, but through other non-profit organizations as well. |
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| Lenny's 2-foot koi. This bucket is about 30" across. |
As a wildlife sub-permitee, Lenny actively helps rehabilitators care for orphaned and injured animals. In addition, he owns and operates Critter 911, a local wildlife eviction service which offers humane solutions to businesses and homeowners with “critter” problems. I am always in awe of the spirit and energy that Lenny brings to everything he does. It’s a clear indication that he truly enjoys working with people and helping animals of all kinds. Thanks, Lenny!
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