Sanctuary

We lost our Beagle-mix, Bernie, last year. We had dogs in the past, but Bernie was the one who had most endeared herself to me. While I love animals of all kinds, Bernie was the one with whom I had that special bond. She will forever be missed.

 

Since her death, there has been an emptiness that has been difficult to fill. There have been so many times when I just wanted to put my arms around a furry, innocent little creature, and let it know it was loved and would be well cared-for. We may, at some point, welcome another dog into our home, but I am not quite ready for that yet (but getting closer). In the meantime, I have been trying to find something to help comfort and fill the void.

 

Some months ago, I discovered a place in Marysville, Ohio, called Sunrise Sanctuary, a private not-for-profit charity. Sunrise Sanctuary relies completely on donations in order to care for their animals. They offer a safe haven for more than 170 neglected/abandoned, abused, disabled or simply unwanted animals. These animals--all rescues--are allowed to live out their natural lives in a loving and lovely country setting.

 

We were introduced to "Carol", who is the main care-giver here. She is a wonderfully open person, whose love for these creatures is undeniable. She showed us the grounds, from top to bottom, and allowed us to stay as long as we wanted to spend time with the animals and take photos. Visits here need to be scheduled, but that is a simple process. An email or call to the facility is all that is needed.

 

I loved this place! The animals are free to roam and interact with visitors and with each other, and you won't find a cage anywhere (except for, understandably, the smaller animals such as rats, gerbils, chinchillas, etc.). Our visit was totally hands-on. I hugged everything from cows to goats to donkeys to rats to chickens and even pigs! And, yes, pigs can be affectionate. While the attention and love given to the animals by visitors absolutely enhance their lives, I found that sense of well-being transferred to me. When love is given, there is a transformation within the giver as well.

 

Sunrise Sanctuary is, above everything else, a work of love. As God's children, we are to be stewards of the natural world given to us. And they take that to heart at this sanctuary. I would highly encourage you to visit Sunrise Sanctuary online, and in person, and support this most worthwhile cause. They are especially in need of volunteers, if you are so moved. And supplies and donations are always needed and, truthfully, imperative and fundamental in order to keep Sunrise Sanctuary up and running. A simple call or email query will give you an idea of the type of supplies that are needed. The many ways to be of service or donate are listed at the Sunrise Sanctuary web site, and also on their Facebook page. Do yourself a favor, and truly love an animal today. It will make a profound change in you as well.

 

Sunrise Sanctuary

16730 Martin Welch Road

Marysville, Ohio 43040

 

Phone           (937) 578-8771

Email            ask@sunrisesanctuary.org

Website        http://www.SunriseSanctuary.org

Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/SunriseSanctuary

 

Scott with Wesley (check out the website for
pictures of Wesley's birthday party 2012!)

Carol with Danny the Draft Horse

Monica and Roscoe

George the Llama

Gracie, George's Lady Love

Woody the (love-sick) Goat

Resident Camaraderie

Monica with Baby



Carol and Joe, the Silkie

Supper, the Ornery Duck



Esther, Keeping Cool

Monica with Benji, the Rat

Chance, the Pit Bull in Mid-yawn (let's just say
he is not a fighter)

Henry (the 8th), a Lover

Scott with a Smiling Henry

Peace,

 

Monica

 

 

 

 

 

 



Hello, Nature Calling

Being born a Jack-A-Bee (Beagle/Jack Russell mix), Bernie is not lacking in quirks. If laughter is the best medicine, my husband and I are quite healthy, as not a day goes by that we have not chuckled at something she has done.

Going outside for nature's call has produced a series of very funny behaviors. When it's a simple matter of watering the grass, Bernie will usually stand at the door staring at it, nose pointed upwards, willing it to open; or she just stares at me "loudly" like Eddie on Frasier—that "Jack Russell stare"—making a hoarse whispering sound (her "inside voice", which I am now sorry I taught her) until I let her out. It's a comical, albeit annoying sound and always yields the desired result.

When she really means business it is quite another scenario and, frankly, an odd routine. Because of the coyotes which frequent our rural area, we do not let her out at night alone. In the winter it can be an especially long and uncomfortable experience.

When Bernie feels the urge, she wanders into my office and remains for approximately 30 seconds. We have no idea what actually happens in there, and have never been able to catch her in time to discover that. She suddenly runs through the beads hanging at the office door, full speed ahead, their wooden clacking startling all, and stares at us with that "IT'S COMING!" look of horror on her face—the same look that used to be on my children's faces when they were newly potty-trained toddlers.

Once outside one would think that, being such an emergency, she would get to it. But Bernie must slowly—walk—the—grounds sniffing every blade of grass to see who might have recently used her bathroom. She stands still as a statue, listening, smelling the air. When she finally gets around to the job at hand, of course she must find the perfect spot. She sniffs, scratches, circles around, then, finally the stance. But is that spot good enough? Off she goes again, sniffing and scratching. Just when I think it's all about to happen she gets in position and then decides that's not the right spot after all. So, in mid-squat, she scoots across the grass looking like a hunchbacked kangaroo, sniffing, resting, scratching, hopping on her two back legs to the next patch of grass and finally takes care of the business at hand. Then, with the same urgency as before, she begins barking like a mad dog, as if I had left her out too long: Hey! I'm done here and I'm cold! Let's go inside and get my good dog treat!