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Changing Lives One Relationship At A Time!
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Spring is Hair Newsletter- What is Happening At One Heart Wild Animal Sanctuary
~ Habitat Stewardship Training by National Wildlife Federation Starts April 5
~ Meet Wilbur & Bailey
~ Meet our intern Mae Tipple
- ROOTS Institute Certification Program Open for 2017/2018 Applications
- Student Outreach Programs are growing and changing lives
~ Animals & Empathy Elementary Humane Education
~ Teens Breathe Mindfulness in Nature - Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Self Development
- 2016 Financial Report
~ Many new ways to join us in support of the animals and human services
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National Wildlife Federation and One Heart Wild Education Sanctuary are offering a 24-hour training program to teach you how to help others create and restore wildlife habitat. This program is engaging, fun and highly informative, and you get to meet and interact with local conservation professionals and
other similarly interested folks!
Help Wildlife As A HABITAT STEWARD
Classes will be held every Wednesday in April from 6:00-9:00pm at the One Heart Wild Education Sanctuary in Silverdale (12620 Willamette Meridian Rd. NW). Field trip sessions will be held on two Saturdays (April 15th & 22nd), plan on a full day!
Cost is $30, scholarships available, no interested person will be turned away. Register here:
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| Meet Wilbur... In January we were contacted about a pot bellied pig who needed a forever home. He had been homeless for a very long time, frequently seen in the forest where people ride their horses and was often chased by their dogs. He was by all accounts feral. He was found freezing, shivering and huddled up against the gate to a ranch. A local horse rescue was called and he willingly walked on to their horse trailer. He spent two months at the rescue getting veterinary care, putting weight on and was neutered. The vet classified him as a senior pig. During his stay at this organization, they were able to find out more about him and learned that he had been severely abused and neglected prior to becoming homeless. We agreed to take him in to our Sanctuary.
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| On the day Wilbur arrived he was very worried. He cried and whined, not fully breaking into a panicked squeal. That was notable to Drea. She has lived with pigs before and a distress squeal is often a first line of vocal communication. Wilbur wasn’t choosing that. He tried to follow our invitation to leave the safety of the trailer that brought him, to the heated insulated trailer that would be his winter home, but he kept turning back towards the trailer he came in. Aggressive force is an easy choice for humans with nonhuman animals (and each other), eliminating self determination or agency, bending their will to ours. Contemporary research in neuroscience teaches us that our social brains cannot be activated and behaviorally expressing fear at the same time it is activated and expressing interest in or seeking something, especially as it relates to food. As soon as we saw him struggling to leave his security and getting more worried, we directed a change in plans that involved bananas, human regulation, and pig positive encouragement. Within moments the entire emotional escalation regulated, humans and nonhuman, and Wilbur was safely in his new temporary winter home. We quickly learned that he was terrified of a human with any kind of long handled implement in their hand. But mostly, he just seemed to feel the peace of not having to fight for his life, freezing in a climate not compatible with his biology. He is evolutionarily designed for Vietnam; 84 degrees average temp, coldest is 64 degrees in winter. He will need a special home to accomodate his need for warmth. He has spent his pig lifetime being neglected, abused and cold, that ended the day he was rescued and is assured now that he lives in Sanctuary. As we have gotten to know Wilbur, he has blossomed. Empathically I can imagine how nice a heated trailer full of straw to bury into with regular meals and lots of love and adoration must feel to him. Am I anthropomorphizing? Of course I am, it is unscientific not to! We understand our fellow social mammals because we are more the same than different and we must learn to anthropomorphize well which is to say, we must have empathy for each other based on our shared emotions. Wilbur's resilience through all of his hardships has been protective for him as evidenced by his lack of defensiveness. He has not once tossed a tusk spiked head at any human or animal wanting to get to know him. His resilience is the kind we see in the at risk teens we work with through our Mindfulness in Nature program in the alternative high schools. These students have suffered unspeakable challenges and yet, they persist. They show up in spite of their suffering to find teachers who see them as the individuals they are. We can see this is happening for Wilbur too. In April we will begin building a Wilbur specialized home. He has already been choosing to particpate in occaisional animal assisted therapy sessions, we think he will enjoy that even more once he is settled in a permanent pig home. If you would like to sponsor the construction, volunteer to help build, or make a donation towards his new home, you can do that here.
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Meet Bailey... What does it take for the apex human ego to act with kindness and simplicity towards a bird who’s value in our culture is as a commodity? How does one move from that mindset and conditioning to seeing the individual social bird as a life, a personality, a being with a desire to be safe, to be well and to live?
These questions were present for us in this process of taking Bailey in to Sanctuary. We have never taken in a bird as sick as she was. Why was it different starting from that position with her vs. tending to a bird that is in the Sanctuary flock. Attachment surely plays a role as does our shared social brain care circuit. This process felt like walking through another threshold in the paradigm shift that is One Heart Wild and ROOTS Institute. The enculturated voices (those around us and remnants of our own); “it is just a chicken,” “you could buy a new flock for the cost of vet care for that one chicken,” “how can it hold the same value as a dog or cat,” nagged and brought clarity at the same time.
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| Some of the most impactful social and emotional skills we strengthen in ourselves, our animal assisted clients, and in the animals who accompany us for animal assisted therapy and self development are; self awareness, self regulation, self determination, and self responsibility. Seeing Bailey as a life and a personality, a suffering fellow social being who was made sick in her captivity and was helpless to help herself, called for kindness, compassion, and empathy.
Bailey has been living in the house while she heals and she interacts with the bunnies, dogs and cat while walking about the house during her exercise outings. She recognizes that she is who we are talking to when we call her name.
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| What started out as daily periods of free time out of her pen and in the house, extended to her flowing in to our routine and being just another resident. In the beginning, her energy was low, she wandered around for a bit and then settled in for a nap next to either the bunnies or Corgi dog Grace.
Currently she has started her transition outside. She spends several hours in a pen next to the big coop so that everyone can get to know her before she is introduced into the big coop. Another intentional departure from the status quo of humans with chickens. Most new chickens are put in to a coop at night when all of the other birds are sleeping. Thinking empathically (anthropomorphizing well) about what that experience must be like for the new hen to be put in a strange place, alone, to wake up surrounded by a bonded social group where she is the outsider, illuminates how much most humans don't consider the emotional lives and needs of other animals. By the time a new hen at OHW gets to move in to the big coop, they already know each other. We even take them in for a few supervised coop visits to get the lay of the land before being on their own. Bailey is now waiting at the front door- which she worked out on her own, quietly waiting to be noticed so that she can go where she wants to be.
In March, she was the hen ambassador for Animals & Empathy when she visited two classrooms of mixed age 1st-3rd graders. She did a marvelous job of teaching the children about empathy, about friendship with a hen, and about how quiet bodies and voices allow connection to happen between species.
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Visit Our Facebook page to see pictures of A & E in the classroom and at the Sanctuary |
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Animals & Empathy is Growing and We Have Big Plans for 2017! 2016 was a very successful pilot year for Animals & Empathy and 2017 we are growing. We have new trained volunteers in the classrooms so we can now do up to 4 classrooms at a time.
We are also very excited to be instituting data research methods that will allow us to measure the impact we are having on improving empathy skills in our elementary age students and then extending this work to animal assisted sessions with kids and youth.
Kathryn Owen is a consultant and research evaluator with decades of experience studying the relationship between human and nonhuman animals. She is volunteering her expertise to help us establish research standards for our classroom and Sanctuary experiential program. After visiting our classroom, the day that Bailey was there, she said "It was fantastic. I feel like this program truly incorporates best practices in building empathy that - unfortunately - I've rarely seen employed in humane education programs."
This is what the teachers told us:
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| April Cummings 2nd grade
It was a great privilege to be part of such a wonderful program. My second grade students were able to learn lessons about empathy through animals, and learned some wonderful things that they can apply to their daily life. They not only learned about how to treat animals, but they also have applied it to how we treat others around us. The connections that my students made with the wonderful literature was also magical. This program brought joy and excitement into my classroom, and my students enjoyed every week of this program. My students are looking forward to our visit to the sanctuary to meet all of the spectacular animals, and have the opportunity to interact with them in person.
Jennifer Youngker 2nd /3rd grade highly capable
As a classroom teacher, implementing the Animals & Empathy program has fostered a deeper
understanding and appreciation for animals in our class. My students are excited and engaged during
every lesson, while they learn about specific animals and how to care for them and show empathy
toward them. The hands-on activities and stories have added so much more depth to our normal
curriculum demands. Each lesson follows the Common Core Standards in English Language Arts, yet
facilitates critical thinking skills and empowers students to feel safe and comfortable in their discussions
regarding showing empathy towards animals. I would highly recommend ALL teachers, find the time, even with curriculum and testing demands to incorporate this program into their Literacy lessons.
If you are interested in supporting Animals & Empathy as a classroom volunteer or providing books and materials for classroom sessions or a financial sponsor to help with transportation costs for getting students to the Sanctuary, we would love to have your on our A & E team.
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| Welcome Donna Van Renselaar to the One Heart Wild Board of Directors!
Donna is a Certified Marine Naturalist, Artist, and Education Professional experienced in the design and implementation of groundbreaking programs for K-12 students and educators. She specializes in arts-infused teaching and learning, environmental and humane education, brain-based learning, and systems-based organizational change.
Donna studied Visual Art and English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Washington--Seattle, earned her Master of Education degree from the University of Arkansas--Fayetteville, and is currently pursuing her certification on Animal-Assisted Learning and Self-Development through One Heart Wild’s ROOTS Institute. As a volunteer with One Heart Wild, she has been integral in the development of our Animals and Empathy program for elementary students.
Donna developed and led the largest arts education program in the state of Arkansas, was a member of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education program; led Dr. Robert Ballard’s JASON Project in Arkansas; and was one of 30 national arts education professionals invited to participate in the National Arts Education Leadership Institute. She served on state and national leadership teams for the A+ Schools Network, coordinated the Newspapers in Education program for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and taught courses in Arts Integration and Critical Thinking for undergraduate students.
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| Please Consider a Donation Today & Supports Many Empathy & Resilience Building Human-Animal Relational Services & Educational Programs
It is easy to go to our secure donation page and choose a program you would like to support . Consider making your donation a monthly gift by checking the box at the bottom of the page. Our mailing address is at the bottom of this newsletter if you prefer to send a check. Every being, 2 & 4 legged thanks you for your support.
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Welcome To Our New Intern Mae Tipple
Mae lives in Tacoma, and is very active in her local vegan and animal welfare communities. As the admin for the Tacoma Vegans Facebook group (965 members, and growing!) she works hard to keep the community vibrant and active while thriving on mutual support and collective information.
In 2016, she established Cupid's Landing - a nonprofit startup organization to fund the building of a farm animal rescue and cooperative community in Western Washington. After three years of employment at the Humane Society in Tacoma, she is now interning at One Heart Wild to further her experience in working with farm animals and developing a nonprofit organization.
We are very excited to have Mae with us and look forward to her sharing her knowledge of conscious eating through vegan recipes and other healthful ideas on moving towards a plant based diet.
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|  | The next generation of educating professionals in Animal Assisted Therapy & Self Development. |
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One Heart Wild's ROOTS Institute Welcomes Students For the 2017/2018 Class
Learn the astonishing healing power of inter-species Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Self Development delivered outdoors in the natural world rather than in an office. Our certification programs are designed to increase the health and well-being of clients as well as the animals involved. ROOTS is a science based, trans-species psychology, trauma informed program with a focus on the neuroscience, ethology, and psychology of humans and the social animals we work with in Animal Assisted services.
As part of the ROOTS Institute training, students attend a field observation module to better understand some of the key species they will be working with in animal assisted therapy and self development. This is part of the ROOTS ethical commitment to "do no harm." The Board of Directors accompanied students for the 2017 field observation module. Observing stallions sleeping with their foals and co-parenting with the mares, along with developing an understanding of how deeply social, and family oriented this species is, helps students make better decisions for the horses in their care and in their sessions.
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More ways you can join our team and be a part of our vision:
To support a community that inspires healing, kindness, and advocacy through empathic relationships with all life on earth.
Please consider supporting One Heart Wild Year Around:
We are participating in the following organized fundraising events:- WA State Combined Fund Drive - check to see if your employer participates and sign up for automatic payroll deductions.
- Combined Federal Campaign - if you work for the government, you can choose to donate to us through automatic payroll deductions.
- One Call for All on Bainbridge Island - look for One Heart Wild.
- Kitsap Great Give - we are participating again this year and there are many new and more convenient ways to participate. Save the date May 2. More details to come.
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Saying Good Bye to Those We Love...There is No Greater Honor in Life!
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Dear Mia, When I first met you, I saw a horse that had obviously led a hard life. You were thin from hunger, in pain from neglect, and tired from your struggle to survive. But, there was a spark in your eyes. A fire that refused to burn out before one last blaze. We brought you home to care for you, love you, bring you back to life, and you refused it all! How could you be in such need of love and push it away? You taught me the most important lesson of trust. You needed patience, understanding and a commitment. So I gave it all to you. Because you deserved it. I spent hours sitting outside of your stall. Watching. Waiting. Hoping you would let me in. And then one day, you did. That day, you allowed me to groom you. I brushed your coat over and over, while you leaned into every stroke. When I thought I had finished, you wrapped yourself around me to hold me near. I got it. I promised I'd never leave you, and I never did. We had our good days, and definitely some rough ones, my MiMi. You put me in my place, and I let you because it was what you needed. I watched you blossom into a horse with spunk, personality and a whole lot of sass. It was beautiful. You were beautiful. Last week, you fell. After weighing our options, and seeing the look in your eyes, we knew we had no choice; we had to say goodbye. That day was the most special with you, my friend. You placed your head in my arms, finally letting me support you entirely. I held you until our time was up. I whispered into your ear all of the things I loved about you; your strong will, your bravery, your beautiful eyes. When you were breathing your last breaths, I was on my knees with you. You passed surrounded by the people and animals that loved you most. I'm so grateful for that. I miss you every day. I miss the feeling of excitement I had every morning to see you. I miss seeing you poke your head out of your stall before everyone else. I miss your distinctive low and throaty nicker. I miss your expressive ears, and that they were too close together! I miss the way you ate your meals. I would drop your bowl of mash in your stall joking that it was like feeding lunch at Jurassic Park. You would eat with such gusto that you would throw your bowl against the walls to get to the last crumbs. I miss the way you'd make me laugh on a daily basis. You would lurk around corners startling anyone that walked by. Or annoy the geldings and then glare at me when I shooed you away from them. I miss the tight bond you had with Rasa, your favorite stall mate. You built her up and made her brave. You defended her, not letting anyone get between you. I admired that, even though it complicated matters every once in a while. Most of all, I miss the sporadic, yet oh so special times you would show your love to me. My favorite memory is when I introduced you to a group of Cub Scouts. As I was explaining your need of space, you started rubbing your head on my arm. When you didn't stop, the boys and their parents giggled and took out their cameras. I was your human scratching post and I was honored. I will cherish those memories. I thank you for our time together, as short as it was. I thank fate for bringing us together, because coincidence couldn't have perfectly joined us at this most special time in our lives. I'm grateful that you no longer feel pain, fear or forgotten. I will never forget you. I will miss you always. Your Human, Brie Special Thank You to all who donated and supported our ability to bring Mia to Sanctuary. Together, we gave Mia a new view of human "kind"....with your help, she spent her last year being loved, cared for in every way, being a part of a herd, and left surrounded by her "family!" Together, we can bring peace, healing, and belonging to other animals in need. Thank You!
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Animal Assisted Self Development and Animal Assisted Therapy have historically been based on taking something from the "animal" to benefit the higher ranking human. We simply and completely do not see it that way! Social animals and birds are more alike than different and when we embrace this we can mutually heal in relationship through feeling seen and understood, through reciprocity and trust, negotiating needs, respecting boundaries, offering love, expressing frustration and fear, compassion, shared experience, and ultimately, healing and growth. This doesn't happen because an "animal is trained" to do this work. It happens because we social brained animals and birds seek connection and understanding above all else and we get each other, in relationship, across species. We don't have to be trained to know what we need as social animals. We just have to learn how to be more self aware, to regulate our emotions and our nervous system, to be willing to consider the individual before you and to see, feel and hear another, to respond accordingly, and to speak our truth while honoring theirs.
Services can be accessed by contacting us to set up a tour to see if we are a good fit for what you need. Scholarships are available and we bill for most insurance companies in TriCare West.
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2016 Financial Report
In our first full year as a recognized non-proft organization we are humbled by the generosity you all gave in human hours, donated goods and financial support. Together, we did good work in the world and touched the lives of over 300 people and many nonhuman animals. With your continued partnership, we are planning to do even better in this new year.
We also want to send a special thank you out to the One Heart Board of Directors. Through their tireless efforts and generous gifts of time, supplies, financial support, and expertise, we have been able to keep our administration costs very low through our critical startup period.
Profit and Loss \ January - December 2016
INCOME
Credit Card Sales 500.00
Donation Restricted 10,632.54
Donations Unrestricted 37,017.81
Fundraising 1,990.50
Grants restricted 7,500.00
Grants unrestricted 2,000.00
In-Kind Goods / Volunteer Services 140,724.00
T-shirt / Hat Fee 590.00
Tours Donation 100.00
Workshop Fee 285.00
Total Income 201,339.85
EXPENSES
Total Advertising and Promotion 7,425.78
Total Animal Care 33,376.42
Banking Expenses 533.00
Community Events 33.85
Computer and Internet Expenses 569.65
Continuing Education 79.00
Dues and Subscriptions 410.00
Instructor Fee 5,189.99
Insurance Expense 1,382.35
Program Meals 1,148.21
Merchant Fees 326.09
Office Supplies 2,673.43
Professional Fees 1,000.00
Repairs and Maintenance 6,175.00
Utilities 64.02
Volunteer Training 90.00
Total Expenses 60,476.79
NET OPERATING INCOME 140,863.06
NET OTHER INCOME -140,724.00
NET INCOME $139.06
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| At One Heart Wild, everything we do is about bringing humans and nonhumans together in relationship for the good of all.
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