We need your help to rescue a SANCTUARY!
Tragic news struck the wolf and wolfdog world a few months ago when a beloved member of the community, Sue Cranston, passed away. Not only was Sue a tremendous advocate for wolves and wolfdogs everywhere, she was also the Founder and Executive Director of Indigo Mountain Nature Center, a non-profit sanctuary located in Lake George, Colorado. With her passing, Indigo Mountain is on the cusp of shutting down, which will leave 25 rescues without a home. With the over-saturation of wolfdogs already in sanctuaries (and more requiring placement each day), there is nowhere for these animals to go. . . That is, unless we can save Indigo Mountain and the lives of all who call it home–together.
What is the plan to save Indigo Mountain?
Wild Spirit has the blessing of the current land owner and Board of Directors to absorb Indigo Mountain into our organization! This is exciting for a number of reasons:
1. Indigo Mountain has a maximum capacity of 50 rescues! By absorbing this sanctuary, Wild Spirit will be able to rescue far more critters in need of a forever home!
2. While licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA), Indigo Mountain is not currently USDA licensed, and thus, is not open to the public. This limits the amount of education and outreach the sanctuary can accomplish, and in a state in which wolfdog ownership is common, and where wild wolves now live. However, Wild Spirit is licensed, and would seek to bring Indigo Mountain up to code, increasing opportunities for education and broadening our reach to countless more people!
3. Indigo Mountain has the potential to provide us with more funding due to its proximity to Denver and Colorado Springs. While we love how remote Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is to accommodate some of our shy critters, it is a double-edged sword; it makes it incredibly difficult for us to sustain our operations and thrive in the current economy, mainly because it is difficult for our guests to get to us. Indigo Mountain would be an excellent opportunity to not only help fund Wild Spirit’s expenses and keep us running, but to finally allow us to flourish!
4. With two locations, we can cater more to our rescues’ needs! Both sanctuaries are built on many acres of land, which would allow us to place animals on or away from public-access areas based on their comfort and sociability. Our intent would be to transport many of our social animals to Indigo Mountain, where they can thrive in the public view. In turn, shier animals will have space at Wild Spirit, in the calm environment they need to feel safe, comfortable, and secure.
We cannot overstate how invaluable this opportunity would be for abandoned and displaced canids everywhere, BUT it will be no easy feat. Indigo Mountain Nature Center is currently situated on privately owned land that is up for sale. This means that the entirety of the sanctuary is purchasable at the current rate of $715,000, and a goal of closing the sale before the end of the year. If Wild Spirit is unable to secure the property, the current rescues may lose their home and possibly even their lives. Even if we can manage to make this purchase, that only scratches the surface of what’s in store; to meet our goals we would need to build a perimeter fence and appropriate barriers, perform vet care on every rescue there, ensure we can feed the animals, staff the facility, and every other facet of operating a sanctuary. This will bring our estimated cost well over $1,000,000.
How can you help?
As you can imagine, most endeavors like this come down to finances. We as an organization have always poured every dollar we receive back into our critters, which leaves us unable to fund a rescue operation of this scale. In our 33 years of rescue, we truly cannot think of a cause as important and groundbreaking as this. When we devote our entire lives to rescuing lives in need, there inevitably comes a time when we must hope and pray that someone out there will rescue us when we are helpless. You–all of you–have been that someone for Wild Spirit so many times. Now, we must humbly ask for your help to do the same for Indigo Mountain. Wild Spirit is doing everything in our power to rescue this incredible sanctuary and continue the legacy of Sue Cranston . . . but now, more than ever, we need you.
Please donate to this pivotal cause if you can spare the funds. Anything you can offer is another step closer to saving 25 lives, and countless others in the future. Even if you cannot donate in these trying times, help us spread the word to ensure Indigo Mountain Nature Center remains a forever home for canines in need. We consider ourselves blessed to have a community of supporters and fellow rescuers who are so willing to give every dollar they can to the causes we believe in. Your support is felt, appreciated, and most importantly, it leaves a lasting impact on the lives of these animals. From the bottom of our heart, thank you so much for your time, and any contribution you can offer.
To receive a copy of our Feasibility Study, please contact Executive Director Brittany McDonald at brittany@seethewolves.org.
For more information, view the slides below!
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