Volunteer of the Quarter – Kieran Lynch
by Dan Monn, Animal Care, Gift Shop & Volunteer Assistant
Wolf Haven International is very lucky to have an amazing and diverse group of volunteers. Our newest Volunteer of the Quarter, Kieran, also happens to be one of our youngest, yet the first day I met him, he told me he would have started much sooner if he could. He had quite a wait to meet the age requirement (17), given he wanted to be a volunteer at Wolf Haven ever since visiting in the 5th grade. Knowing his time commitments as a Senior at Black Hills High School with other interests, we are honored that he commits as much time volunteering at Wolf Haven as he does.
Managing his time between school, marching band and working toward his pilot’s license Kieran still spends most Sundays helping us at the docent table. He does a great job engaging and interacting with our guests as they wait for their scheduled sanctuary visits. He has a warm and friendly personality that makes him very approachable for any who are interested in learning a little more during their time with us.
Beyond his interactions with the guests, Kieran also does a lot to help around the grounds. He arrives a couple hours before each docent shift to do some extra work. Usually it is a lot of weeding and pulling blackberry, though some Sundays our Sanctuary Manager Erik Wilber, will steal him to help with a special project. This led to one of Kieran’s favorite memories. Recently working with Erik, Kieran got to help with the preparation for our newest wolf enclosure. This “glamorous” job involved brush clearing in preparation for Southgate Fence Inc. to set posts, hauling away limbs and clearing brambles and blackberry. He was excited to contribute as we work to provide more space and flexibility for the care of the wolves – and WE are excited to have the help of such a dedicated volunteer.
Wolves & Wine 2019 – SOLD OUT
Is it on your bucket list to visit the wolves at the McCleery Ranch in Montana and hear them howl?
Or perhaps, at long last, go on that safari to see the painted wolves of Africa?
You have the opportunity to win one, or both, of these adventures this year at Wolves & Wine 2019!
For the second year, Wolf Haven will offer a trip for two to our Bridger, Montana wolf sanctuary to see firsthand the famed “McCleery buffalo wolves”.
And this year, for the first time, we have received a generous donation from Wilderness Safaris for a luxury safari adventure in Botswana, Africa.
Take a moment to see the difference Wilderness is making in eco-tourism – SEE VIDEO.
Come to Wolves & Wine prepared to bid for these and many other amazing items on September 28.
And if you cannot attend, you can still make a virtual donation that will be added to the evening’s total – DONATE
REALLY interested in being apart of the live auction, but cannot make the trip to Washington State? Contact us to see how you might still be able to participate.
Tickets on sale BUT GOING FAST – PURCHASE TICKET HERE or call 360.264.4695 x210.
It is going to be a GREAT night, for the wolves.
Descendants of historic Pennsylvania wolves live in Montana – Billings Gazette
Montana wolf
“It’s just a fascinating story, the history of these animals,” said Diane Gallegos, executive director of Wolf Haven International, a Tenino, Washington-based wolf rescue group.
The Wild Adventures of Naturalist Christopher Montero – Thurston Talk
Born in Costa Rica, Chris grew up in an urban area, but his extended family lived in the country where he spent his summers. “Those are my fondest memories,” Chis shares. “That shaped a lot of my interest in animals, nature, and being outdoors.” 
The Gift of Meat
By Kurtis Rattay, animal care assistant, Wolf Haven
During this year’s holiday season, the animals at Wolf Haven International have been gifted with three large-scale donations. They all came from organizations looking for a waste-free way to dispose of high-quality meat that, despite being in good condition, could not be repurposed for human consumption. These donations not only kept the products from going to the landfill but saved Wolf Haven thousands of dollars on feeding costs and provided ethical nutrition for the sanctuary’s residents.
A small portion of the Crowd-Cow meat donation stored in our freezer.
The first donation came from Crowd Cow, a company that connects consumers with independent ranches. The donated meat was either unsold or did not meet the standards set by the company. According to one Crowd Cow employee, their East Coast counterpart regularly donates unsellable meat to animal sanctuaries, and the Seattle-based company contacted Wolf Haven with the same intention. Animal Care staff happily drove down to Forest Grove, OR, to pick up 1,500 pounds of craft beef and chicken.
Raw Cat Food donation of venison, chicken, beef and lamb.
Only a week later, Animal Care staff drove back to Oregon and picked up a huge donation from an out-of-business pet food company specializing in raw cat food. The company had tried for a while to liquidate its products and had contacted several animal centers. The Wild Cat Sanctuary kindly redirected them to us. We drove back to Wolf Haven with 2,500 pounds of frozen venison, beef, chicken and turkey.
Animal care staff Kurtis, Erik and Pam sorting confiscated elk.
The most recent donation came from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Wendy Lowe, a law enforcement officer with WDFW, generously thought about benefiting the wolves when hundreds of pounds of elk meat needed to be disposed-off, following a now-settled poaching case.
Wolf Haven staff unloading the gift of meat.
Donations are the lifeblood of nonprofit organizations. Although a precise total amount of savings cannot be calculated, it is safe to put the number in the thousands of dollars. With substantial sanctuary projects on the horizon, these saved costs can then be allocated to improve sanctuary habitat and infrastructure, which in turn increases the quality of life for the animals.
Lakota enjoying his frozen loaf, made from the donated meat.
Wolf Haven is deeply grateful to have been chosen by these organizations—and the wolves and coyotes who call the sanctuary home seem to appreciate the gift as well!
Wolf Haven welcomes newest resident – wolfdog Layla – The Daily Chronicle
The newest resident at the Wolf Haven International sanctuary in Tenino used to only roam as far as the backyard cable connected to her collar would let her go. Layla, a first-generation wolfdog — her mother was a wolf and her father a Malamute — recently arrived at Wolf Haven by way of an animal shelter in Thurston County. 
52 Seattle adventures you can do with your kids – King5 News / ParentMap
Want to watch? Wolf Haven International mention begin at 5:53 mark. Wolf Haven included in the “Winning Winter Tours” section of the book.
