Montana Large Animal Sanctuary & Rescue

At only six months of age, in 1988, Teddy arrived at the Olympic Wildlife Rescue, of Olympia Washington, on New Year's Eve with a target arrow lodged in his left front knee. The wound had festered so long that his entire body had become infected. After 4 1/2 months of intensive therapy Teddy recovered but is permanently crippled and cannot return to his natural home. Teddy and a female mule deer, Wendy, share two acres of woods with meadows and a pond. Despite his injured knee, Teddy can be very frisky with his human friends and remains a favorite of the rescue volunteers.

Wendy was an infant when her mother was killed in a car in northern Washington. A kind-hearted motorist rescued the baby from the highway and raised her as part of the family. Sadly, when the family moved away, Wendy tried to live on her own in the town where she grew up, but the neighbors chased her away from the gardens and dogs followed her down the streets. Wendy was brought to the safety of the rescue center in the summer of 1992. Far too tame to survive in the wild, Wendy now lives with Teddy the Roosevelt elk and enjoys the friendship of the volunteers.

In the Spring of 1999 Montana Large Animal Sanctuary & Rescue received a call from Olympic Wildlife Rescue, of Olympia Washington, urgently seeking placement of a crippled, 9 year old Roosevelt Elk named "Teddy"and an imprinted 9 year old mule deer named "Wendy" both of whom had been non-releasable wildlife. It was imperative that they find 'Sanctuary' for Teddy and Wendy immediately if they were to live out their natural lives.

MLAS&R had to obtain a permit form Montana Fish and Wildlife to bring these 'wild' animals into the state. That accomplished, the next hurdle was to the tuberculosis and brucellosis tests required for most animals entering our state. These tests were successfully completed at the OWR and all was made ready for their transport. Oops, Montana requires that these tests be administered twice, 90 days apart! MLAS&R telephoned the State Veterinarian of Montana to allow the second TB and brucellosis test to be completed by the sanctuary veterinarian which meant Teddy and Wendy would be quarantined at the sanctuary until the dates of the next testing. Our state veterinarian agreed to the quarantine and Teddy and Wendy were cleared for delivery to MLAS&R where 5 acres had been prepared for their home. Marvin Kasche of Polson, MT donated two trees to begin the creation of a habitat for the deer and elk. A special, tall fence was erected and a shed built. Many volunteers and employees from the Olympic Wildlife Rescue were on hand for the preperation for the transportation to Montana. Teddy and Wendy were tranquilized and lifted into the trailer on the evening of August 25th, 1999 and arrived at the sanctuary twelve hours later after driving through the night, morning of August 26th. Wendy came bounding out of the front of the trailer, glad to be in open spaces once again. Teddy had quite a belly ache form the tranquilizers, but, with much encouragement he also stepped out of the trailer into his new home. Dr. Hoversland, MLAS&R 's veterinarian, came by that morning to vet-check the new arrivals and administer to Teddy's discomfort.

MLAS&R has profound gratitude to all the caring people in Washington who treasured the lives of these two beautiful animals, loved and cared for them for so many years and undauntedly sought out a safe refuge when their futures were in peril. We also thank Montana Fish and Wildlife, our State Veterinarian; Dr. Gertonson, and Dr. Hoversland, for their support of our efforts on behalf of Teddy and Wendy. All us humans can work together for the good , the well-being of the innocent
ones among us.