Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
Encyclopedia
Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary (WSWS) is an animal sanctuary in Candy Kitchen, New Mexico
dedicated to rescuing and providing sanctuary for captive-bred wolves and wolfdogs. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
.
Across the road from the sanctuary is a campground also run by the WSWS. Visitors who stay at the campground on the weekend can help feed the animals, joining volunteers as they give the wolves breakfast.
In 1993, Barbara Berge, who was rescuing wolfdogs in Albuquerque, moved to Candy Kitchen and helped Jacque transform the rescue ranch into a non-profit organization.
In 2003, Candy Kitchen Rescue Ranch was reorganized into the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, and Leyton Couger became Executive director.
Candy Kitchen, New Mexico
Candy Kitchen is an unincorporated community in Cibola County, New Mexico, United States, in the northwestern part of the state. It is located at , at an altitude of 7,388 feet .-History:...
dedicated to rescuing and providing sanctuary for captive-bred wolves and wolfdogs. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
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Across the road from the sanctuary is a campground also run by the WSWS. Visitors who stay at the campground on the weekend can help feed the animals, joining volunteers as they give the wolves breakfast.
History
Originally called the Candy Kitchen Rescue Ranch, WSWS was founded in 1991 by Jacque Evans. Evans, a wolf-dog owner herself, realized that few people could handle such high-maintenance pets. She decided to create a refuge for unwanted wolves and wolfdogs on her property in Candy Kitchen. She supported animal rescues and the ranch by selling her artwork.In 1993, Barbara Berge, who was rescuing wolfdogs in Albuquerque, moved to Candy Kitchen and helped Jacque transform the rescue ranch into a non-profit organization.
In 2003, Candy Kitchen Rescue Ranch was reorganized into the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, and Leyton Couger became Executive director.
Goals and mission
Wild Spirit has three primary goals/missions: education, sanctuary, and rescue:- Education: "To educate the general public about wolves, wolfdogs, and other related species and our environmental and ecological issues related to wildlife." Wolf Ambassadors from the sanctuary travel around the state and nearby areas to meet people at events and in classrooms. They offer first-hand knowledge that wolves are not the Big Bad WolfBig Bad WolfThe Big Bad Wolf is a term used to describe a fictional wolf who appears in several precautionary folkloric stories, including some of Aesop's Fables and Grimm's Fairy Tales.-Interpretations:...
of fairy tales such as Little Red Riding HoodLittle Red Riding HoodLittle Red Riding Hood, also known as Little Red Cap, is a French fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings....
. On-site tours let better understand the animals and the necessity for sanctuaries. - Sanctuary: "To operate and manage a lifetime sanctuary for displaced, unwanted, and un-releasable captive-bred wolves, wolfdogs, and other related species, utilizing such resources as may be available from local, city, state, and private entities or individuals."
- Rescue: While Wild Spirit receives between one and seven calls every day from people requesting that the sanctuary take their wolves or wolfdogs off their hands, WSWS is at full capacity. The majority of new animals are high-content wolfdogs or wolves being rescued from extreme situations.