Volume 4, Issue 3 - August 2004
Meet the Sanctuary and Satellite Managers
In the November 2003 newsletter, we introduced the Colorado HRS Board of Directors, and in the February 2004 newsletter, we introduced our Educators. In this issue of the Bunny Runner, we're introducing our Sanctuary and Satellite Managers: Dave Welch, Lynn Halpern, Leslie Ewy, Christine Haas, and Debby Widolf. We hope these stories help you to get to know some of the many wonderful volunteers who keep the Colorado HRS going strong.
Dave Welch and Lynn Halpern, Sanctuary Managers
This
past month we marked our tenth year of operating the Bleating Hearts
Sanctuary. We started
in April 1994 with the arrival of two sheep
and three goats from the Farm Sanctuary. Three of these founding members
are with us today. We were still living in Maryland at that time, having
moved there from Colorado in 1990. It wasn't long after this that we
took in our first rabbits, a mother and her seven children who were rescued
from a backyard operation where they were destined for the dinner table.
We moved back to Colorado permanently in 1998, and now we care for about
100 animals, a quarter of which are rabbits.
Many years ago, we chose a vegetarian lifestyle, and around the time, we founded our sanctuary. We chose to refrain from eating all animal products. We chose to go vegan in order to stop our support of abusive animal industries. Promoting veganism has become a very large part of our lives. Operating the sanctuary is just one of our vehicles for cruelty-free advocacy.
When we're not working at the sanctuary, Dave works in the aerospace industry, operating NASA satellites at the University of Colorado. In addition to other duties, he is currently working as the Mission Operations Manager for the AIM satellite. He also serves as Chair of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Space Operations and Support Technical Committee.
I run my own vegan food business, The Leading Veg. I am also the producer of Tammy's Ranch Dressing, which is available at a few stores in the Denver metro area. I do some catering and make some wonderful vegan creations for various nonprofit events and fundraisers. In my spare time, I practice Aerial Fabric (think Cirque du Soleil) and enjoy figure skating.
Leslie Ewy, Sanctuary
Manager
I was born in Colorado and have lived here my entire life. I grew up
in the small towns of Allenspark and Hygiene.
I have always been an "animal person." I got my first rabbit in 1980. My cat at the time, Tom, brought home three baby cottontails. Since I didn't know the whereabouts or status of the mother, I cared for them until they were able to go out on their own. After I released them, I missed the rabbits and went to an auction where I bought a large New Zealand White rabbit, Harvey. To this day, I have strong attachments to New Zealand Whites. One week later, I bought a "friend" for Harvey from a 4-H club member. Three days after Shadow arrived, she presented me with a litter of ten babies! I have had rabbits since then.
Stuart and I have been together since 1982, he was also a critter person, and he took to the rabbits immediately. We got involved with the Colorado House Rabbit Society in 1992, and our rabbit family grew while I was working cleaning cages at Nancy's. When Stuart and I moved to our new 7+ acre home near Niwot in 1995 it seemed natural to use some of the space for a rabbit sanctuary and take in some of the hard to adopt rabbits. The sanctuary and the rabbits occupy much of our time, though it is certainly a labor of love. In addition to the rabbits, we have three ducks, five cats and two potbelly pigs.
I earned my Bachelor's degree from CU-Boulder some time ago. I am a software engineer/research assistant for the Forecast System Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. My passion, besides animals, is politics--particularly, reading, discussing and being involved. I also have a very large collection of stuffed animals.
Note From Nancy LaRoche:
Leslie Ewy and Stuart Maybee allowed the Colorado House Rabbit
Society to build its sanctuary on their land near Niwot in
1996. This was our
first sanctuary, and Leslie and Stuart continue to take excellent care
of the rabbits there. They see each rabbit
twice
a day to give them papaya
tablets, food and water. Any health problems
are caught early because of their vigilance. Julie Smith, our first
chapter member-turned-veterinarian, often treats the
rabbits. Elderly bunnies with arthritis typically end up in Leslie
and Stuart's walkout basement during the winter months. Leslie and
Stuart continue to accept hard to adopt rabbits from us and from
our northern
satellite.
We are grateful to them for this service to our homeless rabbits. Leslie
and Stuart always need volunteers to help "muck
out" the
runs. If you're interested in lending them a hand, write in the "The
Ewy Sanctuary" when you indicate the activities for which you
are willing to volunteer.
Christine Haas, Satellite
Manager and Educator - Fort Collins
I
adopted my first rabbit about 13 years ago when I lived in Seattle.
She was a large Californian. When I met her, she was being kept in
a neighbor’s front yard in a cage not much larger than
she was. There was no fence or enclosure to protect her from other
animals. The neighbor was looking for a home for her so I took her.
Shortly thereafter, I contacted the House Rabbit Society’s representative
in Washington to obtain assistance and information about how to care
for rabbits. I will always be grateful for the advice that she gave
me.
I work as a probation officer. Generally, my clients are boys under the age of 18. I share my home with my husband, a 14-year-old son, one dog, three cats, four rabbits and currently two foster rabbits. Besides rabbits, animal welfare/behavior and ecology, my interests include anthropology, human behavior, art history and literature.
Debby Widolf,
Satellite Manager and Educator - Durango
I have lived in Durango since 1982. We’re way down here in the
southwest corner of 
Colorado. To support my bunnies and myself, I work
as an Occupational Therapist. I currently work in the rehabilitation
department of the nursing home in town. My husband is a self-employed
carpenter/woodworker. I have a grown daughter and two spectacular grandchildren
who live in Ohio.
When I was given my first rabbit, she jumped out of the carrier, and I exclaimed, "Oh, how beautiful." Rosebud became the bunny love of my life and as with many of us, life was forever changed. I was thrilled to learn that there was a "House Rabbit Society" whose members were as nutty about rabbits as I am. It has been over 10 years since my first contact with HRS, after which I became an educator and fosterer. I currently have six bunnies that are permanently with me and one special needs foster rabbit, named Captain Bunny. Also residing with me are my husband's two dogs, my cat--Ivy, and two goldfish--Splish & Splash.
My passions are RABBITS, dancing, and hiking. I also love coming to Broomfield for nonstop bunny talk with kindred spirits. Please come by to visit me if you are ever in Durango.
