Spring 2014 newsletter - Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre

SANDY
PINES
WILDLIFE
CENTRE
I N T HI S
I S S UE :
Director’s
Editorial
2
Year of the
3
Swan
Thanks to
Sponsors
5
Volunteer
Profile
6
Our New
Dream
Clinic
7
On the Wild Side
W W W . S A N D Y P I N E S W I L D L I F E . O R G
S P R I N G
2 0 1 4
PAGE
Director’s Editorial
2
Dear Friends,
This has definitely been the “winter of our discontent” as I write this on the first day of spring
and it is snowing! Enough already!
This winter has taken its toll on humans and the wildlife alike. Our poor old shed is groaning
and the infrastructure is crumbling with the amount of wildlife coming in. The water has given
up twice, and we keep blowing fuses with all the heat lamps on. Our numbers are up 50 per
cent over this time last year, and because of the ongoing bad weather we cannot release most
of our patients until it improves. We are all working overtime trying to keep up, and we are
loathe to say NO to any admissions, as there is nowhere else for them to go.
However—there is some great news for you! The end is in sight, and this time next year we will
be in a brand new hospital in our front field. There is much work ahead to raise funds for the
external necessities such as a well, septic system, and a parking lot and driveway. Then we will
furnish the building with shelves, sinks and taps. As well, there will be an operating room, an
anaesthetic machine, and an X-ray unit.
We are so fortunate to have such great volunteers who have been a tremendous help this winter. Our fundraisers are working hard to reach our goal of $100,000 for the building to be
ready for use. For more details on our new clinic, please see page 7.
We are also all very lucky to have this wildlife Centre in eastern Ontario. Please consider making a donation to furnish the hospital. You will be improving the daily lives of dozens of local
wild animals.
Also plan to attend some of our FUNdraisers. We cannot make this happen without your support.
Warm regards,
Sue Meech
Sue Meech, Founder & President
Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
Wishlist for Baby Shower
PENS ◦ MASKING TAPE ◦ DUCT TAPE ◦ BUNGEE CORDS ◦ TOILET PAPER ◦ PAPER
TOWELS ◦ BLEACH ◦ DISPOSABLE GLOVES ◦ BABY FOOD ◦ DISH SOAP ◦ LAUNDRY
SOAP ◦ DEEP WOODS MOSQUITO REPELLENT ◦ COMPUTER PAPER ◦
WHOLE ALMONDS NATURAL ◦ WALNUT PIECES ◦ DRIED CRANBERRIES
ON
THE
WILD
SIDE
WWW.SANDYPINESWILDLIFE.ORG
PAGE
3
The Year of the Swan
This winter was unprecedented with
the cold weather causing 90 per
cent of the Great Lakes to freeze
over .
Migratory and overwintering waterfowl were left with no opportunity
to find food, so they congregated
where there was open water and
tried to survive. We first became
aware of the problem in January
when I received a call from a bird
watcher in Barcoven beach, an area
in Prince Edward County, who was
distressed to see so many dead swans on the ice and beach. I asked volunteers to check the situation out and they reported back that there were many starving and weak birds there. They started
organizing a feeding schedule and the results were amazing.
Within days the birds were obviously stronger. Unfortunately the diving ducks did not do so well as
they only wanted live fish, which we couldn’t provide. Many swans and ducks were found in strange
places like parking lots and industrial sites, and then brought in to us. Our small building was and
still is full. The barn now has four stalls converted into swan pens to house 24 mute swans, and every tub has a duck in it. Fortunately we have been able to get some of our patients to accept smelts
and silversides from the grocery store. We could have kept fresh minnows but had nowhere to keep
them alive; every inch of space was taken up with the birds.
Our volunteers have been a great help as the workload increased. We ran out of pools for the swans
and an appeal went out on Facebook. People came from all over to donate paddling pools that they
had dug out of the snowdrifts in their yards. We ran out of fish at our local supermarkets and an
appeal was sent out again. Volunteers responded by combing the stores for frozen fish and were
successful in meeting the demands of Mergansers.
Our volunteers publicized the plight of the birds and many bags of corn were donated to us and to
the feeding stations in Barcoven, Bath, and anywhere there was a need. Volunteers are continuing
the emergency feeding until the birds can disperse into open water. A thank you to all those that
responded to the emergency and helped out in so many ways. It certainly was a great team effort! 
"Saving one animal won't change the world, but it will change the world for that one animal."
WWW.SANDYPINESWILDLIFE.ORG
PAGE
About Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
The Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre has been in operation
since 1994. Our goal is to help all injured and orphaned
wildlife and to release them back into their natural habitats. We also give advice and assistance to property owners who are having problems with their wild animal
neighbours, and can offer humane alternatives to solve
these conflicts. We work closely with veterinarians and
Humane Societies across Ontario.
We are licensed provincially by the Ministry of Natural
Resources and federally by the Canadian Wildlife Services to provide care and shelter for
birds, mammals, and reptiles. To ensure the well-being of our patients, we are unable to offer
tours of the Centre.
2014 Wildlife Baby Shower—Join Us!
The Wildlife Baby Shower is our largest annual fundraiser filled with live music, live and
silent auctions, raffles, animal feeds, a barbeque and so much more. Last year the event
drew a crowd of several hundred attendees and raised over $21,000! This year we are
adding an additional element with a “Chili-tastic” night of food and fun at JAKK Tuesday's Sports Bar on Saturday, April 5th from 6:00 pm to close.
The second part of the Baby Shower is the 9th annual event that takes place at Sandy
Pines on Sunday, May 4th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Once again we will be joined by the Kingston Police and the K-9 Unit to perform the very
informative demo that keeps us all coming back. We will also have children's crafts,
games, and many new additions. The funds raised at all of our events go toward daily care
of wild animals, life- saving surgeries, veterinary care, medications and community education.
With the help our many volunteers, generous donors, and SPWC supporters we have the
ability to aim higher and higher every year. We hope that you and your family have a
chance to join us at one or both of these fun-filled days to continue the very important
work that we do. We look forward to seeing you… your generosity is most appreciated!
Please visit our website to download a pledge form,
or donate an item from the wish list.
4
PAGE
5
Thanks To Our Sponsors...
Our fundraising events are successful in part due to the helpful contributions of
organizations that lend their financial support.
A big thank you to all of our generous sponsors below!
We are
committed
Country Road Primitives - Elgin
Bow Wow Butchers - Perth Rd.
Loyalist Township Employees
to helping
wildlife 365
days of the
year.
Wendy May's Antiques - Kingston
Randall at Charm Jewellers - Kingston
Pocket Watch Purveyor - Ottawa
Ken Karchmar - Kingston
Deb Stagg Photography - Kingston
Urban Paws - Kingston
Blue Heron Photography - Kingston
Martin & Co. Photography - Kingston
Wendy at Frontenac Mall - Kingston
Our “Golden Wings” Special Donors
Our staff and patients wish to thank all of our donors and volunteers for their support.
Unfortunately space does not allow us to honor you all personally but you are so appreciated. Listed below are a special group of friends of SPWC.
ON
Doug Allan
Janet Gibbs
Shirley Oke
Jennifer Allan
Erica Hayes
John & Catie Allan
Sue & Greg Leggatt
Murray &
Penny Robertson
Lawrence Arkilander
Ian Letts & Shelley Durnin
Diane Arthur
William Hogg
Pam Barnard &
Jim Sova
Marlene Jeffs
BJ Beaton
Donna Beaton
Chris & Alan Bickerton
Robert Bond
Alan Clark &
Beverley Jennings
Donald & Sylvia Claydon
Ken Collins &
llka Hrynchyshyn
J Lynn Cooley
Cheryl Douglas
Katrina Eastwood
Margo Elie-Garbutt
Dorothy Jowett
Raymond Kaufman
Bubby Kettlewell
Mike Kramer
Gloria Mannix
Robert Mayoff
Wesley & Glenda Meyer
Juliet Milsome &
Robert Gordon
Shirley Morin
Vivian Musselwhite
Brigitte &
William McConnell
Laurel Robinson &
Dave Cymbaluk
Michelle Roos
Karen & Mike Schneider
Britton Smith
Patti & Tim Smith
Larry Ste. Croix
Mary Steele- Thomas
Bob & Laurel Taylor
Walter Tedman
Denise Tessier
George Thomson &
Elizabeth Churcher
Liz & Tom Touzel
Ron & Anne Trace
Nancy Turkington
Greg Twemlow
Helen & Gerald Finley
David &
Sheila McCracken
John & Janet foster
Reta & Robert McKean
David & Elisabeth Willis
Irene Frey
Eleanor & Gary Oke
Gloria & Graham Woods
THE
WILD
SIDE
Gerald Vise
PAGE
6
Volunteer Profile
I would like to introduce you to Brigitte Bruer. Brigitte has been volunteering
with us for about ten years now, and has been a consistent and enthusiastic team
member and friend. She has also rescued animals, birds and turtles when asked.
Here she is ready to release a turtle she rescued one summer. She is fun to work
with and her energy levels keep us amazed, she can work circles around most of
us. Thank you Brigitte you brighten our day.
Thank you Brigitte, we all think you are a very special person in our lives.
We are always
looking for volunteers, who are especially needed
during the spring
and summer,
when many new
animals are being
admitted to the
Centre. 
The 9th Annual "Previously Loved" Art & Jewellery Sale once again
proved to be one of our major fundraisers, raising $12,278 this year! We are always so grateful for donated estate jewellery which helps to make this event so
successful. The Sutton Group will be holding a Golf Tournament on May 25th
with the proceeds going to SPWC.
ON
THE
WILD
SIDE
WWW.SANDYPINESWILDLIFE.ORG
PAGE
A Dream Come True—Anticipated New Clinic
Here is an idea of how our new clinic will look, thanks to two special people who are building
this for the wildlife that we all care for. Building will start in May 2014 and move-in is expected for this fall—we can’t wait! This winter has been very hard on our existing clinic’s infrastructure. We are rising to the challenge to raise $100,000 for other needed items.
In the anticipated clinic there will be separate rooms for birds of prey, waterfowl, and mammals. Our animal patients will have more privacy and better facilities in which to recover.
We can’t wait to move in. It is truly a dream come true. 
Charity Golf Tournament
CAMDEN BRAES GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB
May 25, 2014 at 10:00 AM
Event Organizers: Rhonda Grant & Brandon
Grant, Sales Representatives, Your Grant Team
Sutton Group Masters – Realty Inc., Brokerage
1650 Bath Road, Kingston, Ontario
and Brittanie Grant, AVC Applicant 2014
together with
Vicki Gannon, Mortgage Mobile Specialist and
the Royal Bank of Canada
7
8749 County Rd 2, Napanee, ON K7R3L1
Please help us help the wildlife of Ontario!
All of our revenue depends on your generous donations. We receive no
funding from the government. You may donate by cheque or on our website with the “Canada Helps” button.
Receipts will be issued for donations of $20.00
or more. Please make your cheques payable to
the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre.
For more information on volunteering, sponsoring, or donating, please
visit www.sandypineswildlife.org, complete the form below and mail to
8749 County Rd 2, Napanee, ON K7R3L1, or call us at (613) 354-0264.
Name ______________________________
Address ____________________________
___________________________________
Phone ______________________________
Donation amount $____________________
Check to receive weekly update email 
Email _______________________________
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