By Jennifer Brent, Executive Director

As we head into winter and say good-bye to 2022, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for supporting our work. The last two years have been exceptionally difficult for us as well as for many of you. However, 2022 also brought a return to CWC of our valuable volunteers, many of whom were on hiatus during the peak of the pandemic. We have nearly 200 people who give their time to help the animals and donate over 25,000 hours annually.

And we definitely needed them! In the past 12 months we have received over 4,100 animals in peril. Whether suffering from rodenticide poisoning, trapped in a glue trap, struck by a car, flown into a window, pet caught or orphaned, we have seen a wide range of reasons for intake. It’s important to note that the vast majority of animals that we see are here as a result of humans. Birds don’t fly into trees, but they perceive glass as clear and certainly fly into windows at full force. Foxes don’t run into cars, but when roads are built where animals traditionally crossed for ages, they’re struck by tons of speeding metal.

That’s why we especially appreciate you! The enlightened supporters who recognize that these animals are worth saving! While other people see a hurt bird and say, “oh, it’s just another dove” you say “I can help that bird!” You drive from Lancaster to bring us a baby squirrel that fell from a tree or from Downey with a Band-tailed pigeon. You read our social media posts and ask us how YOU can take action and rid your neighborhood of the ominous black poison traps. You slow down to allow a skunk to cross and you use bird tape to save lives.

Thank you for every step you take to make a difference for animals.