Thank you for contacting us about __________ & Gary _____.
Our show is about people who feel overwhelmed by their large pet families. Would you say Gary feels overwhelmed?
Sincerely,
I won't give out the name, It's not important anyway. It was so unimportant to me at this time that this is how I responded the next day:
Always. In a loving way of course, but definitely overwhelmed. - Kathryn
I should've deduced this was a "show" since she stated "...show..." but instead I spent the next weeks assuming this was a Vancouver Film student doing a documentary. I figured I could get the refuge more local exposure, perhaps give Gary a chance to show off his animals and create some awareness... provoke some thought among the community?
I used to volunteer with an exotic animal rescue society. Feeding alligators and crocodiles, tortoises, ferrets, skinks, sugar-gliders... I love any other species more than Homo sapiens sapiens so I was excited EVERY day to be me. I fell in love with every animal there, including Gary. Then I ran out of savings and had to crawl back to the real world. Back to the world of hospitality where "my pleasure" and "up yours" mean the same thing.
I could only go to the refuge for a few hours here or there- when they changed location my contributions were even less feasible. 100's of precious species + less than a handful of "unexperienced" (as far as wrestling alligators go) animal-lovers to help Gary care for them = never sat well with me. I decided to help from home. Most of the issues are money-related. Most of the animals at the refuge are illegal in BC, they can only legally be under Gary's care with permits as actors, they cannot be viewed by the public. My mission was this: find them jobs. I have been acting, without permission, as their agent on Gary's behalf.
It's been weeks since the first Email, the person I have been in contact with is a recruiter for Discovery channel's Animal Planet. They are filming our casting video to show to the executive producers in a few days.
Who is Gary?
Who is Gary?
Despite the attention from local press and his visions for a' state of the art ecological centre', no person has put themselves through more distress in the name of conservation and for the animals under his care. He wouldn't trade it for women, not his own health... In fact the only problem Gary faces is not that he needs or wants out, it's that he's too concerned with the state of our animal planet, he wants to do more. He takes responsibility for these justifiable and pressing concerns even though they're everyones problems.
To be honest, money would make him feel less overwhelmed. It's not a very creative or interesting solution. Of course this could be accomplished by eliminating some of the species from his family, for example, the two 6 foot alligators or the Savannah tortoises that devour $100's worth if vegetables per week. Gary would rather starve himself than euthanize one of his animals (I can't blame him, they're all intoxicating). Gary has rather unusual permits for these animals that allow him to keep them alive and under his care legally. If certain species did not have such a status Gary would be required by law to send them back to their native environments. He would be required to do this within 6 months of obtaining the animal and funding must come from his own pocket (it is a lot of paperwork and extremely expensive as you can imagine). As I may have mentioned before, most of the animals have come to him born and raised in captivity, not to mention in poor health. If he did have the money to release them into their native environments- to be "free"- they would not survive. His other option according to BC legislation: Euthanasia. Death does not qualify as an option under Gary's definition of "solution".
He also needs man-power. Volunteers, animal-lovers, receptionists, Veterinarians, Animal behavioralists.. all of them willing to work for free or minimal compensation. At least until his "state of the art ecological centre" takes off. I guess this is money-related as well.
Gary doesn't give up, he tries very hard not to become discouraged. Overwhelmed, yes, but if he were to let himself become discouraged by the seemingly endless obstacles that are involved in his mission, the whole operation would go belly up. He's well aware of that. -Kathryn
To be honest, money would make him feel less overwhelmed. It's not a very creative or interesting solution. Of course this could be accomplished by eliminating some of the species from his family, for example, the two 6 foot alligators or the Savannah tortoises that devour $100's worth if vegetables per week. Gary would rather starve himself than euthanize one of his animals (I can't blame him, they're all intoxicating). Gary has rather unusual permits for these animals that allow him to keep them alive and under his care legally. If certain species did not have such a status Gary would be required by law to send them back to their native environments. He would be required to do this within 6 months of obtaining the animal and funding must come from his own pocket (it is a lot of paperwork and extremely expensive as you can imagine). As I may have mentioned before, most of the animals have come to him born and raised in captivity, not to mention in poor health. If he did have the money to release them into their native environments- to be "free"- they would not survive. His other option according to BC legislation: Euthanasia. Death does not qualify as an option under Gary's definition of "solution".
He also needs man-power. Volunteers, animal-lovers, receptionists, Veterinarians, Animal behavioralists.. all of them willing to work for free or minimal compensation. At least until his "state of the art ecological centre" takes off. I guess this is money-related as well.
Gary doesn't give up, he tries very hard not to become discouraged. Overwhelmed, yes, but if he were to let himself become discouraged by the seemingly endless obstacles that are involved in his mission, the whole operation would go belly up. He's well aware of that. -Kathryn
Hi Kathryn,
Thank you for the information.
We can't help with giving away money or finding manpower but we have been successful previously with finding free help like vet care, building enclosures, cleaning, and humane placement but placement may not be an option considering the permits. We have been working with the HSUS and other humane organizations.
Does Gary continue to take in animals although he is overwhelmed? Does he admit to needing help?
Sincerely,
(Still clueless as to who I am speaking to, I began to understand this was no vfs student)*
Gary admits needing help. The very thought of free vet care for those animals makes me overjoyed, ______. With his decades of experience working closely with exotic animals, I know Gary hasn't mastered the business side of his operation. He is friendly enough but not especially terrific with "those" people. In a strange way this is one of his most charming characteristics. The impression I get: He has been uninstructed when it comes to approaching the right people for help.
He could always use cleaning/handling help, there are only a couple volunteers who are able to be there at a given time. Mainly they are there to help Gary bring a selection of animals to schools and events; they put on hour-long shows to make money for feed and hydro. Most of the time Gary does not have a choice when it comes to taking in more animals. Some venomous snakes for example have simply shown up at the door in bags marked "Danger" etc. - Kathryn
He could always use cleaning/handling help, there are only a couple volunteers who are able to be there at a given time. Mainly they are there to help Gary bring a selection of animals to schools and events; they put on hour-long shows to make money for feed and hydro. Most of the time Gary does not have a choice when it comes to taking in more animals. Some venomous snakes for example have simply shown up at the door in bags marked "Danger" etc. - Kathryn
Hi Kathryn,
First, let me say Gary's situation sounds very compelling and we are very actively searching for a Canadian story.
Second, the first season hasn't aired yet in Canada and just finished in the US but you can find the link here,
Let me confront the title as most people's first reaction is disinclined. Our definition of animal hoarder is anyone who has more animals than they can properly care for and that in many cases we've been able to get the animals the care they need. You'll see in the clips is the common thread in the people we feature is that they care deeply for their animals.
We don't release last names or the location and we don't force anyone to do anything they do not want to do. We have no legal authority. What we can offer is free resources like therapy, vet care, possibly building things to enable Gary to not feel so overwhelmed and work more effortlessly towards his goal of opening a centre.
Do you feel Gary would be open to speaking with me?
Sincerely,
Now I was excited but hesitant. Possibilities for Gary and the animals are obvious, but so are misinterpretations or misportrayals (made that word up). Conflicted: The episodes make these people out to be delusional. This is not the case with Gary. Though he has a different approach to behaving within certain limits that define the range of normal functioning , he is not delusional. I had to respond with these concerns. If Gary is crazy then I am crazy, I resinate with that man and his view of the natural world more than anyone. I let ____ know that Gary does not have any disorder. He has diabetes and a noble amount of compassion for other species and the environment- this in no way reflects insanity or need for therapy. In fact people could learn from him and have. He takes in animals because he doesn't see a choice. Communities take advantage of people like Gary because so few of them exist. Gary doesn't view animals as ornamental or disposable. He regards them as family and friends, he gives each one the respect all species deserve and for having this perspective, they have become his burden.
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