Welcome to our blog!
Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary is a rescue facility for primates in need from difficult situations such as roadside zoos, labs and entertainment, located in Sunderland, Ontario.
Monetary donations are gratefully accepted as well as gifts in kind.
Thank you for support!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
This past christmas Story Book Recieved hand made christmas cards from some caring students at Morning Glory Public School. The class had read one of the articles about Pockets and his painting. The students mailed paper with the hopes that pockets would paint for them or that he might visit their school. As the animals of Story Book do not leave the sanctuary Leslie and Sherri visited the students and Ms. Lawlor at the school. Arriving in January with one of Pockets paintings and the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary Book that Ann Walsh published the students enjoyed hearing about the sanctuary and the animals that live at Story Book. Leslie and Sherri left with presents for the humans and for pockets from Ms. Lawlor and the students. It was a great day. Thank you Ms. Lawlor and thank you students!!!!!!
As this Christmas 2011 day dawns, our hearts are moved by love, appreciation, gratitude and wonder for the year that has been. The greatest gifts of love, hope and strength have been bestowed on our residents by friends, new and old. New volunteers, new supporters and new people stepping forward, voting for SBFPS in the Aviva Challenge. As the saying goes "friends we have not met yet".. We did not make it through to the Finals, but the feel we have "won" so much along this journey. Even in our wildest dreams we could not have dreamt of this year - Pockets Warhol becoming known world-wide and bringing awareness to the sanctuary. Our hearts are full as we reflect on our devoted volunteers, Ann, Jen, Little Jen, Leslie, Sam, Kim, Charmaine, Izzy, Erica, Melissa, Jeannine, Vanessa, Sepi, the list goes on. We are so blessed to work alongside Sherri, an inspirational woman, who deals with many demands, personally, professionally in her police work, and still has the will, love and determination to make the lives of the monkeys her priority and give them the best life.
May we all reflect on the blessings and gifts we each receive!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Just wanted to add a couple of pics from Sunday.
Pockets was busy painting with his muse, Charmaine.
Jenkins was being ever so handsome...
And this one of the lemur boys was quite enjoying dinner!! Thanks Steph!!!!!
A Pockets' masterpiece (SOLD!!!!) This one is called Orangutan. The artist in his studio! Sherri holds one of Pockets' completed works.
What a night!!!! Pockets has captured imaginations all around the world, and people are putting their money out to buy his paintings and support the Sanctuary! We owe a huge THANK YOU to Al Ridley, owner of Sadie's Diner, for hosting this show.
And to everyone who has helped to get us this far - many many thanks!
And to Pockets...well, Pockets is just amazing!!!
Please keep voting for the monkeys in the Aviva competition!
Al Ridley, our host and owner of Sadie's Diner! Thanks Al! The crowd studies and interprets the masterpieces on display. Rachelle is a happy person tonight!!!!! And so is Sherri!!!! In fact everyone has a smile and is feeling the excitement!!
At the sanctuary, it has been a whirlwind! Pockets Warhol, our creative little capuchin, his muse Charmaine Quinn, along with Erica Jacques, Sherri, and the generous Al Ridley of Sadie's Diner have been featured on news throughout the world, including India, Ghana, Taiwan, UK, US and of course, right here at home. Thanks to the efforts Jeannine Rosenberg, our media volunteer, Pocket's art extravaganza was picked up "on the wires". The level of interest and support has been overwhelming. With coverage by The Toronto Star, CTV National News, CanadaAM, Citytv, CFRB, Global, CBC and even CNN! - many people have learned about Pockets and the important work of the sanctuary.
Painting is something that Pockets really enjoys. It provides enrichment, and mental stimulation for him. He relishes in the attention of Charmaine and is happy when he was created something! At the sanctuary we look for activities and enrichment for all of the primate residents. For instance, Sweet Pea loves faux fur, so we ensure she always has something soft to groom. Lexy enjoys her dollies, so we pay special attention that she has one. Chelsea, as you have read here before, is absolutely besotted by rubber boots. She now has quite a collection. Last Sunday, when Ann was cleaning her area, Ann would pick up each boot and offer it to Chelsea, so she could choose whether she wanted to keep it with her or not. We could then clean the discarded ones for that day. Little Cheeko, Pocket's neighbour also gets special attention as we make sure he has mirrored toys to play with. As you can see, everyday our devoted volunteers work with the residents to do their best to have a healthy and happy day.
We thank you all again, and ask you, with deep respect, to please keep voting EVERY DAY in the Aviva Community Fund Challenge. At the time of writing we are in 15th place, which is very worrisome. We need to be in the Top 10 and there are only 6 days left. We so want to provide a safe and "story book" ending to 19 other primates on a wait list to come to us. It is hard to cope with knowing that others are in horrific circumstances and are living with the threat of death over them if they cannot be retired to Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary. We are holding our breath with our hearts are in our throats - won't you please vote to save lives and help holiday dreams come true?
We are so close we can feel it! - Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary is a NATIONAL SEMI-FINALIST in the $1 000 000 Aviva Community Fund to win $50 000 - $100 000 towards upgrades and expansion to address the needs of themany primates in Canadathat desperately require rescuing!
There are 29 other semi-finalists in our category, and the Top 10 go through to final round of judges.
Action Alert! There are only four days left to vote in the Aviva Community Fund. Please, please vote daily to ensure we are in the Top 5. Earlier in the week, "Monkeys in our Midst" was in 4th place, but as of this afternoon, we've slipped to 9th. Only those projects in the Top 10 will be considered for funding. The competition is tight.
Every week we get calls to help individuals in dire need. For example, recently: a lab contacted SBFPS looking to retire monkeys; officials called in Sherri to assist with baboons and macaques currently in tiny, confined "cages" in various owners' homes; the roadside zoo "season" is over, and operators have been looking to "dispose" of "surplus animals" or others are at risk of being locked in dark barns without any windows or sunlight. We've even become aware of monkeys that are being trafficked for the bushmeat trade right here in Ontario. The need is great for monkeys who are in terrible situations through no fault of their own. Please, won't you join your voices and vote to help them?
