Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Drumming up support for worldwide animal tribute


Jaye Perrett pets the ear of tiger Zhivah, one of about 22 tigers, in her enclosure at Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Citra, Fla. on Tuesday, September 9, 2014.
Alan Youngblood/Ocala Star-Banner
Published: Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Taking care of big cats and other exotic animals is no small task. And the care and feeding of such creatures demands dedicated stewardship and piles of money.

Facts

Volunteers sought by EARS

• To volunteer for a special memorial event being planned by the Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary Inc. (EARS), email Jaye Perrett at earsinc@aol.com.

• To volunteer at the sanctuary, call Gail Bowen at 454-6454.

• To learn about one-day membership tours, call 407-637-5768 or email skb255@aol.com.

• For general information, visit www.earsinc.net
Two of the most devoted rescuers and caregivers in Marion County are Jaye Perrett and Gail Bowen, co-founders of the Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary Inc. just off County Road 318 on the outskirts of Citra.

In mid-November, inspired in part by the recent death of a white tiger named Daunte, Perrett and Bowen are planning a memorial event for animals that will have a worldwide reach.

Since 2001, the 501(c)3, commonly called EARS, has cared for a number of big cats — lions, tigers, cougars and more — as well as primates and wildlife, including Florida black bears. The animals typically have been abused, neglected or abandoned, or were surrendered. The facility works closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

For Perrett, one of the most loved of all the big cats to call EARS home was Daunte, who came to the sanctuary as a very tiny, very sickly, cub. She and Bowen nursed Daunte from the brink of death and he grew into a magnificent adult male.

Earlier this year, Perrett herself fell seriously ill while in Europe and, during a lengthy convalescence there, said she felt moved to do something “worldwide” for animals. After she returned home, Daunte died, in late August. “He had a massive heart attack,” Bowen said, adding, “He was the sweetest tiger I have ever known.”

The death affected Perrett in a way she had never experienced with any of the other animals at the sanctuary. “I had been on a very positive spiritual path for about a year,” she said. “I got so upset at the death of Daunte, I started writing and pretty soon I had this whole worldwide memorial service planned.”

The event, set for Nov. 14, 15 and 16, will resonate with audiences around the globe. One of the focal points is a local drumming ceremony the evening of Nov. 15, that will be broadcast through a live Internet feed and will be joined by others drumming in at least nine countries, with more likely to sign on in coming weeks. “Drumming is huge in Europe,” Perrett said.

The people who helped nurse her back to health in Finland gave her a specially made drum crafted of wood and reindeer skin, which she proudly unsheaths from its handmade carrying bag of fabric in a tiger pattern. “I’m also in touch with local drummers who are eager to participate,” she said. “Can you imagine, at the same time all around the world, all these people drumming in memory of animals?” she asked. “If it’s 6 p.m. here, that means drummers in Finland will be up at 1 a.m. drumming along with us.”

On Nov. 16, Perrett is planning a concert that will feature Arvel Bird, a noted performer across the U.S. and internationally, whose music is inspired by his “Native American heart and Scottish soul.” Bird calls himself a Celtic Indian. In order to accomplish all she envisions for the memorial event weekend, Perrett is appealing for volunteers. She set up the email address, earsinc@aol.com, specifically to receive inquiries from those who may be interested.

The event will require volunteers to help with set up and break down, manning check-in tables, helping with parking and much more, and a lot of sponsorships and donations.

Perrett in recent years was twice listed among the Top 10 finalists in Animal Planet’s Hero of the Year competition for her formation of a meat co-op serving 27 sanctuaries and rescues in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Even so, of the upcoming event she said, “I’ve never taken on anything so big.”

“I need a lot of people to help,” she said. “And it’s not just a fundraiser for ongoing needs. I want everyone involved, here and worldwide, to feel the love.” Perrett said she is working to set up a volunteer organizational meeting next week. Those who respond with their interest via email will be informed about the time, date and location. In the meantime, life goes on at the tree-shaded compound, where more than 20 tigers, a liger, three lions and all the other animals continuously need food and care.

On Tuesday, volunteer Merri Frederick, a nurse from Ocala, was dripping sweat as she and two friends from London cleaned cages. Frederick has been a volunteer at EARS for three years. Her pals, Lynn and Simon Slattery, came from England to America for a 16-day vacation and were spending some of that time volunteering.

Frederick said not long after she moved to Ocala, she picked up a local magazine that had a photo of Daunte on the cover and felt led to visit the sanctuary, and then to volunteer there. Those who want to volunteer in day-to-day operations are asked to commit to at least one day a week because of the training required to care for exotic animals.

Always needed are supplies such as bleach, dish soap, dog and cat food (domestic animals sometimes are rescued by EARS and then are adopted out) and monetary donations. The sanctuary recently has started offering one-day membership tours, which are available only on a pre-arranged basis. “These animals are in jail for committing no crime,” said Bowen, sweeping an arm across an expanse of cages containing several tigers, the liger named Odin, and a lion named Sabastian. “Our job is to make them as happy and comfortable as we possibly can.”

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