article by teej beck
photography courtesy cathy dixson,
cathy dixson photography
Amongst the tall trees of rural Chesapeake VA, deep out on a country road that if I were to venture a guess has seen as many tractors as cars, there is a charming little house that is not too unlike the other charming little homes on that country road. The residents are however not your typical neighbours... Beyond the white picket fence, in the modest cheerful yellow farm house is something of a zoo... chihuahuas, ferrets and chinchillas... raccoons, gerbils, birds and bunnies along with just about every breed of dog and cat one could image, call Chesapeake Virginia's 1380 West Road home.... turkeys, ducks and a couple of roosters all keep sentry for the stable of 8 horses, 2 fawns, and an emu named Elmo in the barn out back... A sanctuary for some, a stop on life's journey for others shelters more than 100 animals that make up the WEB of LIFE .
The animal outreach adoption center and educational facility is a worthwhile destination for a weekend ride in the country, a place to take the kids to learn about nature, find a new family friend, give a little something of yourself for a feel good experience volunteering on the 7 acre farm or have some fun learning to ride a horse. The change of venue will change your point of view and state of mind... Come find your place in the Web of Life...
The animal outreach adoption center and educational facility is a worthwhile destination for a weekend ride in the country, a place to take the kids to learn about nature, find a new family friend, give a little something of yourself for a feel good experience volunteering on the 7 acre farm or have some fun learning to ride a horse. The change of venue will change your point of view and state of mind... Come find your place in the Web of Life...
This afternoon I found my way to this home for forgotten pets, found critters and otherwise displaced wild things... Arriving a few minutes later than TOGETHERVA.com's resident photographer Cathy Dixson, I found Cathy already in the barn with The WEB of LIFE ANIMAL OUTREACH's director and founder Jackie Van Horn. Jackie was bottle feeding two fawns and Cathy was capturing some great shots. Jackie was telling the stories of the pair of spotted white tails she was nursing. One had been found floating downstream near the causeway and the other found abandoned or separated from its mother in Williamsburg. Their rescuers got the fawns to Web of Life and to Jackie where they are being lovingly nursed and cared for and will eventually be released onto the 7 acre facility where they will enjoy a full natural life. From all over the region animals come to WoL for care, rehabilitation and if not adoption then reintroduction to the wild. Jackie is a certified wildlife rehabilitation facilitator and former educator for the Virginia Zoo.
The Web of Life is Jackie's passion and life's work. For animals in need Jackie has taken on the unfathomable task of sheltering, feeding, vetting, rehabilitating, for her wild wards, reintroducing to the wild. Strays, abandoned pets, orphaned wildlife and otherwise lost souls find their way to this sanctuary and for salvation and recuperation with hopes that one day they will find a cozy lap, a warm bed and friend that genuinely cares and can share their love. For the animals that have been so fortunate to come to the care of Jackie Van Horn life again holds promise.
Walking the facility with Cathy and Jackie, Jackie told us about the organization. The Web of Life, a no kill shelter and haven for displaced critters and creatures, has for the past 4 years lived by the principal belief that all living things are connected and that all of Mother Earth's species form an intricate 'web of life', all are interdependent on one another and whatever fate befalls one shall befall all.
The Web of Life Animal Outreach is located in rural Chesapeake Virginia at 1380 West Road and houses over 100 displaced animals awaiting adoption. Through the Web of Life's director Jackie' Van Horn's program of keeping the animals integrated, interactive and in a home like environment these animals are ready to join your household today. Fully vetted with all shots, spayed and neutered, healthy and acclimated to both other animals and people the pets available for adoption only need someone like you to fulfill their lives and receive their affection and unconditional love.
"One of our main goals is making sure that adopted pets stay part of their new families for as long as they live. Educating the adopting family about their newest member and by offering classes and an adoption kit to help with the adjustment,we hope to find very low to no returns. Every adoption kit includes a new parenting guide filled with helpful tips on integrating a new pet into the household, food coupons, a collar.
No animal will be adopted out until spayed or neutered, references checked and approved by a trained staff member of Web of Life Animal Outreach. All this is done in an attempt to get the animal into the best possible home and ensure that he or she is safe and well cared for through the entire extent of their natural lives."
The first hand experience of nature is no more thrillingly realized than learning the symbiotic partnership between mankind and the animal kingdom riding horseback. Respecting the power of the horse is not lost on any rider, novice or well saddled, and the appreciation of the horse's genial willing nature as rider and animal bond is a lifelong lesson on the relationship that man can form with the animal kingdom. At the Web of Life lessons for beginners as young as six are available with parental supervision and experienced riders are welcomed to come and connect with these endearing equines. Perks for volunteers include riding time privileges and is reason enough, I think so anyway, to spend a couple hours filling feed troughs, brushing manes or mucking stalls.
The facility has many needs, the animals of course need care, the organization needs resources and funding, the grounds need tending, the buildings upkeep, maintenance and more buildings are needed to meet demand for space, publicity and public outreach are lacking and a full time staff is required. The overwhelming need can be daunting and for director Jackie Van Horn prioritizing is often a question of where is the greatest need, what resources are available and what is obtainable.
Volunteering is the life blood of any organization such as the Web of Life. The need is always there for another pair of hands, strong back, nurturing soul and brilliant mind. Without the few volunteers the Web of Life is blessed with the possibility of going on would be nil to none. The Web of Life has a number of true blessings that Jackie attributes the foundations survival thus far to.
Jackie and the animals rely entirely on volunteers and contributions from the public. The Web of Life Animal Outreach is not-for-profit 501(c)3 and even after 4 years of dedication to the community receives no government funding or subsidy. The fiscal needs are 100% up to Jackie to raise and its not easy taking care of 100 animals, maintaining the grounds and buildings, encouraging community involvement, finding volunteers, managing the wonderful volunteers that currently dedicate time to Web of Life to then also have to raise funds. So as with all ventures reliant upon community generosity, especially in times such as these when everyone is feeling a financial stress, things can become rather desperate. Today the Web of Life is looking at a mortgage that has fallen behind, trying to make improvements to the buildings, improve and develop the property, manage the operating expenses of water, electric, telephone and the like, not to mention feeding the animals, vetting, g-d forbid any emergencies arise, marketing and promotions, and insurances.
I am urging all of you to get involved however you can. It wont take much if many of us do our own small part, send a donation, volunteer on the weekend to help with clean up, talk about the foundation to everyone you know, adopt an animal, join the patron's or get your business or organization involved, come out and enjoy some time with our animal friends... and
Find your place in the Web of Life
To become involved with the Web of Life visit www.weboflifeanimaloutreach.com, fill out the volunteer application, attend an orientation or visit the Web of Life facility. They are open to the public Wednesday, Friday, Saturday andSunday fromNoon until 6PM. Donations can be mailed directly to 1380 West Road Chesapeake VA 23323 and credit donations can be made by telephone, 757.718.6447
TOGETHERVA.com will be concentrating all of our efforts on publicizing the Web of Life and encourage that our readers pass on this story.
THE GUARDIAN ANGELS of WEB OF LIFE ANIMAL OUTREACH
