This is a wonderful RESCUE MISSION that one of our agents, Tammy Eiseman, brought to our attention last year.
Since then, our friend Tammy, introduced us to this wonderful organization, many of our agents have taken an interest in this wonderful place and you really need to read the stories, the history, the needs, the growth, and most importantly the REASON that Dr. Carole Noon, founded this wonderful Sanctuary.
Tammy has now adopted Rufus and here he is:
This is Rufus' story:
Oh, Rufus! Look at that sweet old man--he couldn’t possibly be a troublemaker, now, could he? Let’s put it this way: Rufus is the King of Drama Queens! If it’s quiet and peaceful, a mellow warm day in the Florida sunshine, you can count on Rufus to shatter the peace. We’re not entirely sure how he does it, but it’s his trademark. We think he’s just trying to keep the younger males guessing about his strength and virility! But for all his bluster, Rufus is adored by his family and they all enjoy the many perks the island has to offer together.
“Ain’t Nothin’ Gonna Break My Stride”
The Remarkable Story of Rufus
Ever since we’ve known Rufus, he’s been young at heart and unwilling to accept that fact that he’s getting older. Even though he’s about 45 years old, quite elderly for a chimp, he’s always on the go, and often can be found chasing the young upstart males around the island. He seems to hate the quiet—if everyone is quiet and peaceful, you can count on Rufus to make some noise!
The bottom line is, he’s full of vim and vigor and has an amazing spirit.
So we were very distressed this past August when we learned that Rufus would need his right arm amputated. Rufus had been treated for an infection in the bones of his wrist, but he was no longer responding to treatment. The infection would spread further up the bones of his arm and eventually cause death if the arm was not removed. But we had concerns. Rufus is an old man—would he survive the surgery? Furthermore, would the loss of his arm confuse or depress Rufus, crushing his jovial spirit?
Anytime a chimp is anesthetized for a medical procedure, it is a risk. The best we can do is have a thorough knowledge of Rufus’ overall health, and have a skilled team on hand to perform the surgery and monitor Rufus closely during the entire procedure. We knew that Rufus had a strong heart, and had done well under anesthesia in the past. For his medical team, we had on hand Save the Chimps veterinarians Dr. Jocelyn Bezner and Dr. Linda Gregard, as well as Vero Beach, FL veterinarian David Kilpatrick, DVM, DABVP, who donated his services. Dr. Kilpatrick assisted Save the Chimps in identifying an orthopedic surgeon, Guy Hickman, Jr., M.D., to perform the amputation. Dr. Hickman generously donated his services, and his expertise would be invaluable in ensuring a smooth and efficient procedure.
Before we came to a final decision to perform the amputation, we gathered his caregivers together to discuss the pros and cons of the procedure. The surgical risks to Rufus were explained. As for how he would react to losing an arm, there was simply no way to know for sure, and very little precedent to offer us any insight. No cases of an adult chimp having an arm amputated were found, although young chimps and orangutans who lost limbs through injuries had adapted with no trouble. Save the Chimps had rescued the late Tami who had undergone a leg amputation while in a research lab, and she also appeared to adapt well. Although worried about the surgery, Rufus’ caregivers felt that he would bounce back and soon be back to his rambunctious self. They wanted to give him every opportunity for a long and healthy life. Rufus’ life would be shortened if his arm was left intact. The dedicated staff saw no other alternative but to amputate Rufus’ arm, and do whatever it took to provide him excellent post-op care and lift his spirits if needed.
On August 28th, the surgical team assembled and Rufus’ arm was amputated mid-upper-arm, about six inches below the shoulder. The procedure went very smoothly, and the entire surgery lasted just an hour. Dr. Hickman quickly and skillfully removed Rufus’ arm, and Dr. Kilpatrick, Dr. Bezner, and Dr. Gregard took great care in stitching and wrapping the incision. There were no complications, and all we had to do was wait for Rufus to recover from the anesthesia. He would be hospitalized for a minimum of five days to monitor him closely and allow the surgical site to heal.
When Rufus first awoke from anesthesia, he lifted the remainder of his arm in what looked like an attempt to brace himself. He seemed a little puzzled but not distressed, and made no attempt to remove his bandage. He rested comfortably the entire day, and by the next morning was up and eating. His recovery was taking place in one of the cages used to transport the chimps, so we were able to bring Rufus to his building to visit his family. He enjoyed this greatly, and we could see he was already eager to get back home. After a few more days of hospitalization with daily family visits, Rufus was able to do just that.
When Rufus first moved home, he was reunited with Ted. Ted has very poor eyesight, so we were hopeful that Ted would not notice the incision on Rufus’ arm. Chimps are always very concerned about wounds on other chimps, and if anyone has an injury or incision, it’s guaranteed that the area will be groomed. If any other chimp opened up the incision, Rufus’ recovery time would be lengthened, so Ted seemed to be the perfect companion. We were right about Ted—but Rufus was impatient to get back with his entire family!
Unfortunately for Rufus, he had to wait. After a week we cautiously allowed Marissa to visit him, but she immediately focused on the grooming and picking at the incision on his arm.
After such a successful surgery, we couldn’t take the chance that Rufus would not heal properly, so Marissa had to go back with the group. Rufus was allowed to roam his island with Ted’s company, and got lots of enrichment to occupy his time. Incredibly, just three weeks after his surgery, Rufus got the all clear to be reunited with his family.
Rufus rejoined his beloved family and hasn’t looked back. The other chimps were curious about his missing arm—for about three minutes. Then they shrugged their shoulders and got back to the business of being chimps. Thankfully, our fears of a confused, depressed Rufus never materialized. If anything, he is more energetic and feisty without his arm! It’s likely that despite all of the antibiotics and pain medications Rufus received during treatment, his wrist caused him discomfort and actually slowed him down. He’s back to running around the island, climbing the platforms, chasing the young males, and causing as much mayhem as he possibly can.
Rufus is an inspiration.
When our late founder Dr. Carole Noon first met Rufus, he was living alone in the Dungeon. But even then, he had a twinkle in his eye. All Dr. Noon had to do was wiggle her fingers at Rufus like she was going to tickle him, and he would laugh. All that joie de vivre was trapped in a concrete box, and could have withered away during his years in research. But he hung onto it, and it fully blossomed when Rufus was released from that prison onto his island in Florida.
His magnificent spirit held him in good stead during this chapter
in his life as well.
It seems there is nothing that can slow old Rufus down!
The stories will rip your heart out, so have your tissues ready, but most of all, have your credit cards ready to hit the donation button so you can become a part of history and help the neediest of the needy that have been imported, exploited, and now have a great chance of a simple and quiet retirement here in Florida.
Save the Chimps was established in 1997, under the leadership of founder Carole Noon, Ph.D.,in response to the U.S. Air Force's announcement that it was getting out of the chimpanzee research business. At the end of the long giveaway process, most of the chimpanzees, described by the USAF in a Wall Street Journal article as "surplus equipment," were sent to the Coulston Foundation (TCF) in Alamogordo, NM, a biomedical laboratory with the worst record of any lab in the history of the Animal Welfare Act. Save the Chimps sued the Air Force on behalf of the chimpanzees given to TCF. After a year-long struggle, Save the Chimps gained permanent custody of 21 chimps, survivors and descendants of the baby chimps captured in Africa in the 1950's and used by the Air Force in the original NASA space research program.
A generous donation by the Arcus Foundationenabled Save the Chimps to purchase 150 acres for a permanent Chimpanzee rescue sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, and to construct a new three-acre island home, complete with hills, shelter, and climbing structures for the Air Force Chimps. Attached to the island is a secure, hurricane-proof indoor housing area, where the chimps are served meals three times daily. The indoor housing connects via tunnel to a second building, the Introduction Building, where the Air Force Chimps were first united as a family.
Not long after The Air Force Chimps’ release onto their new island home, Save the Chimps rescued five former
pet chimps, and two former entertainment chimps, expanding our mission to include the rescue and permanent retirement of chimps used in biomedical research, entertainment, and the pet trade..jpg)
The vision of Save the Chimps was -- and remains -- to create a sanctuary where rescued chimpanzees can live out their lives without the threat of ever returning to a laboratory, entertainment, and the pet trade. By 2002, 28 chimps called Save the Chimps home, but knowing there were more chimps in need , Dr. Carole Noon anticipated the construction of a second island, the rescue of more chimps, the formation of another social group. She expected to grow slowly but surely over time.
But an unexpected event rapidly expanded the scope of Save the Chimps--overnight.
Check out the website at www.savethechimps.org and then please help this worthy cause to carry on the Life's Dream of one wonderful woman with the of Gold, Dr. Carole Noon, PHD.
And if you would like to live close by to volunteer some time at this wonderful facility, please call us today and we can help you to SELL YOUR HOME, BUY A HOME, or RENT A HOME at www.searchforsouthfloridahome.com.
Comments(12)