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| Cathy Sue Ragan Anunsen, founder of the Esther Honey Foundation, has always been an advocate for animals (Photo by Keith Gunnar). |
Can you tell us a little about who you are and what you do?
I’m
a former mental health therapist, animal advocate and currently the President
and CEO of the Esther Honey Foundation. My husband and I live in a cottage
perched on the edge of two large ponds that are tucked in the center of a mixed
forest. We devoted two decades to developing the gardens and wildlife habitat
within the small wooded acreage which we share with two extremely entertaining
terrier puppies, that my son rescued and delivered to me last Mother’s Day, and
a tolerant ginger cat named Felix. The results of our garden design efforts were
featured in Architectural Digest Magazine several years ago but the biggest
reward is being able to provide a safe and nurturing space for a large variety
of birds and other wildlife.
When did you become involved in animal issues?
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| A blue heron enjoys the habitat. |
I
have always been fascinated by animals. My first word was “Andrew”, the name of
my Grandmother Esther’s cat, which contributes to my belief that some people
have an innate connection with animals.
I
guess my initial “rescues” occurred in the first grade when I was late for
school on rainy days because I had stopped to scoop up stranded earthworms from
the sidewalk to prevent them from being squished by other children sloshing
their way to school.
My
involvement with animals when I was younger was limited to caring for the usual
suspects, a number of dogs, cats, gerbils, mice, white rats, an opossum, a skunk
and a baby goat -- I’m sure I’ve missed some. My father owned several
businesses including raising cattle. One evening when I went with him to check
on what was then a small herd I began petting the face of a large steer who
came up to me at the fence line. Looking into his large brown eyes as I scratched
around his ears I suddenly realized that it was wrong for me to eat meat. This
was not a popular decision within my family.
Later,
like many people, I was horrified by the clubbing of harp seals and started an
organization to raise funds to send to Greenpeace. Thanks to Country Joe and
the Fish (Yes, that Country Joe of
Woodstock fame) who generously performed without compensation, we were able to raise
and send $10,000 directly to Greenpeace and their volunteers on the ice flows.
Not
long after, I read an article about black bears being shot by timber companies
for awaking after hibernation and trying to survive temporarily by eating
portions of the bark on trees. I wanted to help find a non-lethal solution and
called Cleveland Amory, renowned writer, co-founder of the Humane Society of
the US and founder of the Fund for Animals.
Within a few days, Cleveland flew to Oregon to help protect the bears by
adding his considerable resources to help me challenge the politically and
financially powerful timber companies.
Shortly
after meeting Cleveland he asked me to serve as the Fund’s regional coordinator
where I helped design programs to educate the
public, media, government officials and stakeholders regarding wildlife issues and
to serve on the steering committee of one of the first state-wide initiatives
introduced by the Fund for Animals and the Humane Society of the United States.
These efforts contributed to the passage of
ground-breaking wildlife protection laws for black bears and cougars in the
State of Oregon.
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| Cleveland Amory with Cathy-Sue. |
When
I learned that the US National Park Service planned to hire sharp-shooters in helicopters to kill all of the goats
in the Olympic National Park I knew that there had to be a better,
kinder way to resolve the issue. I was appointed to the National Park Service Olympic National Park Mountain Goat Management
Advisory Committee (whew) and, on behalf of the Fund for Animals Initiated and led the national campaign opposing the
National Park Services' lethal plan.
The campaign generated nation-wide interest and extensive
media coverage ranging from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the NBC
Nightly News to Sports Illustrated and National Geographic. This 13 year effort to prevent the
extermination of the Olympic Mountain goats was a success, and their population
numbers remain stable. I am especially proud of
my contributions to the lengthy endeavour that helped ensure that these majestic
animals remain in the park.
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| Scallywags...Rags and Maggie. |
My
family traveled to the Cook Islands to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
What was the condition your family gave you?
Because
of the time I devoted to animal issues, my family asked for a promise that
during our holiday in the Cook Islands I would not get involved in ANY animal
matters.
Why do you find it hard to stay away from animal issues?
I
just feel compelled to do whatever I can to end or prevent animal suffering,
mistreatment and abuse of power. The drive is partly self-serving in that once
I become aware of the issue I cannot rest until I have done something to help.
What was the animal situation like before the EHF started?
I
was advised that there was no veterinarian for the country’s estimated 14,000
cats and dogs. Officials were shooting dogs to control their population. I was
told that more than 1,000 dogs had already been shot.
Who is Esther Honey?
Esther
was my paternal grandmother whose cat was “Andrew” and Honey was the name of
the golden Raro dog with a white heart-shaped mark on her forehead. She adopted
my family in 1993 as we exited our airport van at the Lagoon Lodges. She followed us from the van to the check-in
desk and then to our lodge where we began our life-changing friendship. Over those few weeks I was inspired by her
sweet face, resourcefulness, ingenuity and powerful spirit.
How did you come to be involved in the Esther Honey
Foundation?
I
had read a notice in the local paper about an anti-cruelty group being organized on
the island. I had extended my stay for a week and my family had returned to
Oregon. I felt that I had abided by my promise and was now free to contribute
to the new group in honor of Honey. When their representative came by my
accommodation to collect the check he asked if he could talk with me about the
animal situation in the Cook Islands. More than eight hours later, I found
myself promising to try to find a veterinarian who would donate his services.
It wasn’t until I returned home, faxed the question “what equipment and
supplies to you have’ and received the one-word response: “forceps” that I began to
realize the potential enormity of that promise.
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| Cathy Sue. |
I
didn’t ask for financial compensation but I did value my time, our volunteers’
time and our donors’ contributions, and wanted to be certain that our joint
efforts were going to do more than offer a temporary band-aid to a never ending
problem.
The
program model of providing a week or two of free spay/neuter and up-skilling a
local vet before moving on to another island is certainly important to those
individual numbers treated but it is very unlikely that it will likely result
in any significant long-lasting change. I wanted our time and funds to be used wisely
to work toward a measurable and permanent improvement in the lives and health
of the animals and their community.
To
achieve this goal, it was vital that we document our services and expenditures
to ensure that the information would be there to be used by the Esther Honey
Foundation and others who want to learn from our long-term non-lethal animal
population control programs. Our last census documented that EHF’s scientifically-proven
spay/neuter program reduced the dog population on Rarotonga from 6,000 to 1,666
with 71.19% of the remaining 1,666 dogs desexed. Our 2013 census is now
underway. When completed we will learn whether the number of dogs has continued
to decline, remained the same or increased. Whatever the outcome, we will learn
from the information collected.
You work seven days a week. How come? What sort of work do
you do for the organisation?
In
addition to all of the US Administrative responsibilities, I communicate daily
with the clinic administrator on management and program matters. I am also
responsible for recruiting and coordinating the tenures of an average of 80
volunteers annually.
Esther
Honey and our supporters purchase an average of just under $100,000 in new
drugs, supplies and equipment annually (in addition to donated recently-expired
products). The majority of the solicitation and organization of transport of
these goods is done through this office.
How many animals has the EHF helped?
The
Esther Honey Foundation has treated 38,000 animals and S/N more than 14,000. Last
year alone we served 14,953 meals to the animals in our care and rehomed 244
homeless.
How can vets become involved?
To
date, 345 generous veterinarians have volunteered their time with the Esther
Honey Foundation. We would welcome inquiries at info@estherhoney.org.
