The Battle for Survival Continues at Howling Acres Wolf Sanctuary
By Patricia Cruz
Patricia Cruz / GrantsPassNews.com
Sherrie and Charlie LaBat established Howling Acres Wolf Sanctuary in 1991
with a very specific purpose–to provide abused and abandoned wolves, that
cannot be reintroduced to the wild, a place to live out their lives
comfortably. Recently imposed conditions by Josephine County could change
all that.
After 12 years of operation Howling Acres is suddenly faced with some
significant challenges that must be overcome to keep their doors open to
the public.
“As a result of recent complaints of excessive howling and traffic, the
Josephine County Planning Department informed us we needed to apply for a
Conditional Use Permit to operate a Private Park,” said Sherrie LaBat,
Founder and President of Howling Acres. “This is the first time in 12
years we’ve been required to have a permit. We submitted our application
and the county approved our permit request with conditions on November
5th.”
LaBat estimates the cost to comply with all of the conditions at around
$300,000.
“The only way we can come up with this kind of money is to go out into the
community and ask those in favor of preserving the sanctuary and the lives
of an endangered species, for their support and donations,” said LaBat.
More than half the estimated money is needed to raise the height of the
wolf compound fencing and the electric fencing.
“Although Howling Acres has never been required to have a conditional use
permit, they have always been very careful to follow the USDA federal
requirements,” said Shane Reed attorney representing Howling Acres, Owner
of Reed & Associates in Jacksonville. “We’re also concerned about the
requirement to close on Sundays and traditional holidays. This resembles
the old days when religious beliefs prohibited businesses from operating
on Sundays and holidays.
The initial rumblings from the community of Williams began this past
summer. In September a Williams Town Council Meeting was held, requesting
input from the residents and the community regarding their support and/or
concerns. Although the majority of people in attendance supported keeping
the sanctuary open, several expressed concern over what they felt was
excessive noise from howling and excessive traffic.
“Immediately we requested a decibel study be done by students at SOU to
determine if in fact the howling was excessive,” said LaBat. “We also put
together a report identifying the average traffic flow on any given day of
the week.”
Complaints of excessive traffic resulted in the requirement that Howling
Acres be closed to the public on Sundays and holidays.
“In reviewing the decibel study we found that the howling noise was
minimal compared to the noise generated from dogs barking in the
community,” said Michael Snider, Director of Josephine County Planning
Commission. “However, the concern of excessive traffic was reviewed and
specific conditions to relieve this concern were identified.”
Snider goes on to say the goal of the Planning Commission is to strike a
balance between a commercial enterprise and the ambience expected in a
rural neighborhood. The condition to close Howling Acres on Sundays and
holidays, the time most people are more likely to be home looking to enjoy
some peace and quiet, would achieve the proper balance. Another concern is
that Davidson Road in Williams is a privately maintained road not a county
maintained road, which further complicates matters. How do
residents/businesses determine who pays for what and how much to keep the
road properly maintained.
“Our goal was to find a happy medium that everyone would be able to live
with,” said Snider. I believe we have done that.”
LaBat’s concern and the concern of the Board of Directors is Sunday is
their busiest day of the week. The loss of revenue will have a severe
negative impact.
When word got out that Howling Acres received approval of their
Conditional Use Permit one of the local residents immediately filed an
appeal requesting the permit be revoked and the sanctuary be closed to the
public and/or moved.
“If we cannot stay open to the public we have no way to pay for the
enormous amount of food the wolves consume, nor the ability to pay for
their medical needs,” said LaBat. “The bottom line is we could not operate
the sanctuary without the money from public tours and special events.”
Howling Acres is asking for help from the community in one of three ways.
1. Write a letter of support to Howling Acres and send a copy to: Michael
Snider, Josphine County Planning Commission, 510 NW 4th Street, Grants
Pass. OR 97526. Or email the planning commission at
planning@co.josephine.or.us.
2. Make a general financial donation to Howling Acres. Howling Acres is a
501C3 organization so your contribution is tax deductible.
3. Make a specific donation of any of the following items listed as the
requirements for us to become compliant with the county conditions;
installation of a 10,000 gallon on-site water supply; installation of
emergency exit lighting; widening of all roads leading to the sanctuary to
20 feet wide; paved road; pave and mark all parking spaces; increase wolf
compounds to 8 feet high with 9 foot high electric fencing; installation
and maintenance of 5 pound, 2A10 minimum-rated, fire extinguishers every
75 feet; and no scheduled tours on Sundays and all traditional holidays.
Without the help of the community this could be the final battle of
survival for the wolves of Howling Acres.
“The bottom line is, if we are forced to shut down, the wolves will be
euthanized,” said LaBat. “There are no alternative places for these
animals to live.”
The appeal will be heard by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners at
9:00 a.m. on January 21, 2004 in the Anne Baker Auditorium Annex of the
Josephine County Court House.
For more information contact Howling Acres Wolf Sanctuary at 541/846-8962,
555 Davidson Rd., Williams, Oregon. 97544, email
wolves@cdsnet.net, or visit the website
www.howlingacres.org.