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classic car collection, my first edition books of poetry and
artifacts that I had collected from around the world.”
Fortunately, the fire was contained to the main structure
and all of the animals in the sanctuary were safe. “Since there
was no electricity we had to keep the fish tanks and reptile
aquariums operating with generators,” he says. “It was a
very dark time. But, life goes on.”
Brady never rebuilt the house. His second wife, Beverly,
who shared his vision and love of exotic rescues, had passed
away by the time of the fire, and he didn’t see any reason to
reconstruct the home for himself. Instead, he put what little
insurance money he received into the sanctuary.
“We’re running out of money, and I’m afraid that we may
not be able to sustain Critter Haven for another year,” he says
with tears in his eyes. “Most of the animals here are old and
it’s kind of like a retirement home for exotics. We don’t adopt
out, or sell, or re-home any of them. We keep them for the
rest of their lives. Buckwheat, the lemur, has been here for 20
years. I’m afraid that if we can’t sustain it, all of these critters
will be quietly put to sleep. That would kill me. They’d have
to euthanize me first.”
Fortunately, there are others who share Brady’s passion so
there is hope for Critter Haven. The staff of eight who have
volunteered their time, simply for the love of animals, are
committed to keeping the sanctuary alive. General manager
Joey Borneman started volunteering at Critter Haven when
he was only 17. He and assistant manager Brian Walzak have
both worked at the sanctuary for 12 years and are the heirs
apparent.
“We love this place and we are committed to keeping it
operational,” says Borneman. “We are looking into various
types of fundraising opportunities to help us fund the food,
medicine and maintenance of the refuge. We are undergoing
a massive reconstruction and hopefully someday we’ll be
able to offer tours.”
“These animals are like our family,” explains Walzak. “It
took me nearly a year to gain the trust of Jax, our hybrid
wolf. He was surrendered by a family who couldn’t take care
of him because he is more like a wild wolf than a dog. People
buy these exotic animals thinking they’ll make good house
pets and they don’t. That’s when they either surrender them
or law enforcement steps in, confiscates them and brings
them out here.” Walzak goes on to tell how a kinkajou was
found in a kitchen cabinet during a drug bust and a cockatoo
was surrendered by her owner when she got cancer. “I
worked at a pet store and sold her the cockatoo. When she
got sick and could no longer care for him she brought him
out here. Now he’s back to loving on me.” He beams as he
kisses the bird perched on his shoulder.
Brady estimates that this year the maintenance costs and
improvements to Critter Haven will exceed a quarter of a
million dollars. Food alone costs nearly $3,000 a month. Local
community partners have stepped up to keep the sanctuary
open. Publix donates food and produce and several local vets
donate their services. The public is invited to help by becoming
a member of Critter Haven or making a donation. Critter
Haven is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization so contributions
are tax-deductible. For more information, visit
www.critterhavenverobeach.org.
More than anything, Brady just wants his beloved exotic animals
to live out the rest of their lives in comfort. “I’ve opened
it up to my staff and I’ve told them that when I die, I want my
epitaph to read: I’m gone, but Critter Haven lives on.”
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