Seven's Heaven Helps Many Animals
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Erin Windle-
"We don't turn any animals away," said Launda Ewell, director of Seven's Heaven Wildlife Rehabilitation, Pierceton. "And we don't charge because we don't want them just dropped off somewhere if they need care."[[In-content Ad]]At Seven's Heaven one may find a variety of animals, including deer, rabbits, raccoons, a fox, a billy goat, pigs, skunks, birds, ground hogs, flying squirrels, cats and dogs, doves and even a rooster.
Ewell and volunteers help nurture the animals and make them healthy and strong enough so they can be released back into the wild. One of her main concerns are fawns in need of care if they're injured or if their mothers are dead. And while it is a service to the community, they do not receive much funding for their job.
People who think deer are a burden need to come and see them here, Ewell said. "They are beautiful, gentle, loving creatures."
She understands why people may hunt for big deer, but she wants to help the babies.
Ewell talks about the costs as a quaker parrot named Chester "fixes her hair" with his beak. "He does it every morning," she said.
There is not a lot of public funding, nor are there many grants to help with supplies. All the money and supplies Seven's Heaven receives are from donations. Ewell is even a part-time magician to raise more funds.
"The animals are coming a lot faster than the help is," Ewell said. "This is just exploding all over me ... it just keeps growing."
Seven's Heaven is in great need of more kennels and volunteers. But even with money scarce, Seven's Heaven always accepts any animal brought to the center. They even took care of a cougar once.
The baby fawns brought to the facility start out in a nursery. They have a fenced in area with "bumper pads" so they don't injure themselves on the fence. Ewell goes through six to seven gallons of milk to feed the deer each day and afterwards washes their faces. At Seven's Heaven, there are even "foster moms" who take a few fawns home for a period of time to give them some "T.L.C.," Ewell said.
Ewell stresses that if a fawn is lying down, then leave it alone, but if it's running around crying, then it's mother is not around and it is a problem.
Local officers have started taking the fawns to Seven's Heaven. "Our DNR officers really have a heart," Ewell said.
Ewell can keep the deer for up to six months before she must release them, but she will release them earlier if she believes they are ready. The Koinonia Game Reserve surrounds Ewell's facility and the land is protected well. It provides a secure place to release the deer.
Waking at 6 a.m. and working until dark seven days a week, Ewell is running out of room, money and energy, but never runs out of faith. When asked "how she does it," Ewell says, "by the grace of God. But my boyfriend sometimes feels neglected.
"Sometimes I get real low because it's such a hard job and I don't have a lot of funding, but then I just come out and spend a few minutes with the animals and I feel great," Ewell said.
To contact Ewell, call 260-609-7249 (cell) or 260-839-0705 (home). For animals that need care, first contact the police or DNR.
"We don't turn any animals away," said Launda Ewell, director of Seven's Heaven Wildlife Rehabilitation, Pierceton. "And we don't charge because we don't want them just dropped off somewhere if they need care."[[In-content Ad]]At Seven's Heaven one may find a variety of animals, including deer, rabbits, raccoons, a fox, a billy goat, pigs, skunks, birds, ground hogs, flying squirrels, cats and dogs, doves and even a rooster.
Ewell and volunteers help nurture the animals and make them healthy and strong enough so they can be released back into the wild. One of her main concerns are fawns in need of care if they're injured or if their mothers are dead. And while it is a service to the community, they do not receive much funding for their job.
People who think deer are a burden need to come and see them here, Ewell said. "They are beautiful, gentle, loving creatures."
She understands why people may hunt for big deer, but she wants to help the babies.
Ewell talks about the costs as a quaker parrot named Chester "fixes her hair" with his beak. "He does it every morning," she said.
There is not a lot of public funding, nor are there many grants to help with supplies. All the money and supplies Seven's Heaven receives are from donations. Ewell is even a part-time magician to raise more funds.
"The animals are coming a lot faster than the help is," Ewell said. "This is just exploding all over me ... it just keeps growing."
Seven's Heaven is in great need of more kennels and volunteers. But even with money scarce, Seven's Heaven always accepts any animal brought to the center. They even took care of a cougar once.
The baby fawns brought to the facility start out in a nursery. They have a fenced in area with "bumper pads" so they don't injure themselves on the fence. Ewell goes through six to seven gallons of milk to feed the deer each day and afterwards washes their faces. At Seven's Heaven, there are even "foster moms" who take a few fawns home for a period of time to give them some "T.L.C.," Ewell said.
Ewell stresses that if a fawn is lying down, then leave it alone, but if it's running around crying, then it's mother is not around and it is a problem.
Local officers have started taking the fawns to Seven's Heaven. "Our DNR officers really have a heart," Ewell said.
Ewell can keep the deer for up to six months before she must release them, but she will release them earlier if she believes they are ready. The Koinonia Game Reserve surrounds Ewell's facility and the land is protected well. It provides a secure place to release the deer.
Waking at 6 a.m. and working until dark seven days a week, Ewell is running out of room, money and energy, but never runs out of faith. When asked "how she does it," Ewell says, "by the grace of God. But my boyfriend sometimes feels neglected.
"Sometimes I get real low because it's such a hard job and I don't have a lot of funding, but then I just come out and spend a few minutes with the animals and I feel great," Ewell said.
To contact Ewell, call 260-609-7249 (cell) or 260-839-0705 (home). For animals that need care, first contact the police or DNR.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092