John Knight
Favorite aspect of the sanctuary: I’d say their enclosures are my favorite. Make no mistake about it; compared to their natural environment in the wild, these animals are still in captivity. But seeing them running around in over 7500 sq. ft. of space, playing on their 9’ tall platforms, cooling themselves in their 700 gallon pools and disappearing into their 16’ x 8’ underground dens, lets us know that the accommodations we’re providing are making their lives enjoyable here in captivity.
Favorite wolf and why: Which ever one I’m with at the time; my heart just really goes into each of them when I’m with them. That said, my pattern here is to really focus on the new, weak and unhealthy arrivals and to pour a lot of love and nurture into them. After a while, rather than running and hiding when you come around, they begin to show some excitement when you’re approaching, thus letting you know they’re settling in and becoming secure here.
Your role here: As co-owner of Big Oak Wolf Sanctuary, my role is making sure the day to day operation is maintained, continuing the build-out of the facility and wolf accommodations and protecting the organization as a whole from precarious situations and from individuals who could intentionally or unintentionally destroy it from the inside.
What being part of this unique mission means to you: This place is a 12-16 hr. a day, 7 day a week operation and really takes its toll on you; sometimes I asked myself “why in the world did we do this?” But there’s something about being faithful to what you believe God is directing you to do, that makes you happier and more fulfilled, “in an exhausted state” than you’d be if you were going through life thinking about yourself and planning for your own comfort, security and future, while getting plenty of rest. So I’d say it’s the very essence of a ministry, in that you “faithfully” focus on serving others and you trust God to meet your needs. We do trust Him and He always meets our need!
Favorite Movie: Lonesome Dove and running a close second is To Kill a Mockingbird