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CHALLENGES!
A letter from our founder - Peggy Hentz
 Challenges!
They are thrown at you to make you stronger, make you better. They
can guide you to change directions or clarify that you ARE on the
right path. They most certainly can help bring important issues into
focus and help you see things more clearly. We face them with our
families and within our nation. Here at Red Creek, challenges come
every day.
From the everyday decisions of finding the best treatment for a
broken animal to directing our future goals, the staff of Red Creek
is always facing challenges and faces them well. From growing
pains to economic shortfalls, we've faced many challenges throughout
the years that threatened our future and we have prevailed.
This month, November 2011, Red Creek has reached a milestone worthy
of the biggest celebration. It was 20 years ago this month,
November of 1991, that I received my first permit to rehabilitate
wildlife from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. In a time when
Pennsylvania is losing rehabilitators every year, Red Creek is now 20
years strong! It is also a year where we are facing a challenge that
can test the best of us.
Red Creek Wildlife Center is not a faceless corporation. It is a
collage of people, past and present, from volunteers to
veterinarians, supporters and rescuers. All of these people
work together for one goal, to help wildlife in trouble, get them
better and set them free.
One of the faces that has become a definition of dedication and
commitment to Red Creek is Morrie Katz. He is the deep, calming voice
on the phone at 2 o'clock in the morning, the knowledgeable educator
and raptor handler at programs and the ever-enthusiastic greeter when
someone brings in an animal in need. He is responsible for
helping Red Creek grow into a thriving non-profit organization that
has lasted 20 years. He is my best friend and partner.
In May of this year, Morrie was diagnosed with stage 3-4 esophageal
cancer. It is hereditary (his father was a rare survivor in the late
1970s) and is caused primarily from acid reflux. Morrie and I knew we
were facing the challenge of a lifetime and I could see how hardships
in the past have strengthened and prepared us now.
Having no children, Morrie and I have always felt that Red Creek (and
its many faces) is our family. The only demand Morrie made early on
was "I do not want this to affect Red Creek's caring for the
wildlife. We must continue our primary mission without fail!"
His loyalty to Red Creek and our work was unshakable, as was the
dedication of our staff who picked up my slack as I needed time for
one new patient.
A Cancer diagnosis will shake the foundation of any family...
can tear it apart or make it stronger. We are very fortunate that the
Red Creek family has such a solid foundation! Greg, Lori and Kat (now
as knowledgeable as any licensed rehabilitators) cared for the infant
patients through the summer with great expertise and all the
volunteers have donated extra hours when needed. Helping Hands
Wildlife Center, Carbon County Environmental Center, Pocono Wildlife
Center and the AARK all stepped forward and offered assistance with
animal care as did our veterinarians Carol Yeisley and Len Donato.
All of these wonderful faces have been a great comfort to Morrie and
to me, knowing the animals are cared for and our work moves on.
We are now halfway through a strenuous series of chemotherapy that
will be completed in January. Tests have been very positive that it
is having an effect on the disease and Morrie has been well enough
that I am able to continue to be active with animal care.
 Because
chemotherapy compromises the immune system, Morrie is no longer
allowed to work directly with sick animal patients. Although no
longer an employee of Red Creek, he still volunteers by answering
phones and you may see him at a program teaching about Hannibal the
Turkey Vulture. And he adds a little comedy to his condition.
When a child recently stated that the vulture was ugly because he is
bald, Morrie bent over and removed his hat revealing his completely
bald head. "Well, I don't see a problem with bald! Do you?"
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