When I was four years old and living on Calzada Road in Santa Ynez, I saw a baby bird that had fallen out of the nest, picked it up and went crying to my mother for help. Being the devoted animal lover she is, she agreed to help, but the nest was way up in the tree and she couldn’t reach it.
“Aha,” she said, “let’s get the boys to climb the tree!” So off we went, with me crying and trying not to squish the little bird I was so desperately trying to save. Well, we finally found my brothers, who reluctantly agreed to climb the tree and put the baby back in the nest, on the condition that I would stop crying. We watched the nest for the babies to grow, fly away and return to the same nest for years to come.
That was my first “happy ending.” As I grew, so did my animal collection. My life was filled with many different animals —horses, dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and even mice that I raised. I never lost my deep love for wildlife and was rescuing anything that needed me, including bear, deer, birds of prey, bunnies, raccoons, bobcats and little song birds and hummingbirds.
My father was an avid bird-watcher and dog lover and also started the Beaudette Foundation for Marine Biological Research. He and Jacques Cousteau were the first ones to truly research marine “farming” (being able to grow crops underwater). He had a history of heart trouble and was unable to do a lot of the fieldwork himself, but he was always on board ship when his scientists were under water.
My mother was an only child who was told that, since she had no siblings, she could have as many animals as she wanted, and did just that. She had many dogs and a monkey as a child, and, as an adult, even with her hectic acting career, was allowed to take her dog on the set with her and even had “Susie” in a movie with her. My brothers had goats and various other animals that they would drag home to be possible members of our family. My mother had a sheep named Samantha, who was her pride and joy. We also raised Labrador Retrievers and occasionally donated litters to be guide dogs for the blind. My early childhood experiences with animals taught me unconditional love, respect, responsibility and honesty.
When I was a preteen, I went to a wild animal show in Buellton. I was so enthralled by the love and care that this wonderful lady gave the animals, that I begged my Mom to talk to her. She was so beautiful, I wanted to be just like her The next thing I knew, she took me under her wing and taught me about exotic animals and I was hooked forever. Thank you, Pat Derby, for being my mentor and also my friend.
This love for animals taught me important values and ethics. It’s very hard to be dishonest or try to con an animal; they always seem to know who you really are. I think it makes people more responsible, caring, happy and helps them live longer when they care for animals.
Our Valley is full of natural beauty, and our wildlife is an essential part of that. I could never understand how someone could drive by a wounded, dying animal on the road without stopping to help them, but this was something I was born to do.
In the late 1980s an organization called Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network was formed. This was just what I was looking for, as I had been rescuing everything under the sun for many years all by myself. They welcomed me with open arms and I was with them for twenty years.
During those many years, I specialized in rehabilitating song birds, birds of prey, large and small mammals and an occasional reptile. It is a lot of work, but when you get to give an animal back to the wild, see it run or soar, when only a short time ago they were at death’s door, the rewards are unbelievable and it makes all those sleepless nights worthwhile.
I had always dreamed of starting my own nonprofit animal organization and that dream came true in December of 2007. The primary purpose of this organization is to provide refuge to animals who would otherwise be euthanized, or who need to be removed from a neglectful or abusive situation.
We actively seek permanent, loving homes for all domestic animals in our care, whenever possible. We also provide the best nutrition, housing and love to animals that without our help would have no hope of a decent life or of any life at all. We will provide room to run and play with others of their own kind, as well as help teach them unconditional love and trust of humans and to have peace knowing that they will be safe for the rest of their lives.
To ensure that we save as many animals as possible from being neglected, abused or euthanized, we work closely with county agencies and local veterinarians to ensure the animals’ safety and welfare. We depend solely on generous donations from animal-lovers to keep our animals protected, so their story can have a “happy ending.”
The volunteers at Happy Endings have been tearing out all the old fencing and rebuilding new animal enclosures with the donations they’ve received so far. After rescuing three horses, they cannot accept any more animals until they build the proper enclosures, so they’ve planned the First Annual Happy Friends Golf Tournament fundraiser for October 24th at the beautiful Marshillia Ranch Golf Course in Lompoc. Join them for a fun-filled day of golf at the beautiful Marshallia Course. Enjoy an 18 holeScramble Tournament for golfers of all abilities, followed by a barbeque and raffle. There will be great prizes, food and music.