Living at the Red: Caretaker Erin McCleary

My name is Erin McCleary. I was born and raised in Texas and went to school at Tarleton State University in the DFW area. I graduated in December 2022 with a B.S. in Wildlife, Sustainability, and Ecosystem Sciences with a concentration in Zoo Animal and Confined Wildlife Biology and Management. My goal is to eventually work at a zoo or wildlife sanctuary in a keeper/animal care position. I was an Animal Care Intern at the Children’s Animal Center at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, TX over the summer of 2022. There I worked with a wide variety of species including emus, parrots, Attwater’s prairie chickens, black-footed cats, tortoises, goats, Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, and a sheep. I was able to get hands-on experience caring for animals and learn about training via operant conditioning at an AZA accredited facility. I moved to Ohio at the end of 2022 for the opportunity to work as a caretaker at the Red Riding Hood Rescue Project. In my short time here so far, I’ve been able to learn so much about the care of wolves and wolfdogs using cooperative care. It’s been a privilege to work with such dedicated people and build relationships with these amazing animals.

The arrival of the ‘401 girls!’

The Rhode Island DNR labeled these little ladies the ‘rare black Rhode Island coyotes.’ These puppies were running loose for days and offered area residents a peak into their beauty and wonder. Shortly after learning they weren’t coyotes, but rather wolfdogs, criminal charges of abuse and abandonment were filed against the people who had them. But those few days running on a beach and entertaining Rhode Island residents was a beautiful unfoldment. The community fell in love with their antics. RI is an illegal state for wolfdogs but so much love was thrown at these two pups that the Mayor and the Warwick Animal Shelter worked hard to find rescue. They reached out to us and although we were full, we said yes. (It’s all Tara Lay’s fault!)

We started building. Two full Saturdays with thirteen volunteers each Saturday and we built a 100x30 containment with dig guards, lean ins, a doggie condo, reinforced welded wire wrap and crushed limestone to bury the guards. We were ready for the girls; we weren’t ready for the media storm.  All the RI news stations and newspapers were reaching out to us and the Shelter and the Mayor’s office and what it showed was how much people wanted a happy ending for these puppies.  They got it!  We will forever be thankful to the people of Rhode Island for supporting us to receive these pups.

Wiley (L) and Willow (R)

aka The 401 Girls

Alex Clark and Danielle Verrier: the dream team

The 401 girls would never have made it here without this dynamic, adorable duo. When I reached out to Alex to ask if he would be interested in transporting them, I received an instant ‘YES!’ We rented a cargo van, worked with the amazing Anne at Warwick Animal Shelter, worked with Brian at B & D Moving in Coventry, RI and set the date. And then we shut up! We said nothing to anyone about their departure date. The Pup paparazzi were seriously intent on learning details of the departure and arrival.

Alex and Dani drove 13 hours straight through with only brief stops along the way and they showed much concern for the wellbeing of the pups. They played soothing music, cranked the ac way beyond comfort for them, and watered them frequently. They finally pulled into our driveway, Thursday, May 11th at 11:20pm. The pups spent the night in the van and at first light our team was in the field and setting them free in their new spacious enclosure. Aside from getting the van stuck in mud, and then taking caretaker Karen out with a flying crate launched over the fencing, all went smoothly. The pups are settling in well. Dani and Alex are home safe, and they have now become a huge part of The Red family forever!

The Rhode Island transport team Dani and Alex (L) and our intake team at The Red (R)

Scientists at the Red

We were excited to be contacted by researchers interested in our mission and animals. Jo Thompson, PhD Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation, is working with Bridgett VonHoldt, PhD Princeton University on canine genetic ancestry. Embark is the standard test in our wolfdog community for accuracy but Jo says, though it is a fine test for dog-based breed questions, it becomes increasingly questionable for non-dog questions (wolf or coyote). Bridgett has a database of >3000 canids from North America and they have asked us to collect (over time) tissue or blood samples on our wolfdogs. Bridgett VonHoldt was the geneticist on the 60 minutes program comparing dog DNA to wolves. *Studying the genetic and evolution of dogs’ friendliness, Nov. 27, 2022.

It will take time to collect these samples, but it will be exciting to learn more about our own animals as we help this important research.

Lukuru Wildlife's Jo Thomson and Lori Garrison Lambers

with our volunteer Dan Marmer

Raw abundance

We have been tremendously blessed with securing solid food donations. Our friend and mentor, Paul Strasser at Red Wolf Sanctuary, has shared his resources and some of his meat contacts. We have made some of our own. The local community has been a tremendous asset too whenever we put out a request. JBS Meats, Grand Island services, recently brought a semi-truck load of ribs to our doorstep. 750 lbs. of free meat! LaSoupe has become a regular meat donor for us too, with a wide variety of packaged meats and 100s of lbs. each time. Joseph’s Legacy helps us with blue buffalo bagged food that we then mix in with our Viktor kibble. The only food we pay for now is Viktor kibble. May these blessings continue. And may these partnerships know we are grateful!

Beautification and Braden

Staff member, Braden Matt worked hard for an entire year before ever getting to do what he really loves: designing garden paths, planting trees, and beautifying everything. Did you know he won best of show at Krohn Conservatory last year! Well, we are picking the beautification project up and planning a garden path to the gift shop, planting trees at the road for neighbors to enjoy, and designing trails throughout the property. Watch for our progress!

Events at The Red continue to inspire

Whether it is our once-a-month Tuesday night intimate tour or a larger themed event, people leave having fallen in love with our mission and our animals. We have some special events coming up:

The Walk with Wolfdogs May 27th

The Gathering of the People June 17th

The Wine and Howl, Run to our Rescue 5k Sept. 30th (run from the winery to the Red and back)

Visit www.rrh-project.com/events to purchase tickets for upcoming events.

As a new 501c3, with monthly operating expenses and food and vet care for twelve animals, we are in need of monthly sponsors. Operations are costly.  We are small with a mighty and loyal following. But we are still small.  Can you help us grow our network?  Can you help us gain more donors?  We encourage you to become a Friend of The Red by being a monthly sponsor to help us do more. Your dollars go 100% to the animals. We remain gratefully yours. 

You can help by donating TODAY on our website, through PayPal (our PayPal email is info@rrh-project.com), Venmo (@RedRidingHoodRescueProject-Red) or check (mail to PO Box 42128 Cincinnati, OH 45242)!

We are a team of volunteers. Every one of us. And we thank you for being a part of our ever growing team.

Much more news and fun to come! Not on our mailing list yet? Join here and also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the know as we grow!