Wildlife Organization gets Support from GRIC

December 18, 2015

By Christopher Lomahquahu

Community Newsperson

The Community is giving back in big ways to assist a local wildlife organization that treats animals on the path to recovery.

Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation is a non-profit organization that is in the process of getting a new home near the heart of  Phoenix.

At a tour of the new facility still under construction on Nov. 5, things are coming together for the organization that swoops in when birds need urgent care or rehabilitation. A portion of the Community’s shared gaming revenue was used to fund the building of the education wing of the building through a three-year grant. The services offered by Liberty Wildlife are funded through donations, which cover the food and treatment for each of the animals in its care.

The sprawling new facility is being built on 6 and a half acres of land, a short distance east of 24th Street and the Salt River. It is an ideal place to have a sanctuary because it will allow access to some of the local wildlife in the area.

According to the GRIC Office of Special Funding Program Administrator, Cheryl Pablo, the new facility will serve a number purposes once it is completed.  Currently they are located in Scottsdale, and will be making the transition in the spring of next year. In addition to education services, Liberty Wildlife provides an expanded clinic and sanctuary area for birds to reside in.

“They try to rehabilitate the larger birds to be released back into the wild,” said Pablo. Occasionally the Department of Environmental Quality staff utilizes Liberty Wildlife to transfer injured birds found in the Community to receive care.  She said, “For those that aren’t able to be released back into the wild they are used for educational purposes.”

The sprawling facility is planned to have a simulated wetland for animals and will include various natural landscapes for birds native to Arizona.

Pablo said opportunities like this offer benefits for both parties. “We establish a lot of relationships with people that provide services by entities like Liberty Wildlife because they want to come out to the Community to educate people.”