Statements
Mission
Walden's Puddle (WP) is committed to wildlife rehabilitation, education and conservation. WP provides care and treatment to sick, injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife that are brought to us by people from all over Tennessee, with the goal being to return the rehabilitated animals to the wild. We typically care for over 3,000 animals from over 120 different species. We also provide volunteer opportunities for various groups as well as unique educational opportunities for internships.
Background
Walden's Puddle was founded in 1989 by a small 'back-yard' animal rehabilitator named Vicky Carder. In 1995, the Louie M. & Betty M. Phillips Foundation donated a 4,000 sq. ft. building located on 14 picturesque acres in Joelton, TN where we currently reside. The building was named in memory of Hazel and Tom Buntin. Betty M. Phillips had a passion for wildlife, and through Tom, the foundation found out about Walden's Puddle. Continuing that passion, the property now houses seven pre-release mammal runs, one large fawn corral, the Kristen Marie Holzapfel Memorial flight barn for large predator birds, our Flight to Freedom songbird barn, our new flexible use flight barn with six separate holding pens attached, turtle pond and pen, and nine non-releasable educational animal ambassador enclosures. And we are steadily expanding. We have five full-time and 12 part-time staff who serve as animal care givers and administrators, a five member Executive Committee, and an active/functional board. Walden's Puddle is completely unique in that we are the only professionally-staffed wildlife rehabilitation and education center in Middle Tennessee that cares for orphaned and injured native Tennessean wildlife. We are small but use our space and resources very effectively. We are proud to be a cohesive team of paid positions and in-kind givers, with a shared vision and passion for Middle Tennessee wildlife.
Impact
First, we admitted and provided top quality care for over 3,000 animals of 120 different species. Second, we can offer educational seminars at Walden's Puddle, but also at schools, social groups, church groups and others throughout middle TN. We continue to maintain a solid relationship with our donors, provide complete transparency and regulatory compliance, and build new relationships with our community and community's foundations. We send out 2 informative newsletters/appeals yearly to a donor base of over 8,000, which we built from nothing as previous donor files were destroyed in 2010. Fourth, through generous donations, we have been able to clean and repair our facilities infrastructure, repair existing animal enclosures and build new pre-release enclosures to accommodate our increasing animal admissions. Finally, we have engaged the Boy Scouts in our endeavors, the DC4 participants, interns from area colleges, senior citizens, Hands on Nashville/Clarksville for Volunteers, various civic and church groups and many local businesses which have featured us as their charitable cause for mixer nights and other creative business oriented events.Our future goal is to balance four factors: the number of animals admitted and rehabilitated, the facilities size and structure to accommodate them, the number of staff and volunteers to care for them, and the financial prosperity to support all this as we grow.
Needs
Our everyday needs can also be found on our website. Animal Care Supplies: bleach, produce, paper towels, baby food, dry dog, puppy and cat chow, bird seed, batteries, liquid dish and liquid laundry soap, tree nuts, walnuts, peanuts & pecans and apple juice and apple sauce, and gift cards (gas, Lowes, Home Depot, Tractor Supply, Walmart, Big Lots, Kroger, etc. Administrative needs: Forever Stamps Site Needs: Experienced Carpenters, Lumber, Native plants, and Mulch We greatly need and value our VOLUNTEERS! We have a very small staff, and care for more animals each year. Volunteers are literally life-savers. You can volunteer no where else and get the thrill of holding a Great Horned Owl while his cage is cleaned or bottle feed a baby ground hog or beaver!
CEO Statement
See below
Board Chair Statement
Thank you for your interest in our healing work. We are grateful for your support!
Over 92% of your donation goes directly to animal care and our mission! I have a long history with Walden's Puddle Wildlife Center of Greater Nashville. I know the founder Vicky Carder and our "Puddle Team" works to honor Vicky's vision of "Giving Wildlife a Second Chance".
As Nashville's premier wildlife center serving middle Tennessee, our goal is to return all injured and orphaned wild animals, that we admit, back to the wild when they are ready and to raise awareness of our presence and services.
I am well known as a recording artist but I have also been an animal rescuer (wild and domestic) since childhood. While living In Los Angeles, I and many other artists volunteered with Wildlife Waystation. When I came to Nashville I learned about the wonderful work being done at Walden's Puddle and have been a donor ever since. I have also held five Lane Brody Wildlife Benefits for Walden's Puddle, raising thousands of dollars.
In the midst of great turmoil and misconduct, through the grace of God, I stepped up and took over the Chairmanship and CEO position "In kind". I serve for free and brought in a new team. Together we have worked tirelessly to overcome the challenges to raise all functioning standards and make "The Puddle" a transparent, highly professional organization that Nashville and middle Tennessee can be proud to support.
The WP board and I continue to serve by donating somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000 in various services per year. We freely give our time and talents to all administration, purchasing, special projects, marketing and more; saving the center millions of dollars over the years. When we seek support, we are not asking for anything that this team is not doing daily, by contributing on an ongoing basis. This is what makes us truly special and unique, creating the high percentage going to the wild ones in need!
It is important that all who support us know this and the personal sacrifices that come with such devotion to this cause we so dearly love and serve.
It is humbling to know that our volunteerism helps allow a trained professional staff to get paid to do this important work and give the best care possible to the animals.
Because of the growth of Nashville, as CEO, it is painfully clear that we need many more donors who will support us on an ongoing basis, through donations and volunteerism. We invite you to join us and participate in the joy and spirit in which we serve. All Glory to God.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Animal Related - Animal Protection & Welfare |
| Secondary Category: | Animal Related - Wildlife Preservation & Protection |
| Tertiary Category: | Animal Related - Wildlife Sanctuaries |
Areas Served
Walden's Puddle cares for any native Tennessee wildlife, with the exception of venomous snakes, skunks, bats and adult deer. Our main service area is Middle Tennessee, though we accept animals in need from other areas of Tennessee.
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
| TN - Cheatham |
