Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Gunderson.
Hi Stacy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Animal Tracks began in 2002 as a small rescue dedicated to rehabilitating animals impacted by human intervention. In 2008, I took over and transformed it into a sanctuary focused on healing and education. I wanted to create a space where animals that couldn’t return to the wild could be respected as their wild cousins. Our animals live between worlds. They are not wild and they are not cage bound. They are not pets and they certainly are not domesticated.
Over the years, Animal Tracks has grown into a safe haven for more than 70 animals from 26 species. Many of them were surrendered from the pet trade, confiscated due to illegal ownership, or came to us with medical and behavioral challenges. Our mission is simple: to give them the best possible life while using their stories to educate the public about conservation and responsible animal care.
We’ve worked hard to create a space that’s not just about taking care of animals but also about changing perspectives. Through immersive experiences and outreach, we teach thousands of people each year why exotic animals don’t make good pets, why they are important to human survival and how we can better coexist with wildlife.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh it is not always been a smooth road. When I started this, my children were two and four years old and my husband was a movie. Animal Trainer traveling the world, often to far away places. My children would eat Cheerios in a stroller in the early days while I cleaned the animals with my own two hands. I didn’t get any help until 2010 where I had one very dedicated Volunteer helping me out. Raising money to care for these animals always has had its challenges. The world has been through a pandemic, and there are many fine and worthwhile nonprofits, all competing for donations, government and foundation grants. Really I feel like it comes down to finding your tribe,. the people who believe in you and support what you do.. They become your family, and with them by my side, we can do anything!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Working with animals is a very creative outlet. It’s looking at life through something else’s eyes. It is about giving the animals a better life through empathy and compassion. Anybody can put an animal on a leash and dominate it but that is not how we do things at Animal Tracks. The animals in our charge have seen the worst in humanity. They’ve been traumatized by the pet trade, often fed poor diets, and kept in improper enclosures with nothing to inspire their minds. Our job is to climb into their world and give as much back to them as we possibly can in a captive scenario. Covid taught us that if you lock us up, it’s very easy to go a little crazy, to feel trapped but the second those doors opened back up. the world got better. It is the same for the animals here, when we open the door the world gets exponentially better for them. They have created adopted families. Believe it or not we have kangaroos and pigs who are good friends. We have quite a few monkeys who have bonded and become family. We have a baboon who raises all of our capuchin monkeys. At Animal Tracks monkey business is handled by Monkeys. I’m very proud of the community that Animal Tracks has created. We have 65 volunteers on average who come from all walks of life and give their hearts to these creatures selflessly. At Animal Tracks we are not a petting zoo. It is not about exploiting the animal to get the tourist dollar.. it is about teaching people about the importance of these animals in our world. A wild world is a healthier world for all.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Nature makes me happy. Hearing bird sing, watching bees, pollinate flowers, seeing squirrels scurry up and down trees. watching Redtail hawks fly in the sky, these things make the world feel right for me. It lessens my anxiety about my own little world to know that I’m just a small part of nature.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.animaltracksinc.org
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/animaltracksinc
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/animaltracksinc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/animal-tracks-b626a7106?trk=contact-info
- Twitter: https://X.com/animaltracksinc
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCciDLfXbWoPpSSeQWdKpI1Q
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/animal-tracks-agua-dulce
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@animaltracksinc?_t=ZT-8vDQI0dZkZW&_r=1
