What a difference a Couple of Tons Makes or Doesn't For Two Old Friends

On Elephant Sanctuary, Unlikely Friends
CBS Evening News
Steve Hartman Looks at What Difference a Couple of Tons Makes or Doesn't For Two Old Friends
January 2, 2009

Courtesy CBS
(CBS) When elephants retire, many head for the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tenn. They arrive one by one, but they tend to live out their lives two-by-two.
"Every elephant that comes here searches out someone that she then spends most all of her time with," says sanctuary co-founder Carol Buckley.
It's like having a best girlfriend, Buckley says - "Somebody they can relate to, they have something in common with."
Debbie has Ronnie. Misty can't live without Dulary.
Those are pachyderm-pachyderm pairs. But perhaps the closest friends of all are Tarra and Bella.
That would be Tarra the 8,700 pound Asian elephant. And Bella. The dog.
"This is her friend," Buckley says, scratching Bella's tummy. "Her friend just happens to be a dog and not an elephant."
"Bella knows she's not an elephant. Tarra knows she's not a dog," Buckley adds. "But that's not a problem for them."
Bella is one of more than a dozen stray dogs that have found a home at the sanctuary. Most want nothing to do with the elephants and vice versa. But not this odd couple.
"When it's time to eat they both eat together. They drink together. They sleep together. They play together," Buckley says.
Tarra and Bella have been close for years -- but no one really knew how close they were until recently. A few months ago Bella suffered a spinal cord injury. She couldn't move her legs, couldn't even wag her tail. For three weeks the dog lay motionless up in the sanctuary office.
And for three weeks the elephant held vigil: 2,700 acres to roam free, and Tarra just stood in the corner, beside a gate, right outside that sanctuary office.
"She just stood outside the balcony - just stood there and waited," says Buckley. "She was concerned about her friend."
Then one day, sanctuary co-founder Scott Blais carried Bella onto the balcony so she and Tarra could at least see each other.
"Bella's tail started wagging. And we had no choice but bring Bella down to see Tarra," Blais says.
They visited like that every day until Bella could walk. Today, their love -- and trust -- is stronger than ever. Bella even lets Tarra pet her tummy - with the bottom of her enormous foot.
They harbor no fears, no secrets, no prejudices. Just two living creatures who somehow managed to look past their immense differences.
Take good look America. Take a good look world. If they can do it - what's our excuse?
For more information go to

    http://www.elephants.com/ 

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Volunteer Opportunities at the Sanctuary

For more information, choose a category below:

• Volunteer Day
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VOLUNTEER DAY

Over the past several years we have been fortunate to have many Sanctuary supporters volunteer their time to indirectly help our elephants. There are many ongoing and special on-site work projects at the Sanctuary that we simply don't have enough staff to accomplish, so we have come to rely on the kindness of volunteers to assist us in keeping up.

Please note that volunteers will not have any direct contact with the elephants — however, your efforts will benefit the elephants in an important way. You may be painting some of the miles of fencing that will protect their sanctuary, renovating structures, or even helping to clean up or remove barbed wire in new areas of habitat the elephants have not yet explored. Every task, no matter how big or small, matters in the lives of each of our Girls.

Why Volunteer?  You will undoubtedly have the time of your life as you work side by side with other elephant enthusiasts on a group project.  Whether you are painting fences or picking apples for the Girls, you are sure to create memories that you will never forget!

The Sanctuary has established a set of guidelines that all volunteers must agree to respect. Please carefully review the guidelines to decide if becoming a volunteer is right for you.

I know first  hand how hard it is to run these important sanctuary's. 
People always tell me they wish they could be involved with the animals. I hope when you see these wonderful animal sanctuary's featured on this site you feel like you want to help 
and now realize you can.  
Please give your remarkable gifts to centers like 

The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee  and  CARE. 

You can find a great sanctuary in most cities.