hgwcan
11-16-2007, 11:40 AM
This is an article about the Rocky Ridge Refuge shown on Ellen yesterday.
http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071116/NEWS01/711160328/1002
The already famous Lurch, a Watusi steer who has made the Guinness Book of World Records for his horns and numerous TV appearances in the Far East, appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Thursday, along with Janice Wolf, who owns Rocky Ridge Refuge, where Lurch has lived most of his life.
Wolf received good news during a remote which was taped Tuesday at the refuge. A TV crew spent all day Sunday at the refuge taping as well. http://view.atdmt.com/jview/cnoccend0010000023shc/direct;ai.33959074;vt.2/01
Richard Thompson, founder of Web site Zootoo.com, told Wolf during the remote he would pay for a year's worth of food for the 50-plus animals she houses at the refuge. During the segment filmed Sunday, Wolf showed a barn which needed repairs. Thompson said his group would build a new one for Wolf and all her animals.
Wolf described how she, Lurch, and Brian the goose came to be on the show.
"We have a film producer that became interested in Lurch a while back," Wolf said. "He signed Lurch up under contract to help him get a job and help me out. He approached Ellen a few months ago. Ellen loves animals. They worked together to get this done and embraced it. It evolved fairly quickly."
Wolf said DeGeneres wanted her to go to California and be on the show, but Wolf declined, saying she had to take care of the animals. DeGeneres then decided to send crews to tape the interview. Wolf said she did not know about the donation until they told her during the taping of the scene.
"I think I can live with it," Wolf said. "They will pay for food for a whole year and then build a barn for Lurch and his herd."
Wolf said she was told to expect a phone call with further details soon.
"The experience was awesome," Wolf said. "They were really good people who came out. The show's DJ came out. He is a city boy and was timid about the critters. The rest loved it. They were here all day and they said they really did not want to leave. There may be more footage in future shows. They filmed all day long. The live remote people were also awesome."
Brian the goose stole the show. He walked up just as Wolf was telling DeGeneres about how the animals all got along well. Brian came up and started honking and strutting about and pestering a dog sitting next to Wolf.
"They said they could not have scripted it any better," Wolf said. "It was perfect. The animals were perfect, the weather was perfect, everything was perfect."
Wolf said they got the prime spot on the show, before guest Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and again later in the show.
"The cool thing was we were in the first segment of the show," Wolf said. "I took the segment normally reserved for a famous actor. We came ahead of The Rock. That is never done. I guess Ellen pushed for that. We took the first big slot and later the live shot, too. My agent said that is never done."
There are many new things going on in Wolf's and Lurch's lives, Wolf said.
In addition to the Web site www.rockyridgerefuge.com (http://www.rockyridgerefuge.com/), there is a new Web site, www.lurchandtheherd.com (http://www.lurchandtheherd.com/), which has additional information. There are also T-shirts featuring Lurch for sale with proceeds going to the refuge. Wolf said a cartoon series on Lurch is in the works and a series of books featuring Lurch and The Herd are also in the works. She said there is a possibility of a reality series on the Animal Planet channel.
"All of this is for the refuge and the animals," Wolf said. "It enables me to help them better and help more."
The Herd is up to at least 50 animals, she said. She has taken in many extra dogs, some of which are emergency rescues, including puppies from a puppy mill. Some of the dogs are ready for adoption, and some are still being cared for. Wolf has a Web page of animals available for adoption at www.rockyridgerefuge.com/adopt.htm (http://www.rockyridgerefuge.com/adopt.htm). Other animals at the refuge in addition to Lurch and Brian the goose include a zebra, a water buffalo named Wade, Noogie the llama, sheep, donkeys, a goat, horses, miniature cows, cats and several orphaned does which will eventually go back into the wild.
Wolf said she has been here about 14 years but has rescued animals her entire life wherever she was living.
As for Thursday's TV show, Wolf said she had heard from people all over the country who had seen the segments. "Ellen really surprised us how quickly she worked this out," Wolf said. "The bottom line is the animals and caring for animals — it is not about me, it is about animals in need. Anybody, anywhere, can do something to help out. It helps all of us. Animals and people need each other. The world would be a pretty sad place without them."
http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071116/NEWS01/711160328/1002
The already famous Lurch, a Watusi steer who has made the Guinness Book of World Records for his horns and numerous TV appearances in the Far East, appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Thursday, along with Janice Wolf, who owns Rocky Ridge Refuge, where Lurch has lived most of his life.
Wolf received good news during a remote which was taped Tuesday at the refuge. A TV crew spent all day Sunday at the refuge taping as well. http://view.atdmt.com/jview/cnoccend0010000023shc/direct;ai.33959074;vt.2/01
Richard Thompson, founder of Web site Zootoo.com, told Wolf during the remote he would pay for a year's worth of food for the 50-plus animals she houses at the refuge. During the segment filmed Sunday, Wolf showed a barn which needed repairs. Thompson said his group would build a new one for Wolf and all her animals.
Wolf described how she, Lurch, and Brian the goose came to be on the show.
"We have a film producer that became interested in Lurch a while back," Wolf said. "He signed Lurch up under contract to help him get a job and help me out. He approached Ellen a few months ago. Ellen loves animals. They worked together to get this done and embraced it. It evolved fairly quickly."
Wolf said DeGeneres wanted her to go to California and be on the show, but Wolf declined, saying she had to take care of the animals. DeGeneres then decided to send crews to tape the interview. Wolf said she did not know about the donation until they told her during the taping of the scene.
"I think I can live with it," Wolf said. "They will pay for food for a whole year and then build a barn for Lurch and his herd."
Wolf said she was told to expect a phone call with further details soon.
"The experience was awesome," Wolf said. "They were really good people who came out. The show's DJ came out. He is a city boy and was timid about the critters. The rest loved it. They were here all day and they said they really did not want to leave. There may be more footage in future shows. They filmed all day long. The live remote people were also awesome."
Brian the goose stole the show. He walked up just as Wolf was telling DeGeneres about how the animals all got along well. Brian came up and started honking and strutting about and pestering a dog sitting next to Wolf.
"They said they could not have scripted it any better," Wolf said. "It was perfect. The animals were perfect, the weather was perfect, everything was perfect."
Wolf said they got the prime spot on the show, before guest Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and again later in the show.
"The cool thing was we were in the first segment of the show," Wolf said. "I took the segment normally reserved for a famous actor. We came ahead of The Rock. That is never done. I guess Ellen pushed for that. We took the first big slot and later the live shot, too. My agent said that is never done."
There are many new things going on in Wolf's and Lurch's lives, Wolf said.
In addition to the Web site www.rockyridgerefuge.com (http://www.rockyridgerefuge.com/), there is a new Web site, www.lurchandtheherd.com (http://www.lurchandtheherd.com/), which has additional information. There are also T-shirts featuring Lurch for sale with proceeds going to the refuge. Wolf said a cartoon series on Lurch is in the works and a series of books featuring Lurch and The Herd are also in the works. She said there is a possibility of a reality series on the Animal Planet channel.
"All of this is for the refuge and the animals," Wolf said. "It enables me to help them better and help more."
The Herd is up to at least 50 animals, she said. She has taken in many extra dogs, some of which are emergency rescues, including puppies from a puppy mill. Some of the dogs are ready for adoption, and some are still being cared for. Wolf has a Web page of animals available for adoption at www.rockyridgerefuge.com/adopt.htm (http://www.rockyridgerefuge.com/adopt.htm). Other animals at the refuge in addition to Lurch and Brian the goose include a zebra, a water buffalo named Wade, Noogie the llama, sheep, donkeys, a goat, horses, miniature cows, cats and several orphaned does which will eventually go back into the wild.
Wolf said she has been here about 14 years but has rescued animals her entire life wherever she was living.
As for Thursday's TV show, Wolf said she had heard from people all over the country who had seen the segments. "Ellen really surprised us how quickly she worked this out," Wolf said. "The bottom line is the animals and caring for animals — it is not about me, it is about animals in need. Anybody, anywhere, can do something to help out. It helps all of us. Animals and people need each other. The world would be a pretty sad place without them."