All Things Wild Rehabilitation began in 2012 when a group of wildlife rehabilitators banded together in order to help more wild animals. For seven years, ATW was a home-based organization with volunteer rehabilitators working in their homes. During baby animal season from April to October, utility rooms, spare bedrooms, second bathrooms, and patios were crowded with cages of orphaned, sick, and injured animals. However, our fortunes improved in April 2018 when we signed a lease for two acres of undeveloped pastureland north of Georgetown.
Our newly-constructed center opened on March 11, 2019, with the capacity to not only feed and care for wild animals but to provide medical care as well. The center has continued to grow with the addition of diagnostic medical equipment, outside enclosures, and a new education center. We now employ full- and part-time trained staff, supported by volunteers, and offer excellent medical and husbandry care for the approximately 3,000 injured, orphaned, and sick wild patients admitted each year. Volunteers also operate an education program that brings information about wildlife to children and adults.
As we continue to grow and to help more animals, we are very appreciative of the support we have received from our community and from the many businesses that have helped us. Without that support, we would not exist.
Susanne Paclebar. I’ve always loved animals. As a kid, I raised hamsters, had mice, and babysat the school rats for summer vacations. I also brought home any stray kitten, lost tortoise, and even talked my parents into getting a dog! There was not enough money to send me to vet school—so I chose the accounting field—and loved working as an accountant. Now I rehabilitate squirrels, foster kittens, and am the treasurer of ATW—the best of all worlds!
Lisa grew up in Colorado where her family was involved in the banking industry as well as construction. They were always a part of various animal and pet organizations from the Humane Society to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. As an adult, Lisa moved to Arizona to begin raising a family and continued to be part of various animal organizations as well as the zoo. Now Texas is Lisa’s home where she and Steve have five wonderful grown children between them. Lisa’s daughter Shan, who is autistic, lives with Lisa and Steve. Finding All Things Wild was a great moment for the family. Animals have always been a huge part of Shan’s therapy, and the team at ATW has made her feel special. Lisa and her family couldn’t be prouder of sharing with people everything the ATW Rehabilitation Center stands for.
Sharon is a native Texan who came back home after 26 years of active duty as a US Army Nurse. She has a B.S. and MSN in nursing and 50 years of nursing experience in trauma and emergency nursing, internal medicine, education, and administration. She has been volunteering at ATW in Georgetown since completing the IWRC’s Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation course in March 2021. She is a lifelong animal lover and has a thirst to learn more about caring for animals. Her neighbors call her “the animal whisperer” as she is the first to call if any animal needs help. She is especially fond of bunnies, squirrels, and opossums. She also stays busy as a member of the Sun City Emergency Management Committee Manager of the Pet Emergency Evacuation Center.
Christy is a lifelong animal rescuer and previously served in the dog and cat rescue community. She was on the Animal Shelter Advisory Board to the Georgetown City Council and was a founding member and president of the Friends of the Georgetown Animal Shelter. She was a leader of the initiative that made the City of Georgetown one of the first to outlaw chaining dogs, making it one of the first “chain free” communities in the country. She was also involved in the efforts that helped the City of Georgetown Animal Shelter become one of the first “No Kill” public animal shelters in the world. She has shifted her focus to wildlife rescue and is working towards being a licensed rehabilitator. Christy specializes in songbird rehabilitation specifically, although she loves all animals. She serves on the All Things Wild Board to help with fundraising. As a professional photographer and writer she is also helping with content creation.
James discovered All Things Wild in 2017 when he and his wife had to rescue baby raccoons from the ceiling in between the floors of their home. Since then, they have become more involved with All Things Wild, including assisting with the construction of the current center and taking the IWRC’s Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation course in 2018. James currently works full-time in the IT industry for a local city and looks forward to being able to spend more time at the center and learning to help all wildlife. James truly enjoys educating anyone who will listen on the benefits of these amazing animals, how truly special they are to our area, and why we should appreciate all wildlife.
Ruth moved to Texas almost three years ago after retiring from a career in accounting management with a well known Animal Health Care manufacturing company in Kansas City. Both she and Roger were volunteering at a wildlife rehab center in the Kansas City area before they moved so they were naturally drawn to look for opportunities in the Georgetown area.
