Our Mission

Promote respect and compassion for all wildlife through public education and awareness.
Rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured, orphaned, and displaced wildlife and release them back into the appropriate habitat.
Provide sanctuary for all animals in need.

Our History

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.

Our Board

President

Helen Laughlin

Helen has been rehabilitating since 2006 and is licensed for wildlife rehabilitation by both the State of Texas and U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife. She specializes in songbirds but also rehabilitates small mammals such as squirrels, opossums, and skunks. Helen holds degrees in English, accounting, and business administration. She retired from the Federal Government as a supervisory auditor for the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor. She is a member of the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association. Her favorite bird is the blue jay.

Vice President

Roger Rucker

Roger joined ATW in 2017 after moving to Georgetown from Eastern Kansas. He has been a Wildlife Rehabilitator for 10 years. He specializes in Raptors and Wildlife education. He holds a Masters degree in Zoology.

Treasurer

Ruth Rucker

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.

Secretary

Becky Vietz

Animals have been a passion of Becky’s since she was very young, always taking in strays and nursing them to health. As pets she has had dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, lizards, rabbits and guinea pigs. At times growing up her mother had to put her foot down about Becky’s obsession! Becky obtained a BS in Nursing in 1985, worked 5 years, then proceeded to get her Masters in Science, Nurse Anesthesia in 1993. She currently works full time as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in Austin. She has one son and, as a single mom, has kept very busy. For the last two years she has made time to volunteer with ATW. She is following her passion for animal welfare (she loves them all) to one day be a full-time licensed wildlife rehabber.

Director

Kim Fross

Kim joined ATW in August 2015 when she brought a fledgling dove who seemed to have lost her mom to Helen. Kim has always felt that all animals are God’s creatures and, like humans, have a special place in this world. Her older brother always teased her when she was younger by calling her Dr. Doolittle. Deep down inside she felt honored to be called Dr. Doolittle, but never let him know that. Kim has a degree in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. She has worked as a project manager for the state environmental agency for 20 years and is looking forward to retirement so that she can spend more time helping out these animals. Her favorite animals to work with are opossums, skunks, raccoons, and she hopes to gain experience with bigger carnivores one day.

Director

Lisa Donau

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.

Director

Sharon Dunning

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.

Director

Christy Hullum

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.

Director

James Davis

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.