Visiting Tarra

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July 22

I know you are all wondering when I will see Tarra. I share your curiosity.

Mary Baker, acting CEO, responded to my request to see Tarra with an email. She said, “Since your attorney has threatened legal action against the Sanctuary, I am unable to respond to this email [request to see Tarra]. Please ask your lawyer to communicate with the Sanctuary attorney, Bob Boston, on any matter related to the Sanctuary.”

My attorney tried to contact Bob Boston immediately after I received this email (July 22, 2010-10:14 AM) and was told that Bob Boston is out of town.

I suggest that you not get angry. This unwillingness to communicate and discuss the issues is how Baker and the Board have handled this situation from the beginning.

This is what attorneys are for; I will let mine handle it.

In the meantime, I will continue to think positive thoughts for Tarra and all of the girls. The idea that the Board would hold any of them hostage is quite telling.

Distance is irrelevant when two hearts are joined. Tarra knows I love her.

Carol

Comments

10 responses to “Visiting Tarra”

July 23, 2010

sherryheim

I am not angry, I am crushed. I cannot believe that our beautiful Sanctuary has fallen into the hands of such unfeeling people; I keep asking myself how did this all happen? I was devastated that they let the anniversary of Joanna’s passing go without a public moment of remembrance, and now this. I pray for “our girls” because there has been enough suffering in each of their lives and none of them needs to be reminded of those times or left to want for anything. It is not that each of us doesn’t accept that Tarra is aware that you love her, but my concern is that she doesn’t understand your absence. She knows that you would never abandon her and yet, you are kept from her, which must leave her hurting and confused. What a bunch of mean, evil people we have let take over our Sanctuary of love, compassion and understanding. Surely, there is a way to right these wrongs and return TES to those who have made it their life’s work to realize “the dream,” YOUR dream. Everything that has ever been donated to TES was given to help you realize that dream. TES is not just a piece of land in Tennessee; it is a place where each of us has left a bit of our heart (and our wallet) WITH YOU, trusting you to make sure that captive elephants would have the best possible life under your supervision. It is not TES without you and “your dream.” I hope you will be reunited with Tarra and the other girls soon. I cannot begin to imagine your pain with this separation.
Sherry

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July 23, 2010

Laurie V.

Positive thoughts for Tarra, the Girls and to you, Carol.
I hope you have a visit with Tarra soon.
Keep up the good fight and stay strong.

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July 23, 2010

Lorraine

I am not mad but sad for you and Tarra, but I keep you Tarra and the girls in my daily prayers
and hope that soon you will be all united. Lorraine.

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July 23, 2010

Beth

Oh, Carol, quite telling, indeed. I was worried in the very beginning…I am even more worried now. This is not the behavior of people with hearts. Love is something they cannot take away….the love that Tarra has for you…all those elephants. They know…..and we know, too.

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July 24, 2010

Lesley

Though none of us can second guess what’s transpired because we simply have no information and don’t know, the dynamics are not in keeping with the spirit of the Sanctuary and the message the Sanctuary conveys.

It’s as if all the sweet innocence and goodness we believed in is gone. But maybe we were delusional to believe it existed in the first place. Human relationships are complicated and often troublesome, despite the good humans try to do. I want to keep supporting the Sanctuary but I wish they’d just be honest and straight with us. I’ve lost some respect but I still love the elephants and want to support them. It’s hard.

Here’s what really bothers me though. Tarra may belong to the Sanctuary but she is a sentient being whose relationship with Carol remains significant. I can’t imagine what she must be thinking. Tarra has no voice. She is at the mercy of people who “own” her. I understand the ownership is what it is – and lucky for Tarra she is in a humane place, but Tarra has the right to see Carol.

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1. July 24, 2010
  
  Carol
  
  I realize how frustrating this must be for all of you. Yes, I share your frustration. But my time in Asia has given me a new perspective. I no longer ask WHY, mostly because the answers are not forthcoming. Unfortunately, I am also not surprised by the callous manner in which the Board and acting CEO are treating the elephants by denying our continuing relationship. For clarification, the Sanctuary does not own Tarra, never did, never will. I have always belonged to Tarra and have been her guardian since she was one year old. I have legally owned Tarra since she was two and a half years old. At no time did I turn my ownership of her over to the Sanctuary. The matter of my right to see Tarra appears to be one that will have to be settled in a court of law. Tarra and I have been together nearly 36 years; I have no plans to sever our relationship.
  
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July 24, 2010

rakshaming

Thanks for sharing these adventures with us, Carol. I hope the lawyer is able to help you visit precious Tarra. My heart goes out to you.

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July 26, 2010

SHyde

Carol, I cannot imagine your frustration at this situation. I wish there was something we could do, but you are right, and in true Carol fashion you will handle this with dignity and patience that most of us could never fathom.

Stay strong my friend. I know I’m not the only one who admires your strength, wisdom and experience. I am glad you are back home in the states, and if time does anything at all, it changes and heals.

Hang in there.

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July 28, 2010

[email protected]

Carol, I am so happy to hear your determination in maintaining your relationship with Tarra. I am sure your reunion will be spectacular when it happens. I picture Tarra jumping around with the same excitement that she showed in Dulary’s arrival video. I agree with Leslie that the warm, fuzzy feeling I used to get about TES is slowly disappearing. My support for TES will continue both financially and through volunteering because I do it for the Girls. And love them ALL even if I have never met them. But the friction that exists, and that fact that I don’t understand it, has shattered the beauty of how the sanctuary came to exist in the first place.
Nevertheless, I am still a strong supporter of the Sanctuary and continue to write letters to bring elephants to TES so that Tarra and all the Girls can have an even bigger ele-family.
Sabine

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August 2, 2010

[email protected]

Hang in there Carol. I’ll keep saying prayers for you, Tarra, and all of the girls @ the Sanctuary that you will be able to reunite soon. 🙂

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