Wildlife Rescuer Reads True Stories of Animals Rescued by WRR in Kendalia

Lynn Cuny, founder and president of Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc. (WRR) in Kendalia, will read another story from her popular book “Through Animals’ Eyes, Again” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 on YouTube.

This week’s chapter is titled “They Never Gave Up,” a true tale of two ducks who were critically injured by a crossbow hunter but prevailed against all odds.

Although the topic might fascinate an older child, this story and others are based on Cuny’s real-life experiences as director of Kendalia-based Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation. Many adults also enjoy these complicated, cautionary tales about love, injury and loss in the lives of wild animals unfortunate enough to cross paths with human beings.

Stories Cuny reads started out as articles she wrote for her newsletter. A WRR member was fascinated by her accounts and submitted them to the University of North Texas Press, which printed them in 1998 and 2006. “Through Animals’ Eyes” and “Through Animals’ Eyes, Again” are available on Amazon.

The nonprofit WRR cares for injured, abandoned and orphaned wildlife, farmed animals, birds, reptiles, and other non-native species. Since January, WRR has treated — and released, whenever possible — over 10,000 creatures.

Click HERE to watch a YouTube video about WRR.

Through her stories, Cuny hopes to provide Hill Country residents with an inside look at what it’s like for animals displaced by explosive area growth.

She said the area actually has a people problem, and hopes that educating residents about their four-legged and winged neighbors will protect wildlife from inadvertent harm.

There is no malicious intent behind any animal behavior, Cuny said. Living in the Texas Hill Country means embracing even predators like coyotes, bobcats and cougars as part of the natural order.

“Anytime that we can help people have a different perspective on animals then we’re doing the animals a great service and that is something I try to do with any story I write about animals,” Cuny said.

Reading her story “Seeing with New Eyes” on Youtube two months ago, she said it seems easy to take animals for granted. While people love and care for their dogs and cats, they tend to view most other animals as voiceless, emotionless creatures who live their lives “with an utter lack of desire, needs or reason.”

“I’ve often wondered what would happen if one day, everybody decided to spend one week of their life simply observing a backyard full of birds or follow their beloved companion animal about doing what the animal does — walking, scratching, napping or simply being,” Cuny read.

“Or really getting to know a cow, a sheep or a chicken,” she said. “Perhaps then ancient, now-sleeping sensitivities would once again awaken in us. I firmly believe our lives would be greatly enhanced.”

To register for the story, click HERE. Anyone who also makes a donation to the monthly story hour will be entered to win a signed copy of “Through an Animals’ Eyes, Again.”