Marcy, Ryan and Amy met back in 2012 – all highly dedicated zookeepers who strived to give
the animals in their care the very best life they could. The three worked seamlessly together,
and very quickly became close friends. Each one of them brought a special “something” to their work…
Amy has always been an intense animal lover. Her devotion and compassion knows no bounds when it comes to caring for any animal species. After the loss of her beloved Jack Russell, Charlie, she felt compelled to take the initial steps to create Untamed Hope. A facility that would one day be a place of refuge and happiness for animals from all over the world.
Marcy wanted to be a zookeeper from an early age. She grew up in rural Illinois, surrounded by wildlife. Over time her passion shifted from caring for animals to protecting native environments and educating people about the natural world. Marcy continues to support environmental initiatives through her advocacy and volunteer work.
Ryan’s enthusiasm for creatures dates back to his earliest days, some even say his first word
was “turtle”. After spending many years in the zoo field and working with an array of animals
including komodo dragons, various kinds of venomous snakes, Kihansi spray toads and Chinese alligators, Ryan felt called out of zookeeping. Despite Ryan’s shift in career paths, he never lost his passion for creating naturalistic habitats for animals.
Over a decade has passed, and the three former keepers are still close friends. And now, it is
time for their dream to become a reality. With Amy’s deep love and passion for animals, Marcy’s extensive knowledge and desire to educate others, and Ryan’s incredible skill and creativity for building animal habitats, Untamed Hope has what it needs to be a place of refuge for the animals that need it most. Animals that are victims of abuse, the pet trade, or next in line for euthanasia all have a chance to not only survive, but thrive with the promise of Untamed Hope.
