Who We Are
About Us
Refuge Ridge was founded in 1997 in order to restore the heavily logged, trashed, and mined mountain. Following a forestry restoration plan, native plants were planted, and vast quantities of garbage were removed from the land and the creek. This established an outdoor classroom for students during summer breaks.
In 2003, Marti Wilson, with her 5th-grade science students, rescued a red wolf and two wolf-German Shepherd hybrids when no sanctuary had room to take them. Marti had often admonished her students to never say "I can't". When Marti told her class she could not find sanctuary for the three animals, her class reminded her to "never say never".
Our History
From the personal journal of Dyan — the story of how a trashed, logged mountain became a sanctuary for wolves and wildlife.
“In My Mother's Words”
Grace VanDer — Mom & Aunt Marie
The Beauty of the Land
“Nothing more beautiful than the land… This is our wonderful creek, so cold it's teeth-numbing. After a good rain I walk up into the mountains to see the great waterfalls.”
The cliff ridge, mountain trails, and creek that would become the 304-acre sanctuary.
Before & After
“It makes my heart feel good when I look at these photos.”
The creek and drainage — choked with debris and pollution, then restored to its natural flow.
All Hand Cleared
“This is the way God intended the creek to look!! Rain — hit all this done in one day.”
Every piece of trash removed by hand. The beginning of a massive pile of debris cleared from the creek bed.
The Heavy Lifting
“This is but one little pile of the land that I picked up.”
Dump trucks, equipment, and raw determination. Cutting brush, hauling debris, and reclaiming the mountain one load at a time.
The Legacy Continues
What began as a trashed mountain became 304 acres of sanctuary. Through grants, Refuge Ridge has helped spay more than 400 companion animals for families in need. In collaboration with PetSmart, they received $20,000 to spay and neuter feral cats in the community. Students from that original 5th-grade class now bring their own children to visit the legacy they helped establish.
Meet the Team
Marjory (Marti) Wilson
Founder
Founder Marjory (Marti) Wilson began Refuge Ridge in 2002 with her niece, Becky Parman, and her fifth-grade science class, when no sanctuary could be found for a starving red wolf and two wolf-dog hybrids. The animals came to live at the refuge, where, through the combined efforts of the individuals involved, Refuge Ridge became a life-saving entity for many animals. Today, Marti lives on the refuge, working into her seventies to continue making a difference. The land has since been given to the refuge, so the area will continue to provide sanctuary for refuge animals and wildlife in decades to come. Retired Marti is currently working on a series of stories about the unique sanctuary animals while working with Denise Marlett on children's programs.
Becky Parman
Executive Director
Becky Parman has been a devoted member of the Refuge Ridge family for over twenty-five years. A lifelong protector of animals, she is highly respected in her knowledge of behaviors, illnesses, medical care, and nutrition of canines, including wolf hybrids, as well as felines and others. Becky lives on the refuge and skillfully oversees all aspects of daily operations. Her hands-on experience and compassion guide the Refuge Ridge mission every day.
Board Members
Like a wolf pack, our refuge is only as strong as our supporting members. Each member provides a piece of the indestructible fabric that constitutes the living entity that is Refuge Ridge.
Tara Clever
Tara Clever joins the Refuge Ridge board with a diverse background in sales, operations, and marketing, with a history of architecting catalytic growth. She is passionate about bringing her skills in marketing, brand, and communications to support the growth of non-profit organizations, making her incredibly excited to be a part of the Refuge Ridge community. Tara also serves on the board of We Are Neutral, an environmental non-profit that helps businesses and individuals understand, reduce, and offset their comprehensive carbon footprints. When Tara is not smothering her rescue dog with more kisses than he ever asked for, you will often find her traveling to see her family.
Denise Marlett
Denise Marlett has been a valued member of the Refuge Ridge family for twenty-five years. She serves as both an animal care volunteer and a community liaison for children's programs and activities. She brings thirty-two years of experience providing and supervising mental health services. Denise often works with children who have experienced trauma and who are at risk of failure by facilitating strength-based learning experiences inspired by the characteristics of a successful wolf pack: accountability, cooperation, and working together as a unified team.
Tammy Ramos
Tammy Ramos is a dedicated advocate for animals, scheduling transport from Southeastern Kentucky to other states while volunteering as a caretaker at Refuge Ridge. She was a donor and supporter for years before becoming actively involved as a caretaker and board member. She and her husband have been invaluable in building numerous habitats and caring for the animals. When not working at the refuge or arranging transports for Border Collies, she enjoys working with her standard poodles.
Deborah (D. Dee) Lewis Shaw
D. Dee Shaw has been involved with Refuge Ridge for over twenty years. She is a District Court Judge in Hardin County who has been a steadfast supporter of many non-profits while simultaneously championing Refuge Ridge. D. Dee lives with her little Yorkie and two rescue cats in addition to welcoming a new granddaughter.
Cathy Peake Wilson
Cathy Wilson loves to connect people who do good things with other people who do good things, and working for Refuge Ridge is a perfect fit! She has been a supporter of Refuge Ridge since the very beginning and has served as a Board Member for almost 5 years. Her background includes 30 years of experience in R&D and manufacturing process development. So she can often be found with markers and a large piece of paper, drawing flow charts to improve processes at the refuge. Cathy is proud to be a native Kentuckian with family ties to Appalachia and Western NC.
For the Planet.
For the Wolves.