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Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Almquist Forever Wild Sanctuary!

March 29, 2009 07:04:15 by Candace Young

Ty Pennington starts tonight’s episode of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition by riding in on a fire engine and simulating the rescue of a tiger! On the bus, he explains to the design team that they are headed to Phelan California to help the Almquist family. They are currently living in a trailer, and run the Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary - a place for abused or abandoned wild animals! Jenny, a veterinarian that calls the Almquist family heroes, is the person who recommended them for Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The family has recently lost their major donors and is worried that they will have to turn animals away. Jessica, a volunteer at the sanctuary, explains that they are running out of supplies. Ty says that the family is sacrificing their own comfort, and is living in a run-down trailer that, ironically, is infested with rodents!

Ty Pennington does the door-knock that the family has so desperately awaiting. The tearful family embraces Ty and the Extreme Makeover Home Edition design team. The kids tell them that they help feed all of the animals but the tigers - the parents feed them! Ty Pennington says they are there to help the animals, but also the family! He tells them that while EMHE is working, they will be headed on vacation in Costa Rica!

The family takes Extreme Makeover Home Edition’s Ty Pennington to see their trailer. He notices a framed photo of the first tiger they had in the sanctuary that died. Ty explains that while the family has persevered to aid the animals, their own home has literally started caving in around them! The youngest boy tells Paul that he likes the sea, while the girls tell Paige that they like horses and princesses! Ed joins the oldest daughter, Patricia, to check out the pigs - she says she loves the animals, but she also loves photography and wants desperately to become a forensic scientist! The parents show Ty their office/storage room, and describe the condition that some of the animals come to them in. There is a cat named Diablo who currently needs medical attention, if only Joel and Charmaine had the money.

Ty goes out to see the cats in the back, and Joel explains that they can never go back in the wild. One of the tigers was terribly abused, but is safe now! The design team joins them. Paul says he hopes that this week on Extreme Makeover Home Edition, they will educate some people about how it is not a good idea to try to keep an exotic animal as a pet. Charmaine tells Michael and Paige that they would love to have a learning center. Ty goes with Joel to the ’snake room’, where a sign says ‘venomous snakes are present’. Joel explains that a lot of these snakes come from drug busts - and it is nearly impossible to find home for them. Ty says that they will need professionals in to help them with the animals - Jeff Corwin, wildlife biologist appears! He says it is a special moment for him to be a part of what the Almquist family is doing!

A coalition of builders, including those from Murphy Construction, will do the building of the new home on Extreme Makeover Home Edition this week. The Almquist family has arrived in Costa Rica and is enjoying seeing some animals in their native setting. Ty contacts them by video to say hello to the volunteers. Jenny the veterinarian tells them that ABC is going to help them, so they can help animals more. Ty says they’re going to have a bit of a safari and begins the demolition driving in a jeep searching for the wild yellow excavators! When they find them, they watch as they attack the trailer and devour it!

By Day 3, the new Extreme Makeover Home Edition home is going up, and Ty explains that they are also building a new facility for the animals, as well as a learning center. Michael points out that they are using recycled wood provided by S C Johnson. Ed is working on the ‘crime scene’ room for Patricia, who wants to be a forensic scientist. Michael and Paige are working on the learning center. Jeff Corwin gives them guidance about what sort of information they need to provide - they need to educate the public and enlighten them. Michael is keen to incorporate touch tables for interactivity.

Paul is down at the fire station seeking beds for the big cats. He will weave in old fire hose to make the beds strong. Paige is tossing around ideas for the younger girls’ room - horses, princesses, and unicorns - lots of girlie stuff! Paul is making a submarine for Noah, the youngest son’s room. Ty’s special project is a bedroom and office for Joel and Charmaine. Ed is still working on the forensic bedroom on Extreme Makeover Home Edition, and is in search of clues as to what to put in it. He visits a lab and gets a tour. They show him how they spray a chemical on a tile, then shut out the lights and a hand print glows - evidence! Ed says that gives him a great idea!

Ed explains that this week on Extreme Makeover Home Edition, they have had to enlist the help of a specialist company to help build the enclosures and landscaping for the animals. Ty finds Michael and Paige and says he just got word from Jenny the veterinarian that Diablo can go in for his paw surgery - he was de-clawed and can’t walk right. Paige is going along, and contacts the Almquist family in Costa Rica to tell them what is happening. When she tells them that Diablo is getting his surgery done, Charmaine says it is a gift. During the operation, it becomes clear that his paw had been mutilated. Paige is so glad they were able to help.

Back at the work site, Extreme Makeover Home Edition has mounted a huge bright new sign for the sanctuary. Justin Chambers from Grey’s Anatomy is on site painting - he is stoked to get involved and help out - he has rescue dogs. Paige is helping get the landscaping started, and Paul is almost finished with the cat beds!

In Costa Rica, the Almquist family answers the phone to Ty Pennington, who says he has a surprise for them. They are going to hook up with Kids Saving the Rainforest! The family arrives and the director explains to them that they rescue sick animals from the rainforest, such as monkeys and sloths. She shows them one sloth that had been electrocuted and was waiting for his claws to grow back. The family is excited to meet others that are doing what they are doing. The Almquists help the organization build a bridge, so that the animals can get across roads without using electrical lines.

Ty Pennington, the Extreme Makeover Home Edition design team, and all of the volunteers, are moving furniture into the Almquists’ new home and cleaning. The animals are also being moved back into Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary. Paul says ‘Welcome home, Diablo, welcome home.”

The Almquist family arrives in their limo and Ty Pennington welcomes them home. The crowd chants, “Move that bus.” When the new home is revealed, Charmaine Almquist and her family are overwhelmed and sobbing. Charmaine says words are too small for what they felt inside. The family thanks the builders and volunteers that worked on the Extreme Makeover Home Edition project. Ty tells them to go check out their new home!

Inside, Charmaine Almquist exclaims over her new kitchen, saying, “Oh my gosh! I can cook for everybody!” Patricia comments on how this only took one week. Ty comes in and announces that there are no rodents! The youngest son is happy with his ’sea’ themed room and his yellow submarine bed! Patricia is blown away by her forensic scientist inspired room, saying she feels special - it’s a place just for her. The two middle daughters are enchanted with their unicorn, butterflies, and flower-strewn room. They will pretend to be queens and princesses! Ty takes the parents to their room, noting that it was his special Extreme Makeover Home Edition project this week. They are moved to see that the photo of their first tiger is enshrined on the wall. Joel and Charmaine embrace. Ty tells them that he used discarded, unwanted wood for the furniture and headboard to honor them.

Outside, the family is presented with the latest Ford F150 ’smart’ truck, before heading over in the rain to see the new Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary and Learning Center! The Almquists think that it is absolutely amazing! Inside the building there are tables and chairs and pawprints on the floor. Fun facts are posted on the walls. Charmaine says they will be able to do school tours. Joel is speechless. The kids try out the touch tables. When Ty comes in, Charmaine tells him that ABC and Extreme Makeover Home Edition have opened up such a huge door! They are shown the huge refrigerators that can be used for the cats’ meat. Jeff Corwin couldn’t be there for the reveal, but leaves the family a taped message about how proud he is of them! Inside a stuffed tiger, there is a message that the University of California has offered all of the children four-year scholarships to go to college. Charmaine is overcome.

Out the back of the learning center, the Almquists meet up with the design team and go to see the tigers. They have enclosures, beds, and a recess area. They visit Diablo and are grateful to see he is doing well. Ty Pennington tells them that it took a lot to pull this off! Scott Cross of SC Homes announces that they have raised $50,000 for the sanctuary! Charmaine says it feels like the sky is the limit now! Ty says, “Welcome home, Almquist family, welcome home! And welcome home tigers!”

Reality TV Magazine is your source of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition news. For other great reality TV news, please feel free to visit SirLinksALot: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. And don’t miss our fantastic new Extreme Makeover: Home Edition message board!

Photos Courtesy: biabuild.com, famoffive.blogspot

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Topics: ABC Reality TV Shows, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Reality TV Listings |

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One Response to “Extreme Makeover Home Edition: Almquist Forever Wild Sanctuary!”

1. misskriss Says:
   March 30th, 2009 at 12:05 am

   On the college scholarships for the children, the first two years come from Victor Valley College. The second two years come from the University of California, Riverside. Best wishes for the family’s future….

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