FINDING SANCTUARY
The first article I wrote for the Toronto Star was back in June 2015. Much to my surprise, they promoted the story in the masthead on the front page of the newspaper saying, Three sanctuaries that belong on your must-see list this summer. As with most animal rescue organizations, Ralphy’s Retreat, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, and The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada (DSC) rely solely on the generosity of supporters to stay afloat financially, which means little or no revenue is spent on advertising. They do their best to generate publicity, and partner with media outlets when they can to promote special events and fundraisers.
PHOTO: The DSC
It was during my time as a volunteer involved in humane education at The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada the previous summer that inspired me to do what I could to get the word out. With a background in public relations, and a university course in advanced feature writing under my belt, I pitched the story just before schools were getting out for the summer – when parents would be looking for fun and interesting things to do with the family. As I described in the article, having the opportunity to get up close and personal with animals living out their natural life in peace and contentment can be a transformative experience.
Below are some of the sanctuaries I follow – many have regular visiting hours during the summer months, some offer volunteer opportunities, and there are a wide range of special events, fundraisers, even vegan cooking classes waiting to be discovered.
And of course, all of the ways you can support their efforts are listed on their respective sites. Along with these, there are many, many more organizations in Canada and around the world doing amazing animal rescue and rehabilitation work.
CANADA
Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Haven of the Heart Animal Sanctuary
Piebird Farm Sanctuary and Vegan Farmstay
The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada
USA
Skylands Animal Sanctuary & Rescue
compassion lives here 