Why start an organization to help animals? 

When you form a humane organization, you create a focal point within the community for efforts to help the animals, an outlet for compassionate support from the public which did not exist before. Our group can become a powerful network to protect and advocate for the animals. There’s strength in numbers and the animals of this planet need us.

LIFE is a precious gift and to us, the term ‘wildlife’ not only caters to wild animals but also any animal that was used for testing, any pet that has been abandoned or neglected regardless of the species, basically any living being in need of our assistance. For maintaining a healthy ecological balance on this earth, animals are as important as humans, each living being on this earth helps contribute to the ecosystem in its own special way. Sadly, many people think they can domesticate wild animals and keep them as pets, which often leads to varying mental and physical issues. Wild animals are being mistreated and their natural habitats are being destroyed for various ‘reasons of progress’. Poaching and hunting of animals for fur, jewellery, meat and leather are other great factors contributing to overall ecosystem declines. For us as humans, it becomes a great responsibility to save the animals, our planet and most importantly, our own selves.

ALT Animal Sanctuary

One of the many problems facing all creatures that we will eventually solve is the upcoming closure of animal testing labs worldwide, and Canada has a lot of them. These animals will need somewhere to live out the rest of their lives and we intend on making every second count for these tormented souls. This new insight – when it comes to fruition – will be an addition to the centre’s mission but the original planning for this endeavour will still be to take in any and all creatures that are in need, regardless of their species, or their story.

We will provide a safe haven for injured, abused, retired or neglected animals of all species. If they are in need, our doors and our hearts will be open!

We plan to run daily, weekly, and monthly programs in conjunction with local schools as well as run an online membership club for kids and adults around the world to learn about the amazing personalities of our animal friends and give them an opportunity to sponsor their favourite resident. We will actively donate our time in the surrounding communities in an effort to promote our cause while helping those around us. Our educational component will be the main focus – aside from the obvious care of the residents of course – and will not only help to spread word about the work we are doing but should help to raise a new generation of true animals lovers.

A variety of educational programs will be offered throughout the year to enhance people’s knowledge of various animals including domestic, farm, exotic, and endangered species. Animals will not be locked out as if they are “on exhibit” for the benefit of the visitors, instead they will have the option to be indoors, outdoors, visible, or hidden and will be provided with the most comfortable and loving habitat possible.

The primary impact of our sanctuary will not occur from the direct number of animals that we save (though there is certainly great value in every animal that is rescued), but rather from their promotion and from our education efforts which seek to encourage others not to use animals for food. Helping a flock of chickens is commendable, but when you consider that just creating one vegetarian spares the suffering of up to 28 land animals per year, it becomes evident that encouraging people to change their behaviour provides the greatest value that our sanctuary can offer.

Another aspect of our educational component will be Permaculture design services, specifically urban backyard ecosystem management where we will explain the ways in which we have enhanced our property to benefit the most number of wild species while growing all of our own food (and as much of our residents’ food as possible). We will teach people how to be self sustainable and show them how easy but impactful some little changes can be.

Our target audience for the sanctuary will be primarily school kids in hopes of shaping some of them into future animal protectors. Overall, we will be speaking to a wide audience including all members of the community and we intend to make it very interactive and fun, the type of place you will want to keep visiting.

Our membership program will be utilized locally for community involvement and will attract people of all ages while also drawing a fan base from all across the world through the world wide web. We will establish relationships with as many local businesses as possible in order to increase our presence and standing in the community. For the distance members online, we’ll run a weekly webinar discussing various topics and this will also help us to attract people who are not mobile for whatever reason or cannot make it out to the sanctuary…we will still be able to keep everyone involved.

One of the main benefits we hope to bring to people within the entire community is some conscious compassion; we will provide a symbol of how animals raised in farms can live a happy and fulfilling life when they are treated with proper respect and care. This is important because very few people are directly exposed to animals used for food and thus don’t recognize them as individuals with distinct and beautiful personalities thus bridging the connection that much of our food comes from animals that were treated unspeakably horribly. If you eat stress, you become stressed. If you eat death, you get death. If you eat fear, you live in fear. You are what you eat…it’s the cosmic karma of the universe and although we will not likely verbalize it this way, this is the underlying theme of animals being used for human consumption.

The idea at the farm will be to get as many of the rescued residents living together as one big happy family as possible while the others that require solitude or separation, will be given the utmost consideration accordingly. The sanctuary will offer paved trails which will meander through a fenced in wooded area hosting our friendlier and more socialized animal residents.  In addition to the main outdoor habitat, ALT will eventually have various indoor habitats for birds, reptiles, and others as our needs dictate and our family grows in size. Most of the animal residents will be voluntarily surrendered from homes or corporations, or rescued from the wild, however some may need to be removed by local authorities in which cases we will cooperate in every way necessary to ensure a low stress transfer to their new home.  As a true sanctuary, All Living Things Animal Sanctuary will NEVER buy, sell, trade, or seek out animals, but the animals living at ALT will have a comfortable and peaceful refuge for the rest of their lives.

Another key benefit of our centre will be a noticeably positive environmental shift within the community through both our permaculture produce farm as well as our urban ecosystem management services which will serve to enhance the entire community throughout the urban landscape by teaching the residents how to make very small changes to improve the overall natural balance within each of their mini backyard ecosystems.

VOLUNTEERS and ALT Angels

ALT Animal Sanctuary will be a Not-For-Profit Organization with an in-house team of grounds crew (Defender Angels) and animal care workers (Guardian Angels), who will care for the animals, maintain the habitats and grounds, fundraise, conduct business administration including social media marketing, manage our membership program as well as our educational programs and events. Without the dedication of an amazing team of volunteers and interns, the extraordinary care of the animal residents and the sanctuary will not be possible.  Every day, regardless of the weather, day of week, or if it’s a holiday, the ALT Angels (interns and volunteers) will be there to care for the animal residents.  Helping at the sanctuary will not only be about the animals as volunteering is a rewarding and unique experience, it is also an essential part of the ALT mission and we will strive to be stewards of the local community at every opportunity. Educating children and adults about the plight of the animal residents, and the meaningless cruelties done to them by the exotic animal trade, animal lab testing, as well as the occasional uncaring or careless citizen, is a mission to be passionate about!

The day to day operations will involve numerous chores along with feeding and caring for the animal residents so we will need help all year round for many duties including facility maintenance and animal care. All year long, the sanctuary will be open for special events so volunteers will be needed to instruct, give tours, and work online, among other duties in order to ensure a smooth operation.

Since there will be 2 primary categories of humans required – a maintenance team (Defender Angels) and an animal care team (Guardian Angels) – we will set up both programs as a type of internship with levels to be achieved based on personal and professional growth as follows:

The Defender Angel Internship will offer a hands-on opportunity to gain experience in the upkeep and maintaining of the sanctuary, its buildings, and the grounds in general.  Each day will include practical experience in electrical, plumbing, HVAC and other systems and the maintenance intern will work in conjunction with volunteers and other interns, on the day to day up keep. To be eligible for this program the candidate must beat least 18 years old with a valid Driver’s License, be willing to make a commitment based on the hours we will need them, be relatively physically fit and passionate about helping animals. They will also need to have a basic understanding of the safe use of power and hand tools, and overall safe operating procedure and have some previous experience and/or education in general maintenance.Above all else, everyone associated with All Living Things Animals Sanctuary MUST be friendly and courteous and possess an overall positive demeanour and attitude.

The Guardian Angel Internship will be an ongoing, 3-pronged training program dealing with customer service, business administration, and animal care with options for some lessons in the Maintenance Internship as situations permit. For this position we will be seeking people who are comfortable speaking to groups during large tours as well as dealing with contractors and community officials to ensure that we are complying to all local regulations. Most of this can be taught but we will need people who are genuine and happy in their overall demeanour with the ability to problem solve, lead by example, and love all living creatures.

Please click here to send us your questions or comments regarding this project.

All living things need saving at some point, and that’s where you come in. Your investment in our not-for-profit endeavour will provide every animal that we rescue, with the safety, security and quality of life they deserve. Your group can become a powerful network to become a protector and advocate for all animals. It’s time to turn your savings into saving.

The goal is to secure some land somewhere in British Columbia and start building a community of Angels seeking to educate the public, while defending the weak or injured creatures that Mother Nature sends our way.

Please contact us with any questions or suggestions.