The land

Twenty two acres of forest, with the ocean across the road.

The sanctuary shares its land with Once Upon a Tail Farms, which means our residents live in the middle of a working farm with all the noise and activity and routine that comes with it. For an old dog who has spent years in a shelter, that is an extraordinarily good place to land.

The Bear's Buddies Animal Foundation sign at the entrance to the property, with forest behind it — 6320 Island Highway West. The sign went up before most of the buildings did.

What the property gives them

Forested trails walked at a pace set by whoever is slowest that day
Natural water directly across from the property for hydrotherapy, which is far kinder on arthritic joints than pavement
A community garden growing real food for the residents' diets
Space to choose sun, shade, company or quiet, which matters enormously for an animal in pain
Farm life around them, with the animals, the routine and the daily rhythm of a place that is genuinely alive
Room to grow, with the sanctuary designed to expand as we are able to build

Hand drawn site plan of the property showing the large barn, house, cat housing, orchard, chicken yard, greenhouse, garden, shop, small barn, grazing field and goat pen — The plan for the land. Cat housing and the orchard to the west, the chicken yard and garden through the middle, grazing field and goat pen to the south.

Build updates

What is going up right now

Roof rafters going up on the cat house, seen from inside the framed walls

In progress

Three cat houses

Purpose built for cats in hospice care, with heat, easy access for animals with limited mobility, and space to be alone when they want to be.

The framed and sheathed shell of a new building on the property, roof trusses visible through the doorway

In progress

Fully enclosed catio

Complete top and side enclosure, so the cats get outdoor air and sunshine with no exposure to eagles, coyotes or cougars. This is the piece standing between us and our first cat residents.

Land cleared for the barn with perimeter fencing and forest behind

Ongoing

Barn, fencing and coops

Land cleared for the barn, perimeter fencing going in, and chicken and duck coops framed up. Most of it built by hand, much of it by volunteers who turned up with tools and a free weekend.

Dr. Atkinson-Spinks hammering a rafter into place on one of the new buildings — Nobody here does only one job.

Fund the catio build Volunteer your hands

Visiting

Come and see it

We are an active build site and a home full of medically fragile animals, so visits happen by arrangement rather than by drop in. Get in touch and we will find a time, show you around, and introduce you to whoever is willing to get up off the couch for a stranger.

Arrange a visit