I have written a few times over the years about A Home for Hooves Farm Sanctuary, here in the Cowichan Valley. It has a special place in my heart. I went there once when it was just getting going. There were far fewer animals then than now, that’s for sure. My daughter took part in the pen pal program until I forgot to mail her last letter. Oops. The sanctuary’s Instagram page is a family favourite, too. We like to check out the new photos and videos of the animals, especially Miss Fluffy Legs the chicken. She’s our favourite.
My family loves animals. This may be controversial, but I think anyone who doesn’t love animals is missing out.
Growing up I wanted to be a veterinarian and well, we all know how that turned out. I didn’t have the chops for math when it mattered, so I changed course as many young people tend to do at some point during their schooling.
I suppose it was for the best, my poor heart couldn’t handle sick animals as a career. It’s hard enough dealing with the doom and gloom of the world in my current newspaper job, but seeing how hard founder Michelle Singleton and her volunteers and vets work to keep their animals healthy and safe at the Sanctuary would no doubt put me over the edge. I admire them all.
That noted, I do my best to use my platform here at the local paper to promote the good stuff folks are doing in the community and it’s clear to see Singleton and her crew are doing a ton of great work.
I recently got an email from Stephanie Gordon, one of the fundraisers and board members for A Home for Hooves.
Gordon was saying that at the start of June she launched a lofty fundraiser to celebrate Singleton’s 40th birthday.
“For the last six years, Michelle has devoted countless hours along with sweat and tears into creating a safe haven that rescues, heals, and protects farm animals,” Gordon explained. “Michelle exudes compassion, kindness, and love for all living beings. She has dedicated her life not only to saving animals, but to educating and inspiring folks to look at farm animals in a more compassionate light.”
That’s why, for Singleton’s 40th birthday Gordon is asking those who have the means to make a $40 donation, to the sanctuary in her honour.
“I have an ambitious goal to raise $40,000 for our capital campaign, A Forever Home for Hooves, by midnight on June 30th, Michelle’s birthday,” Gordon explained. “We are really lucky that we also have a $40,000 donor match!”
The Forever Home for Hooves campaign endeavours to raise money for a permanent home for the sanctuary, one with more room for the animals and their supports. Currently the sanctuary sits on less than five acres and already hosts 170 animals. A Home for Hooves is Vancouver Island’s only farm sanctuary. It’s also Canada’s first farm sanctuary accredited through the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
A bigger sanctuary space is required to save more animals.
“Michelle is turning animals away daily,” Gordon admitted. “We also have over 20 animals in foster care as we don’t have sufficient room on our current property. A bigger property would also bring all the animals together.”
In the first two weeks of the campaign, $10,000 was raised.
“I know we can hit our goal to make Michelle’s birthday fundraiser a success but I need your help in getting the message out to animal lovers everywhere,” Gordon explained. “It would be wonderful if you could share this fundraiser as it celebrates the hard work Michelle does for the animals and for the community.”
And so here I am, sharing with you, a way for your funds to make a big difference in the lives of some humans and of a great many animals because I feel like it’s the right thing to do. If you agree, donate at: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/90014?v2=true or search for A Home for Hooves at www.canadahelps.org.