RASTA Sanctuary has always been here for the animals, and their needs have always, without question, been our only consideration in the decisions that we make.  Sometimes that consideration places us in the necessary position of making decisions that we have a very hard time grappling with, but at the end of the day it’s what’s right for them, and we are always comforted knowing that we make our decisions with them in mind, never ourselves.

 

We have poured ourselves into this property. We have built, and expanded, and changed, and kept up, and adapted, over and over and over again. Endless days and nights of clearing, and digging, and fencing, and building, and planning.  We have always done everything we could do to make this home the very best home it can be, and that is the reason the new barn is being built.

However, this home can never be one very important thing – bigger. As much as we’d like it to be different, this home – the current location of RASTA Sanctuary – is limited forever by its size, and it is for this reason, and ultimately for the well being and future of the residents here, that the animals from RASTA Sanctuary will be saying goodbye to our present Chemainus home for larger, greener pastures.

Several years ago, our friend Michelle Singleton was inspired from her volunteering here to begin transforming her own home in Duncan into a sanctuary, and A Home for Hooves Farm Sanctuary was born.  Now, four years later, she and her board are working incredibly hard to create an opportunity to expand their location onto a property that will be 20X their current size, and we are excited to announce that the animals from RASTA Sanctuary will be joining the animals from A Home For Hooves at this new location once it is found and prepared! This will create opportunities for them that we simply cannot have on this property.  Opportunities for wide pastures, opportunities for natural water features, opportunities for more animals of their same species for them to live and grow with.  As hard as it is to say, we simply cannot grow where we are.  We have been struggling to find a way to make a better life for them here, but learning of this opportunity has made our choices for the future of RASTA Sanctuary’s residents easy for us, as we know this will be what’s best for them, and so we are willing and excited to throw our full support and efforts into helping A Home for Hooves make this plan a reality. We will be involved in every step of the animals’ transition, and in building their new home.  The sale of the current RASTA property will help to provide important operational funds for A Home for Hooves after they secure their new Sanctuary location, and combining the assets of the two sanctuaries, and the supporters of the two sanctuaries, creates a much more sustainable model.

As we have stated, RASTA’s experience will not be lost, and we will continue to be a part of their care in any and all necessary ways. We stand behind Michelle and her team at A Home For Hooves 100% in this venture and we are thrilled that this is all happening.

We will be sharing more with everyone as this process unfolds and timelines become more clear.

We understand that like us, many of you will struggle with this decision, so we’d like to share an exercise that has helped us immensely.  Close your eyes, and picture

Eddie our young steer, full grown at 2000lbs. Instead of grazing quietly here with Ella, he’s running,  but he doesn’t reach a fence and stop because in front, behind, and to all sides of him are acres upon acres of open pastures. Coming up behind him through the tall grass, are Ella, Prince, Pirate, Buddy and Penny,  all running and filled with joy at the expansive freedom they’ve never had. 

What’s right for them, is for us to do whatever we can to make that vision a reality. As always,  we will do our best to give them everything they deserve and we know that after picturing that scene, you will better understand this decision.

It’s hard, beyond hard really, to actually make this decision, but again we are sure it is what’s right, and we invite you all to stay with us in this exciting next chapter of RASTA and to extend all your love and support A Home for Hooves.