Community Spotlight: Mike Slusarczyk

We’d like to take a moment to acknowledge an amazing community partner and resource, the Jackson County Animal Shelter, who frequently works with Sanctuary One to ensure that animals in Southern Oregon find their homes. In the aftermath of the Almeda and Obenchain fires, Sanctuary One farm manager Scott was able to assist both the Jackson County Sheriff’s department as well the Jackson County Animal Shelter, by helping to locate and evacuate animals. In addition to Scott and our volunteers’ hard work, Sanctuary One was also able to bring six dogs from the shelter to the care farm.

It is because of strong community connections that we are all able to thrive. When Jackson County Animal Services Officer Mike Slusarczyk responded to the fire, he quickly realized that he would need help with large animals who were in need of evacuation. He found two alpacas and a llama running loose in the roadway near Butler Rd in Ashland; realizing that the Jackson County shelter does not have all of the equipment needed for full fledged large animal rescue and disaster response, he called in Sanctuary One for assistance. Scott, in addition to a Sanctuary One volunteer, worked together with officer Mike to help safely load the animals and take them to the evacuation zone at the expo center. “What we learned from this disaster is that we need community resources like Sanctuary One to work with us” said Mike Slusarcyzk. Support from organizations like Sanctuary One is so crucial to our community’s safety and success. By working together, pooling resources and expertise, can we ensure that no animals fall through the cracks.

When we work together, we can take care of one another through hard times and we can elevate one another to a place where we all thrive. Thank you officer Mike and Jackson County Animal Shelter for being such an incredible resource for people and animals in Southern Oregon (and for being a joy to work with)! 


Interested in helping animals and people thrive? From joining the Care Family, to helping with animal care, to art and office projects, you have a role to play in this important work. 

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Sanctuary One

Sanctuary One

Sanctuary One's mission is to provide a refuge for animals & people, in harmony with nature.

20 hours ago

Sanctuary One
*Watch Duty Update* Morning update: The fire is roughly 70% lined and has retained its footprint from yesterday afternoon. Upper Applegate Road remains closed to the public at this time so we ask that folks stay away from the area unless you're a resident to allow our single paved road for emergency responders. Again, a BIG thank you to everyone who has reached out to us as soon as they heard about the fire. There are not enough words to thank the 200+ wildfire fighter folks who have come to help keep people safe. 6:40pm: The fire is currently holding around 350 acres. Resources will continue to work on it throughout the night.Fire Update Near Sanctuary OneHi friends,Thank you to everyone who has reached out with concern and support about the nearby Upper Applegate wildfire. We want to share that the fire is currently approximately 10 miles away and not heading toward the care farm at this time.We have two staff members and three interns staying on-site tonight to monitor the situation and care for the animals.We have emergency foster placement plans in place, but if you’d like to add your name to our emergency foster list, please email info@sanctuaryone.org—your information will be passed on to the appropriate staff.If conditions change and we reach a Level 1 evacuation, we will work closely with law enforcement and fire officials to evacuate animals safely and calmly. Please note that there is only one paved road in to and out of Sanctuary One, so we must be mindful about keeping access clear for emergency and evacuation vehicles.Fire Status (as of 4:00 PM):*Estimated at 200 acres*Growth fueled by wind, heat, steep terrain, and dry vegetation*Large Air Tankers (LATs) have made multiple retardant drops*A Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) has been ordered*Helicopters continue water drops*Ground crews are engaged in an aggressive initial attack*More resources are arriving on sceneWe’ll continue to monitor updates closely and keep you posted. Thank you for your support and care for our animals and team. 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
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1 day ago

Sanctuary One
🎉 Let’s do this! Help NOMINATE Sanctuary One for the Community Choice Award! 🎉We’re going for BEST Non-Profit/Charity Organization in the Services category — and we need YOU! 🙌Voting starts today- June 18th! Get ready to cheer us on and VOTE! Let’s bring this WIN home! 💪🐾 rv-times.com/contests/cca/#/gallery?group=512630 ... See MoreSee Less
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2 days ago

Sanctuary One
Farewell, sweet BlinkinBlinkin arrived at Sanctuary One in 2010 alongside her beloved mother, Winkin. The two Boer goats were an inseparable pair—so deeply bonded that they would cry if the other was out of sight, spending peaceful hours side by side in the pasture.When Winkin passed, Blinkin grieved deeply, but in time, she slowly found her place among the rest of the care farm goats. She began participating in field trips and tours, gently teaching visitors about connection, resilience, and the quiet strength of animals. In her later years, Blinkin preferred to greet guests from the comfort of the pond pasture, soaking up the sun and companionship.She also had a gift for comforting others—offering calm presence during grief retreats and patiently helping scared, newly rescued goats learn to trust again. Her presence was a source of healing for many, both human and animal.The farm feels a little quieter without her, but her spirit lingers in the pastures she loved. We’re so grateful for the years we shared with Blinkin—for all she gave, and all she taught us.A few other memories about Blikin from Colleen-"She loved to be brushed. She would lean into you and if you stopped she would follow you around until you started again!She had the cutest little "grunt" whenever she had an opinion about something, or she was walking, you could always hear her little voice.She had the softest ears ❤️❤️Even in her last days she loved to be with people, she enjoyed the time we spent with her. Just sitting in her stall or out in the pasture she would embrace the moment, still leaning into you to show she cared.I miss her dearly......"Happy trails, sweet Blinkin. You will always be part of the Sanctuary One story. ... See MoreSee Less
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