Wildfire Evacuation Complete

Well, somehow we did it… with the diligence of our staff, Board members, and a host of volunteers, in just a little over two days we managed to relocate all 60 of Sanctuary One’s animals into wonderful foster homes. For several years, we have planned for this day: we’ve had fire drills, staff safety training, maintained lists of potential foster homes and transporters, and practiced for the worst. I’m not sure if any of us really ever saw this day coming, but it did, and all the preparation paid off. Sixty animals were moved from the property in an orderly, calm fashion, with no injuries or incidents, despite heavy traffic on our little country road and insufferable heat and smoke.

It’s hard to express in words how thankful we are to the Rogue and Applegate Valley communities for rising to the challenge. We have met some amazing people in the last few days–some are new friends, and some are old friends who have come to our aid yet again. These folks all share a bond: a deep commitment to the values that Sanctuary One represents. The last week has reassured this author’s faith in the human spirit and the amazing determination of people who want to help a neighbor in need.

So many acknowledgements are due. We thank all those who have offered foster lodging. If you called or e-mailed to offer support, we may not have replied; please be assured that our lack of response was not intended as callousness, but just a sheer lack of manpower to answer all calls or e-mails. Your offers did not go unnoticed.

We thank those who did take in Sanctuary animals. We pledge to work with you to make sure each critter’s needs are met. Please reach out to us if there is anything you need, whether it be feed, medical care for an animal, advice, you-name-it. Your commitment is something we do not take lightly, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.

We appreciate our sister agencies and businesses who have lent a helping hand. This includes Equamore Foundation in Ashland, OR, which is taking care of our horses; Southern Oregon Humane Society in Medford, OR which is taking care of our dogs; and Jacksonville Veterinary Clinic  in Jacksonville, OR, which is taking care of some of our cats. If I’ve missed anyone, it’s not due to a lack of appreciation; it’s due to exhaustion.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the firefighters who have travelled to southern Oregon to help us through tough times. It’s hard to imagine the difficulty of the job you guys and gals do on the front-line each and every day. Thank you. Just thank you. Words are lacking.

And last, but certainly not least, thanks to all the local agencies participating in wildfire efforts. Applegate Valley Fire District #9, you all rock! Folks at the Star Ranger Station, likewise. And a special mention for the crews of the Oregon Department of Forestry, who have been at the farm to offer suggestions (and some manual labor!) to help minimize our combustion risk.

And what non-profit blog post would be complete without a plea for donations? Seriously? Visit our donation page to give what you can. Your donation will help defray our evacuation costs and provide food and medical care for the animals in foster care.

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Sanctuary One

Sanctuary One

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

3 days ago

Sanctuary One
"Hello there! My name is Fergie, and I am the sweetest little puppy you'll ever meet! I am friendly, quiet and love to cuddle. I am a gentle pup, but I have lots of energy and love to play! I love to meet new people and give kisses!I can be a bit shy at first, but I'll warm up to you in no time! I am still just a baby, so I am looking for a family who can spend lots of time with me, teach me new things, and give me lots of love and affection.I am a Border Collie mix so I will need an active family as I get older. I do have an injury on my head but it is healing very nicely and does not cause me any issues. I will be available for adoption after I am old enough to be spayed.Please submit an Adoption Application below if you want to adopt me, we are going to have so much fun together! sanctuaryone.org/rescue-animals/adopt-us/adoption-application/ ... See MoreSee Less
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7 days ago

Sanctuary One
🌟 Join the Sanctuary One Volunteer Orientation February 15th! 🌟Are you ready to get your hands dirty, make new friends, and be part of something truly impactful? We’re looking for amazing people like YOU to join our community of volunteers at Sanctuary One. From caring for rescued animals to helping our Earth Care team in the gardens, there are so many ways to get involved!📸 In this photo, Christina, one of our incredible volunteers, is working with Jess, our Earth Care Director, to prepare strawberry plants for winter storage. This year, thanks to a little help from our friends at the ACT Group in Grants Pass, we had an abundance of strawberries in our garden. Now, we're prepping extra plants to use as natural ground cover in our gardens—just one of the many rewarding projects you can take part in as a volunteer!💚 Whether you’re passionate about gardening, animal care, or simply giving back, there’s a place for you at Sanctuary One.Orientation Details👉 www.facebook.com/share/15XVwn3BNd/#VolunteerWithUs #CareFarm #SanctuaryOne #MakeADifference #CommunityImpact ... See MoreSee Less
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