UK
Hopefield
Hopefield Animal Sanctuary currently cares for over 500 sick, unwanted and mistreated animals. Their mission is to help any animal in need as well as provide education and awareness around humane animal behavioural practices all around the world. It was founded in 1983, starting as a sanctuary for sick and abandoned ponies and cobs with the intention to bring these horses back to health and find them a loving home through fostering. The first horse that was fostered was called Pye. Shortly after being re-homed, it was heard that Pye was in a terrible state and his foster parents were trying to sell him. From this point, Hopefield decided they would never rehome any of the horses that came to the sanctuary; they made Hopefield a home for life.
Hopefield has continued to rescue horses and farm animals of all kinds. It is home to many exotics, such as raccoons, tanuki, marmosets and a variety of birds of prey. There are also a wide range of small animals as well as alpacas, reindeer, and reptiles. During my work at Hopefield, I cared for all of these on a daily basis, including prepping their food, administering their medicine, providing enrichment, and tending to their housing.
The sanctuary is open to the public, and this generate funds for the animals. If you would like to visit and pay your respects to these animals, please follow this link. Here you can book tickets and give donations.
UK
Animal Workshops and Therapeutic Centre
Animal Workshops and Therapeutic Centre is a mobile zoo that comes to you. All the animals are either rehomes or rescues. Its an educational organisation that promotes animal welfare and educates the public on the differences between domesticated and non-domesticated animals. They advise which animals are best for having as pets and which animals shouldn't be in captivity. Unfortunately, there are many animals which should be living in the wild, but they have become too domesticated to be released, and so they have been given a home at the sanctuary.
The mobile zoo provides animal assisted therapy for hospices, care homes, and youth groups. They also do educational sessions for schools, festivals, and fayres as well as sensory classes for nurseries and younger children. Animal Workshops and Therapeutic Centre will also facilitate special requests as long as it follows animal welfare policies.
Belize
Wildtracks and Blue Ventures
Wildtracks is a registered non-profit wildlife refuge in Belize which funds frontline, results-oriented conservation projects. It is a well-established conservation organisation that has been working towards a sustainable future since its establishment in 1990.
Wildtracks achieves impactful results through strengthening the conservation of ecosystems and species as well as enhancing community engagement and building capacity towards effective environmental stewardship at both the national and site level. It provides effective rescue and rehabilitation of endangered and threatened species and is the only facility in Belize to provide rehabilitation care for primates and manatees.
Blue Ventures works in restoring the world’s oceans and improving the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities, working alongside coastal communities across the Indian Ocean and further afield. They are partnered with small scale fisheries and community organisations to address overfishing and safeguard ocean life.
Our ocean has never been so vital, nor so threatened. It drives the climate, supplies oxygen for all and protein for many, yet it is under assault from all sides through overfishing, pollution, and climate breakdown. These are issues that are changing the ocean in ways we've never seen before. These are draining our oceans of life and threatening fish stocks that provide food for billions and livelihoods for hundreds of millions.
Time and again, our efforts to tackle the ocean emergency break down, because they fail to address the needs and protect the rights of coastal communities; these are the communities with the most to loose from collapsing fisheries and the most to gain from conservation success. By engaging and mobilising the small-scale fisheries that live alongside and depend upon our oceans, we can show that effective ocean stewardship delivers benefits for people and nature alike.
Canada
Equine Therapy and
Aspen Valley
In Canada I had the absolute pleasure of working alongside my friend Tralauney who works in all equine therapies, such as chiropractic, acupuncture and massage usually for overworked horses or ex racing horses. She works primarily for the therapy of horses’ wellbeing and health. I assisted her on the daily routine of caring for her clients’ horses, the general care of her farm animals, and also being a part of her humble family. Equine therapy doesn't just allow love, care and understanding for humans but for horses too.
Aspen Valley's goal is to care for injured and orphaned wildlife. Once rehabilitated, the animals are released back into the wild for a second chance. Aspen valley also provides forever homes for native species that cannot be released back into the wild due to human interference.
Aspen Valley is committed to:
Providing quality care that avoids habituation to humans and respects each animals need for a safe, healthy, and species-appropriate environment while in captivity.
Releasing each animal into the wild in a healthy condition that gives it the best possible chance for survival.
Educating the public about issues regarding wildlife and wildlife interactions with humans.
Working within the established regulations set out by the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry.
