RASTA Sanctuary
9233 Chemainus Road V0R 1K5 Chemainus, BC, Canada

Okay that's enough. Even Eddie is done with rain. Trying to stay positive because it's better than being completely snowed in, but if we could have a break to clear the lakes from the property and spread mulch for the season that would be great...

Can anyone tell us what's wrong with this picture (that was taken a couple of weeks ago) from an animal rescue perspective? Photo credit: Volunteer Danni S.

Selma is brave and adventurous and there is no tree pile she cannot conquer. Happy Friday!!

What's wetter than wet? Well the answer to that is pretty much the situation here at the Sanctuary these past few days. We're keeping busy digging drenches, scraping up mud and laying down bark mulch. Lots, and lots of bark mulch!

Just Benson being absolutely perfect in every possible way. That's all. Carry on. Another big and exciting week happening here so we'll try to keep you updated!

Well the animals are back in the bark mulch area and are BLOWN AWAY by all the changes! The goats are climbing all over the logs, the pigs are rooting away and Penny is thrilled to be building a big collection of her favourite sticks from the largest selection she's ever had! Eddie and Ella are loving all the tasty greenery to munch and the pile from the chipper - it's a big adventure for everyone Things continue to move at light-speed around here so we'll do our best to keep you all updated! It's probably worth mentioning that as always the animals here come first and we may just not always have the time to post updates on day to day life for them right now, so keep an eye on our stories for that (for example, you can go there right now and see Sam charging about because HE CAN SEE!!)

October 26th, 2020 That's the day we at RASTA had the pleasure of meeting internationally renowned celebrity superstar Ms. Pamela Anderson for the very first time here at our humble little Sanctuary in Chemainus. Benson was the first one to greet her at the gate and I knew from the moment she kindly knelt down to his level, and the way that she spoke to him, that she was a true animal person.... That first visit was somewhat of a blur as the notion of meeting someone of such awesome stature and with an interest in what we're doing here at little ol' RASTA was tough for me to wrap my head around but I did my best to keep it together. I also did my best to share RASTA's amazing story of how we've been pioneering Western Canada's Farm Sanctuary movement for nearly two decades now, first in Alberta and the prairie provinces, and now here on the West Coast, to the monumental move from Southern Alberta to Vancouver Island, starting from scratch all over again, the many challenges we faced and overcame along the way, the countess residents and their inspiring stories... Oh so much to say in such a short period of time! In the end I was sure I talked Ms. Anderson's ear off and of course couldn't help but feel self conscious after the fact about whether it was too much information, overwhelming content, or if it even made any sense at all since my brain was pretty much all over the place. Regardless of my awkwardness, I really wanted something to help memorialize the amazing day and so I sheepishly asked her for her signature. To commemorate our 20th year anniversary (happening in less than two months time) I asked Ms. Anderson if she would sign a copy of our 2021 calendar and she most graciously did. Having the calendar signed was an emotional moment for me because it was such a mega milestone that in a way felt like "We finally made it!" The road getting to where we are now has been anything but easy so having the recognition of someone whom I'd personally looked up to for so long, and in my mind was larger than life, was such an absolutely mind blowing tremendous honour, and one that gives me goosebumps to this day! That signed calendar is now my most prized possession and in a special place that I can appreciate it every single day. Little did I know that after Ms. Anderson's initial visit to the Sanctuary she would return just a few short hours later with her wonderful partner Mr. Dan Hayhurst, and together they would offer to help build us a brand new barn! October 26th, 2020 That's the day our lives here at RASTA changed forever.