Winter 2006
Raising the Sanctuary

Raising the Sanctuary

by Susan B. Linker, CEO, Our Companions

Three years ago, Our Companions was founded on the core belief that no pet should ever be homeless and that the senseless killing of healthy pets across our state must come to an end.  With the donation of 43 acres in Ashford, we knew that our dream could take a physical, solid shape with the creation of an animal sanctuary and resource center. 

Sanctuary is More than Bricks and Mortar.  Although several years from opening its doors, the actual sanctuary has served as a unifying symbol of humanity and compassion for many of our volunteers and donors.  But amazingly, the concept of sanctuary and its ideals are capable of existing without any physical structure.  We’ve proved over the last three years that you don’t need a location to change lives and change the way people think. 

The sanctuary will be an incredible place, where homeless pets will receive love, care and the time they deserve to heal from their emotional and physical wounds.  Once healed, many pets will be placed into new and loving homes.  Those who cannot find homes will spend the rest of their days at the sanctuary as part of a community of other animals and loving human caretakers. 

But even if there were 100 animal sanctuaries in Connecticut, pet homelessness and euthanasia would still be issues because the underlying causes would still be present.  Pets become homeless for a myriad of social, economic and attitudinal reasons.  These issues must be addressed in conjunction with the building of the sanctuary through our programs  - many of which Our Companions is already delivering, transforming the way people think of pets by providing lifesaving programs every day. 

Building a Foundation.  To date, Our Companions has:

• Co-founded and leads the state’s first coalition of non-profit animal organizations, the Animal Welfare Federation of Connecticut (AWFCT).

• Serviced over 300 clients with dog training and behavioral consultations.

• Helped control local pet populations and prevented animals from ending up in shelters through public outreach and spay/neuter services.

• Built a cadre of more than 2,000 dedicated and informed animal activists.

• Rescued over 200 animals through our rescue outreach program.

What’s Going on in Ashford?  In the last few years, much progress has been made in Ashford to make way for the actual building of the first animal sanctuary and resource center in Connecticut.  Our Companions and its many volunteers have completed the following:

• Large waste removal from the Ashford property was completed.  27 tons of abandoned metal debris was removed and recycled, as were invasive shrubbery and trees and abandoned farm chemicals.

 • The hiking trails have been designed and cut. 

• Met with local and state agencies including the Town of Ashford Zoning Committee

and the Inland/Wetlands and Dam Safety divisions of the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

• Began a relationship with Trinity College whereby students are actively conducting  research and will ultimately develop a plan to improve the health of the 7-acre Harakaly’s Pond on the property.

• Worked in partnership with Kaestle-Boos Associates to create a strategic plan and concept renderings for the project (some of which are within this newsletter, with more available on-line at www.ourcompanions.org).

• Vegetation was cleared off of the dam of Harakaly’s Pond which had been over grown for nearly ten years.

• Obtained an in-kind pledge by a local company to demolish the current building on the property, an estimated value of more than $250,000.

With so much ground work laid, Our Companions is pleased to officially announce that we are kicking off our $15 million, 10-year capital campaign, Home for Good: A Place for Our Companions.  The enclosed pull-out details the plan, as well as the opportunities available for you to support our work.