Programs
Animal Town Sanctuary is composed of five programs in one organization. Animal Town Sanctuary supports animals, our environment, and our community, with a variety of programs that improve the quality of life for both the animals the residents in our community.
Senior Wellness Program
At Animal Town Sanctuary, we provide our rescues with high quality food, reverse osmosis water, holistic practices, and a plethora of supplements, along with the proper amount of exercise. We believe that a regularly scheduled Senior Wellness Panel gives them the very best chance at improving the quality of their health and lives. Our rescues are all seniors, special needs, and/or hospice.
We provide a senior wellness screening and testing to our rescues on a biannual basis. We feel that these exams stop problems before they start as well as diagnose current or future health problems that may interfere with their quality of life. Based on the results, we are able to treat any health concerns as soon as possible, rather than later. Identifying health problems in early stages, gives us a better chance to ‘extend’ and ‘improve’ their quality of life.
From our experiences, we feel that senior examinations are vital to our rescues at Animal Town due to their advanced age.
T-N-R Program
When we purchased our property, we noticed outdoor cats freely roaming. The cats we were seeing are feral cats. Very abundant in our community. Feral cats have had little or no contact with humans, and so they are fearful and cannot be adopted. There is a simple way you can help them: Trap-Neuter-Return. This program ends reproduction, stabilizes feral cat populations, and improves individual cats’ lives. The behaviors and stresses associated with mating— pregnancy, yowling, and fighting—stop.
We were able to trap a male and a pregnant female at our property. The male was neutered and during his recovery, became very friendly. We decided to let him try indoor life, and he adjusted immediately. He was even friendly to our dogs. We allowed the female to finish her term and were able to find indoor homes for all of her kittens. The female was spayed and during her recovery became friendly also. She was reunited with her boyfriend and they are now happily living an indoor life, co-existing with dogs. We are happy to help the cat pet population in our community.
Environmental Habitat Displacement and Restoration Program
At Animal Town Sanctuary, we also believe in protecting native species and restoring habitats they depend on. Although clean renewable energy has environmental benefits, it can also have negative impacts on wildlife and their habitats. One species of particular concern is Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Threats to their recovery include road mortality; habitat destruction, including from energy development; disease and predators; and climate change. We have rescued many sets of tortoises from The Living Desert and San Diego Tortoise Society over the years, due to environmental habitat displacement. Animal Town is home to five Mojave Desert Tortoises and one very large Sulcata. All of the rescued tortoises have their own habitats, complete with native plants and their own burrows.
Pollinator Protection Program
Last fall, Animal Town started a Pollinator Protection Program, created to increase the quality and quantity of habitat for native pollinators in our area of the Inland Empire. These pollinators include the monarch butterfly, bees, and other native pollinating species.
California is an important breeding area for monarch butterflies, and by planting their required host plants, it will help the declining western monarch population. Recently, a California court has ruled that endangered species can apply to invertebrates. including four endangered native Californian bumblebee species and the monarch butterfly. Our pollinator garden has been planted with indigenous wildflowers, shrubs, and trees that provides shelter and food for a diversity of native wildlife. Most of our natives require minimal irrigation, flourish without fertilizers, and are unlikely to become weedy.
Giving Back to our Community Program
We want to be a resource for our community, helping our district become one of the best places in the county for pets and pet guardians alike.
Over the last 10 years, our local shelters have reached out to Animal Town Sanctuary numerous times requesting our assistance with animals that are unadoptable in our community. We take those animals and provide medical care, food, shelter, and End of Life care. Our contribution takes the burden off of the shelters so they can rescue more animals in our community. Our commitment helps those shelters to achieve No Kill status. Although sometimes we might not be at the forefront, we are still part of the service to the community
Our community outreach is done via social media. Our informative posts and Q&A’s with the community include information on a wide variety of topics which can include medical issues, pet emergencies, home remedies, vet care/animal specialists in our area, low cost spay and neuter clinics, upcoming adoptions and rehoming your pet to somewhere within in our community.
Animal Town was recently recognized with a Community Improvement grant from our District Supervisor for our work with senior animals.
