Alex.
Alex was found alone at an animal feed store as a kitten with a broken cheek bone, neck injury, sinus infection, earmites, flees, distemper, and his head is tilted. TEJA's Animal Refuge rescued him and we adopted him. He is the sweetest kitty - when you pick him up he rolls onto his back waiting for snuggles - and likes to sleep on your shoulders. Alex is a spoiled and lucky kitty! Not every kitty is so lucky though. There are animals waiting in shelters right now waiting for their forever home, and unfortunately every year millions of animals must be euthanized. Always adopt an animal, never buy from a pet store or breeder - and spay and neuter :) Click here to learn more about companion animals.
Baby Raccoons.
TEJA's Animal Refuge was given these week old baby raccoons from a farmer who had taken them out of their nest. We got to babysit them on their way to a wildlife sanctuary. Most of the time if you find babies in a nest, the mother has just gone looking for food and will return. You can keep an eye from afar in case she does not return. If she does not return, call a wildlife centre and wait for their instructions before approaching the animals. Click here to learn more about wildlife emergencies.
Joe.
I organized a national protest to ban horse slaughter in Canada with the help of groups across Canada. Two of the protests were held at horse slaughterhouses. We held a demonstration at a slaughterhouse in Massueville, Quebec. At the end of the protest a man arrived to see if the 'delay' was over yet so he could bring his horse to slaughter. We all pleaded with him to give us the horse instead of sending it to slaughter, and he finally agreed. With generous donations from those who attended the protest, Joe was saved from his horrible fate, had his necessary surgery, and is now living at a foster home. Joe was a breeding horse so he spent his life in a stall. He now has the freedom to run in the field and has a caring home.
TEJA's Animal Refuge and Refuge RR for Horses
Two amazing woman run two amazing sanctuaries on their own. Nicole Joncas runs TEJA's Animal Refuge and Rose runs Refuge RR for Horses. Below are some of the animals they have worked so hard to rescue and care for.
The Pigelets
Pig factory-farmers held a protest at Parliament Hill demanding the government give them more money - and abandoned a box of six piglets on the front steps. These were some lucky piglets, as TEJA's rescued them and has given them the life a pig deserves. Mud, fields, forest, and of course food!
Horses
Nicole and Rose have rescued hundreds of horses from abusive situations and slaughter.
Harry-Dale
This little calf was abandoned by his mother and the farmer was going to send him to slaughter. Harry-Dale made best friends with a young goat Little Peep. Harry-Dale is old enough to graze in the field with Nicole's two other cows and is in heaven at TEJA's.
Ducks
If you haven't heard of the french dish 'Foie Gras' you're looking at the survivors of the cruel practice. To make Foie Gras, a metal tube is thrust down the throat of a duck and its stomach is filled past capacity - twice or several times daily. Often times the metal tube will rupture the throat of the duck, their organs will burst, or they can't breathe and suffocate from the feed filling their throats. Fifteen countries have banned this practice because it is so cruel. Click here to learn more. Nicole has many ducks that were rescued from a Foie Gras operation.
Hens and Roosters
Most of the chickens were rescued from factory farms and when they arrive they have few feathers and raw skin from ammonia burns - chickens are arguably the most abused animal on the planet. After a while at the sanctuary you notice the hens and roosters starting to do some of their most natural and favourite instincts - dust bathing, scratching for food, sleeping on the pigs, and running around.
Sheep
They also rescue cats, dogs, rabbits, turkeys, birds, and anyone else that needs a safe haven :)
