Vendors, vegan delights, and mini tours.
Wishing Well Sanctuary, which provides a home for dozens of domestic animals rescued from abuse, neglect or the slaughterhouse, held its seventh anniversary party and open house on Saturday.
It has been seven years since Wishing Well, located at 2710 Line 10 in Bradford West Gwillimbury, welcomed its first guests — a herd of nine cows, discovered living in deplorable conditions in the London area. Animal Alliance persuaded the owner to give up the cattle, discovered standing in manure without access to fresh water, and they were transported to Wishing Well.
The cattle were quickly followed by a flock of five sheep, rescued from a university laboratory. The sheep had been raised in a sterile lab environment, and the sanctuary was warned the animals’ immune systems, never exposed to the external world, would likely leave them at risk of infection and death.
Instead, the flock adapted to the world at Wishing Well — and all that green stuff on the ground. Cows and sheep became part of the sanctuary’s permanent family, which now also includes horses, pigs, goats, donkeys, Lightning the llama, chickens and ducks.
Wishing Well, founded by Brenda Bronfman, does not call itself an animal sanctuary or rescue operation because it is much more — using the connection between animals and humans to create a healing environment.
“I want the sanctuary to really be a sanctuary for all,” said Bronfman.
The anniversary open house included live music, and a cruelty-free fashion show, and was a fundraiser for the sanctuary, which needs continuing support from the community, volunteers and animal lovers because the price of chicken feed isn’t chicken feed.
For more information, or to make a donation, visit wishingwellsanctuary.org.
Coming up at Wishing Well Sanctuary:
- Acoustic Evening with Peter James Fox and Graham Playford, Oct. 20 from 6-8 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, with all proceeds going to Wishing Well Sanctuary. Visit the website to purchase tickets.
- Mindfulness with Kirsten Bindseil, Oct. 21 from 2-3:30 p.m.
- Tour of Wishing Well Sanctuary, Oct. 27 at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $20 per person, $60 for a family of four; accompanied children under three years old are free. The tours are not only an opportunity to learn more about the care and personalities of Wishing Well’s animal family, they raise funds to ensure their continuing care and comfort.
