Education is the Heart of Sanctuary

Let's face it, no one animal sanctuary can save every animal that needs help. Each sanctuary puts a dent in the manmade problems that animals face and saves a few of the many. For those few animals, there is nothing more important that we do than to save their lives and give them happy homes. But for every one that finds sanctuary, many more remain homeless, or in squalid conditions, or they're killed. The sad fact remains that the greater majority of animals that need help will not receive it. That fact makes our jobs much bigger than just providing safe haven for animals.

So here's the good news -- we always like to deliver good news! -- our greater mission is humane education, raising awareness and proposing viable solutions to the problems of animal neglect, abuse and homelessness. Sanctuary is one immediately achievable solution, but it's not the only or final solution. Helping animals requires a multidisciplinary approach. To that end, the Sanctuary is a platform for education, an opportunity to explore the problems facing animal welfare, and a vehicle for action toward achievable goals and solutions.

Our Education Center teaches about captive animals, animal protection, and habitat preservation. The monkeys represent tropical ecology and the importance of the rain forests to our survival. They also represent our cousins, our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. If we learn to treat them as family, we will make better choices for them and ultimately for ourselves.

Our Education Center teaches about domestic animals, from companion animals to farm animals to our native wildlife. It raises awareness about issues like options for the beloved pet that you can no longer keep, considering adopting mature cats and dogs when you're ready to expand your nonhuman family, spay and neuter to control animal populations and reduce homelessness, and caring for feral cats in your neighborhood.

The bottom line is that all life is precious. If we're kind to animals, we're more likely to be kind to our fellow humans as well. After all, animals teach us to be better people. It's all about kindness and having heart. That's why education is at the heart of sanctuary.