Westminster is a dedicated, hard working, registered charity. All of our members and volunteers are unpaid so 100% of every dollar donated goes towards the critter’s care. We do this because all creatures big and small deserve to know what love is and we do not mind showing them! Unlike some other shelters, our animals are not kept in cages. In order to better socialize them – they live as members of our families either at the Sanctuary or in a foster home. By the time you adopt them they will have had LOTS of contact with not only people, but other cats, dogs, and various other creatures! We are a 100% ‘no kill’ Sanctuary and will only euthanize a pet if it is in unimaginable pain that can never be recovered from. This is a belief that we do not take lightly. Our Sanctuary has never euthanized an animal due to space limitations, money, illness, or age. If the animal does not find a home it stays with us. We do not receive funding from any corporations nor can we afford to have gala events or purchase tv commercials. Our money goes – and always has gone – right into the care of the animals. We have ZERO administration costs because we operate out of our own homes and have no paid staff. Sadly – funding and support is just not there for us to continue taking in the volumes of animals that people want us to. Our Sanctuary spends in excess of $100,000 a year taking care of these animals. Most often we take in those that would not survive without us. We take in those that are often on the brink of death from abuse or neglect. We take in the pets who need us most. If the pets are medically fit they are put up for adoption. Terminally ill rescues stay at the Sanctuary so that they may enjoy their remaining time surrounded with love and all the comforts of a safe and happy home.

Birch Haven Rescue and Rehabilitation Services; located in Eastern Ontario, Canada on 148 acres was founded in 1996 as a personal rescue to assist those Canine and Equine animals that have been abandoned, abused, neglected and otherwise mistreated by rescuing, fostering, rehabilitating and then placing them into their new and forever loving homes. Birch Haven also tries to promote responsible pet ownership through Humane Education, Training, Socialization and Public Awareness. We are also involved in Therapy work. We are very small, private and are committed to personal rescue plus re-homing that is completely financed by monetary gifts, owner surrender plus adoption fees as we do not any receive government, provincial or corporate funding. We are financed mainly out of our own pockets.