The Open Sanctuary Podcast

Julia, the Nonprofit Specialist at The Open Sanctuary Project, sits down with Animal Place Founder and Open Sanctuary Project Board Member Kim Sturla to continue our series sharing invaluable perspectives from leaders in the sanctuary and rescue world.
In addition to founding Animal Place, Kim also served as Executive Director for a humane society, as well as the Education Director at Fund For Animals, and worked on many legislative campaigns to improve animal lives.
Julia and Kim discuss five key points Kim wishes she had known before getting started in sanctuary and advocacy work- a conversation not to be missed!
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This Episode's Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources:
Recognizing And Managing Compassion Fatigue At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project

Recognizing And Preventing Burnout At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project 

Care Staff Retention At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project 

The Value of Staff Cross-Training At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project 

Guide To Utilizing Shelter Shifts At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project 

Creating A Strategic Plan For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project 

Estimating Species Lifetime Care Costs At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project 

How To Develop A Fundraising Plan For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project 

Choosing The Right Site For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project

Understanding Your Animal Sanctuary's Zoning Rights & Restrictions | The Open Sanctuary Project 

What Is A Land Survey And How Can It Help Your Animal Organization? | The Open Sanctuary Project 

Establishing Safe And Effective Quarantine And Isolation Protocols For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project 

Determining Your Animal Sanctuary's Capacity For Responsible Care | The Open Sanctuary Project 

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You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here!
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To become a Friend of the Open Sanctuary Project, donate $10 or more monthly here!

Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss senior sanctuary residents. They talk about how aspects of senior care may impact sanctuary capacity, but also create opportunities for animal advocates to expand their narratives!  
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This Episode's Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources:
The Golden Years: How An Aging Resident Population Can Impact Your Sanctuary's Capacity And Create Opportunities To Expand Your Narrative | The Open Sanctuary Project

Celebrating Sanctuary Seniors: A Gallery Of Stories | The Open Sanctuary Project
Observation: An Important Caregiving Tool | The Open Sanctuary Project

Observing And Recording Resident Behavior | The Open Sanctuary Project 

Resident Ongoing Treatment & Observation Record | The Open Sanctuary Project

The Importance of Veterinary Care at Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project

Building And Maintaining A Good Relationship Between Your Sanctuary And Veterinarians | The Open Sanctuary Project 

Fostering Positive Relationships Between Animal Sanctuaries | The Open Sanctuary Project

Determining Your Animal Sanctuary's Capacity For Responsible Care | The Open Sanctuary Project

An Introduction To Fostering Agency In Farmed Animals At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project

The Microsanctuary Resource Center

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You can learn more about our organization here!
You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here!
Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Want to support our nonprofit's work? Donate here!
To become a Friend of the Open Sanctuary Project, donate $10 or more monthly here!

Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss how to take steps to prevent, recognize, and address foreign body ingestion by sanctuary residents. While every resident can be at risk of doing this, the degree of risk can vary, and there are action steps you can take to prevent it! 
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This Episode's Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources:
Don't Eat That! Preventing Foreign Body Ingestion At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project

Advanced Topics In Resident Health: Heavy Metal Toxicosis In Birds | The Open Sanctuary Project

Sharing Your Home With Chickens | The Open Sanctuary Project



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You can learn more about our organization here!
You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here!
Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Want to support our nonprofit's work? Donate here!
To become a Friend of the Open Sanctuary Project, donate $10 or more monthly here!

Julia, the Nonprofit Specialist at The Open Sanctuary Project, sits down with friend and colleague Alastor Van Kleeck to launch a new interview series dedicated to sharing the invaluable experience and knowledge of leaders in the sanctuary movement.
Alastor is an advocate, writer, and educator who wears many hats in the rescue community. Alongside their partner Roz, Alastor founded Triangle Chicken Advocates in North Carolina—a sanctuary that cares for chickens, pigs, dogs, and cats while stewarding a mini-food forest for local wildlife. They also cofounded the Microsanctuary Resource Center (MRC), pioneering a new model for sanctuary by inspiring folks to rescue farmed animals using existing resources and building a vibrant community of activist-caregivers.
In this episode, Julia and Alastor dive into a crucial topic for anyone navigating the highs and lows of animal advocacy: the five things Alastor wishes they knew when they first got started in rescue and sanctuary work. Whether you are a seasoned rescuer, a new sanctuary founder, or simply passionate about the movement, this deep dive into the lessons learned along the journey offers essential insights to help folks on the path to lifelong compassionate animal care.
To read more from Alastor, visit microsanctuary.org and StrivingWithSystems.com.
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This Episode's Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources:
What Does "Philosophy Of Care" Mean? | The Open Sanctuary Project
Understanding Mission And Vision Statements For Your Animal Organization | The Open Sanctuary Project
Fostering Positive Relationships Between Animal Sanctuaries | The Open Sanctuary Project
Determining Your Animal Sanctuary's Capacity For Responsible Care | The Open Sanctuary Project
Creating An Effective Set Of Contingency Plans For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project
How To Develop A Fundraising Plan For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project
How To Raise Money For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project
Maintaining a Healthy Rooster Flock | The Open Sanctuary Project
Additional Care Recommendations For Older Chickens | The Open Sanctuary Project
Estimating Species Lifetime Care Costs At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project
A Guide To Safely Catching Stray Birds For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project
Microsanctuary Resource Center
Striving With Systems

Senior Advisor Tara and Nonprofit Specialist Julia discuss a concerning but critical topic: fire safety at animal sanctuaries, a "stuff of nightmares" scenario we believe is essential for every caregiver to confront. We examine the sobering statistics on structure fires and common causes such as electrical issues and spontaneous hay combustion. We also share practical mitigation steps—from removing flammable cobwebs to coordinating with local fire departments—and emphasize the importance of practicing evacuation drills. Stick with us to get informed and protect your residents and caregivers!
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This Episode's Referenced Open Sanctuary Project Resources:
Fire Safety At Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project

Creating An Effective Set Of Contingency Plans For Your Animal Sanctuary | The Open Sanctuary Project

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You can learn more about our organization here!
You can send us a question, comment, or topic idea here!
Want more Open Sanctuary Content? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Want to support our nonprofit's work? Donate here!