A Mission animal sanctuary has sold its property and is searching for a new home.
SAINTS is on the hunt for a new location, which board president Paula Gagne hopes is still in Mission.
“That would be ideal but there are some limitations on properties that are available that do meet our needs,” Gagne said.”That’s been sort of the hardest part.”
SAINTS provides a home for senior animals and animals with medical needs. With an increased demand for intakes, the organization is looking for a larger property.
“For us, it’s really difficult because with our infrastructure and our property changing, we’ve had to kind of stop intakes at times,” Gagne said.
Many of the available properties in the Mission area are either in a flood zone or too close to neighbouring properties, Gagne says. SAINTS also has specific needs that make it challenging to find the right fit.
Through the process, Gagne says the City of Mission has been open to communication and solution-oriented. SAINTS is looking to stay in the Fraser Valley, and she says the organization has considered locations in Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Langley and Maple Ridge.
“We’d really like it to stay within the Mission borders … and likely no further than Abbotsford. We wouldn’t go out as far as Chilliwack or otherwise. We kind of want to stay as close to here as we can,” Gagne said.
Over the past few years, SAINTS has experienced the disintegration of some of its buildings which led to listing the property for sale. Issues such as a crumbling foundation, a water system that would run out of water during the summer months, and insufficient space proved challenging for the sanctuary.
“This was a really difficult decision for our board of directors and change is hard. It’s going to impact people, both in really positive ways and in some ways that are maybe going to be a challenge,” Gagne said. “And yet, I think we’re ready to rise for the challenge because our focus really is on improving the lives — not just of our resident animals — but also of our staff and our volunteers.”
SAINTS was founded by Carol Hine in 2004. Hine purchased three acres of property two years later. The sanctuary grew to welcome cats, dogs, rabbits, farm animals, guinea pigs, and even turtles. Hine sold the property to SAINTS in August 2018 and donated half of the proceeds back to the organization.
Despite the challenges the property presented, Gagne said it wasn’t difficult to find a buyer. SAINTS has a one-year cushion to find a new home by staying on the property through a rent agreement.
“If we did have to move out of Mission, it’s not because that was our desire, it’s just because we’re putting the needs of the ones who need it most first,” Gagne said.
SAINTS hopes to launch a capital campaign to help become mortgage-free as soon as possible to allow the organization to use donations on better care.
READ MORE: Unwanted animals find home in Mission with SAINTS