Promised Land Animal Sanctuary

11/20/2024

Have you noticed more coyotes out and about than usual? 🐺🐺🐺 It’s dispersal season! Young coyotes are leaving their families to find their place in the world—kind of like kids heading off to college. This increase in sightings doesn’t mean a population boom; it’s simply a more noticeable part of their life cycle. Plus, with less vegetation and snow-covered ground, they’re easier to spot this time of year.

An increase in sightings is not a cause for alarm. Coyotes are naturally wary of people and prefer to keep their distance. As young coyotes explore new areas, here are some ways we can help them remain good neighbors:

✅ Secure all food sources: Feed dogs and cats indoors, secure trash bins, and pick up fallen fruit.
✅ Practice safe animal companion guardianship: Keep dogs on leash during walks, especially where coyotes are active. Territorial dogs and excessive barking can sometimes instigate an avoidable encounter.
✅ Never feed coyotes: Feeding them creates an association between people and food, which can lead to conflict.
✅ Keep an eye out: Slow down and watch for wildlife on roadways.

Coyotes play a vital role in thriving ecosystems by naturally regulating populations of rodents and rabbits, reducing the spread of disease, and supporting biodiversity. Foster by learning how to share the landscape with your wild neighbors!

11/19/2024

We need fosters! Can you help?

11/18/2024

THE MANY USES FOR WOOD ASH

If you heat your home with wood, you probably have a good supply of wood ash.
It consists mainly of the minerals left behind after burning wood, and contains calcium along with other beneficial elements that can be useful around the house when applied correctly.

NATURAL ICE MELT

One of the most effective uses for wood ash during winter is as a natural ice melt. The minerals in wood ash function similarly to salt, helping to melt ice on driveways and walkways. Just be cautious when using it near your front door, as it can create a mess if tracked inside.

NATURAL TOILET CLEANER

Wood ash is an excellent toilet cleaner because it not only cleans and polishes the bowl but is also safe for septic systems.

CLEANING CLOUDY HEADLIGHTS

A reader once shared that they create a rubbing paste from wood ash to clear up cloudy headlights on their vehicle. This makes sense, as the grime and exhaust residue on headlights are quite similar to the dirt on stove glass.

SILVER POLISH

Just like it cleans glass, wood ash can also be used to polish silver. Simply dampen a cloth, add a bit of wood ash, and gently rub tarnished silver to restore its shine.

In rural areas and while camping, wood ash is often used to scrub dishes as well.

SKUNK ODOR REMOVER

Wood ash can help neutralize skunk odor on pets. If your pet gets sprayed, dust them with wood ash and leave them outside for a few hours before giving them a thorough bath.

While this method can be somewhat effective and may have been more common in the past, there are now better alternatives available. If your pet has been sprayed by a skunk, using wood ash is fine in a pinch, but I highly recommend having skunk-off spray and specialized pet shampoo on hand.

CONCEALING STAINS ON PAVING

Wood ash, with its natural grey hue, is effective for masking stains on sidewalks and paving. Just sprinkle a little on the affected area and rub it in with your shoe.

REMOVING OIL SPILLS

Just like it can hide stains, wood ash is also great for soaking up oil spills, helping to prevent them from becoming a problem in the first place.

ROACH REPELLENT

Sprinkling some ash in dark areas of your home or beneath appliances can deter cockroaches. Their tough exoskeletons don’t fare well against wood ash, making it an effective barrier.

ODOR ABSORBER

Much like baking soda, wood ash can help eliminate unpleasant smells in your home. Placing a small jar in the fridge can work wonders, especially if there are bits of charcoal mixed in with the ashes.

HUMIDITY ABSORBER

Wood ash is useful for soaking up moisture and can help stop mold from forming in damp areas. Just put a cup of wood ashes in a musty cupboard or basement, and the leftover charcoal pieces will enhance its effectiveness.

GARDEN FERTILIZER

Rich in trace minerals from the wood, wood ash is beneficial for plant health. While it lacks carbon and nitrogen, those nutrients can easily be sourced from compost.

According to the University of Vermont, about 5 gallons of wood ash is recommended for every 1,000 square feet of garden space. However, be cautious, as it raises soil pH and isn’t suitable for acid-loving plants like blueberries or potatoes.

ENHANCE COMPOST

Adding a small amount of wood ash can give your compost pile a helpful boost. While birds may enjoy the compost, in rural areas, it can attract bears. Sprinkling some wood ash on top can deter these large animals from rummaging through your scraps.

Many have found that since they began incorporating wood ash into their compost, they’ve noticed a significant improvement in its health. Digging into the center reveals a handful of active worms diligently breaking everything down.

MANAGING POND ALGAE

Wood ash is rich in micronutrients essential for plant growth, which can also enhance the health of aquatic plants. The potassium found in wood ash can help rooted aquatic plants in a pond thrive, allowing them to better compete with algae. This competition can effectively slow down algae growth in the pond. Just be cautious not to overdo it.

AVOIDING FROST DAMAGE TO PLANTS

Sprinkling wood ash on plants before a light frost can help shield them from frost damage. This is because the mineral salts in wood ash can lower the freezing point of water without harming the plant tissues, unlike some other salts.

COMBATING CALCIUM DEFICIENCY IN TOMATOES

Those unsightly black spots on tomatoes are often due to a lack of calcium. While eggshells and bone meal are commonly added to tomato planting holes for calcium, wood ash can serve the same purpose. Simply mix about 1/4 cup of wood ash into each tomato planting hole before placing the transplants.

REPELLING SLUGS AND SNAILS

Creating a ring of wood ash around your crops can deter slugs and snails from entering your plant beds. We use this method around our homegrown shiitake mushrooms, which are particularly vulnerable to these pests. It’s also effective for leafy vegetables like lettuce. Keep in mind that the wood ash barrier will only last until it rains or gets wet, so you’ll need to reapply it regularly. The upside is that it washes off easily when it’s time to harvest.

SAFE ANT REPELLENT FOR KIDS AND PETS

By placing a mound of wood ash on top of an anthill, you can encourage ants to relocate their nest. This method won’t destroy the nest, but it will prompt the ants to move, making it a great way to keep their nests away from areas where kids play.

MINERAL SUPPLEMENT FOR CHICKENS

Wood ash is packed with minerals, making it a beneficial supplement for chickens when used in moderation. According to Community Chickens, “Wood ash provides calcium and potassium.” Adding wood ash to your chicken feed can be a great way to enhance their diet.

11/14/2024

🤔 indeed

11/11/2024

Lest we forget the innocent voiceless who were forced to fight for us. 💜

11/09/2024

Imagine being born into a life of slavery, where your worth is reduced to a single metric: production. If you don’t meet the quota, you’re eliminated. That’s your existence—your only value. And when your life ends, you become a forgotten meal on someone’s plate, the taste of you fading from memory before the plate is even cleared. You’ll die long before reaching middle age, and no one will mourn you.

You know what’s happening to you. You’re aware, but powerless to change it. They know, too. They’ve studied you, experimented on you, and confirmed you’re as intelligent as their own 4-year-olds.

This is Big Mama. Her downfall—and her salvation—were the same: she couldn’t produce enough babies to justify keeping her alive. But forty-five minutes before she was set to be shipped off, a guardian angel swooped in with a horse trailer and saved her life.

Big Mama represents every pig. Every pig deserves a sanctuary, not a slaughterhouse. Right now, farmed animals are victims of the largest, silent slave trade on the planet. If humans killed each other at the same rate we kill them, we’d drive ourselves to extinction in a week. Let that reality sink in.

I believe, with all my heart, that peace starts on our plates. If we raise compassionate children, we build a compassionate society—one that finds war inconceivable. Sounds radical? Sounds like a different species entirely? It would be. A better one.

Come meet Big Mama and see for yourself what love can do.

Promised Land exists to serve its community by providing a safe haven for unwanted, abandoned, sick, and elderly animals. Requests for surrenders are pouring in, but our resources are limited. You can make a difference by sharing, volunteering, or donating. Every type of support helps and we appreciate it all.

11/08/2024

Dog found in Hastings. Injured. Possibly hit by car. Has a choker chain around neck.

11/06/2024

Fin. Our wannabe barn cat. He makes friends with everyone, including the mice and pigeons. He rolls instead of running from the dogs. He likes to nap in the tick-infested tall grass and then patiently waits while i pull them off of him. When it gets too cold, he finally allows himself to be coaxed into the house and curls up by the fire. He may be a broken barn cat but he rocks being cute.

11/06/2024

We have an open door policy 😂

11/03/2024

Super excited to participate in The International Vegan Film Festival on Saturday, November 16th! 📽️🥑 Hosted by the Innis Town Hall Theatre in Toronto.

Come check out great vegan vendors starting at 5:30 pm (PLAS will be there).

At 6:00 pm take part in the social media activism workshop with legendary vegan John Oberg

Enjoy some thought-provoking and meaningful films starting at 7:00 pm

Stop by our booth and say hello.
Tickets are almost sold out. Get yours theivff.com

11/01/2024

Happy World Vegan Day, friends! 🥗

James Cromwell, who played the farmer in *Babe*, "the brave little pig," decided to adopt veganism after his experience on the film. The actor, who is also an honorary board member of PETA, explains that during the filming, he had the chance to observe the intelligence and curious personalities of pigs, which inspired him to seek a better life for them.

"All pigs should have the opportunity to live in a sanctuary" he says, "where they can choose when to have fun, forage for food, and enjoy their time in their own way”,

Credits: Yo Tengo Voz

10/31/2024

Point Pelee National Park culling deer! 🦌
This is suppose to be a safe haven for them! Please write to them and stop this madness!

To ensure the long-term health of Point Pelee National Park’s sensitive ecosystems, Parks Canada and Caldwell First Nation will be conducting a deer cull in the park between November 1 and November 8, 2024, inclusive. Public safety is of the utmost importance to Parks Canada and therefore, the park will be closed to visitors during this time and will reopen on November 9, 2024.

Parks Canada and Caldwell First Nation will conduct the deer cull in two parts again this year - in November 2024 and in January 2025. The park will close again from January 24-31, 2025, inclusive, for the second week of the operation.

For more information on the operation please visit: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/pelee/securite-safety/bulletins/b15d76f4-78be-401d-8f51-4f7b551d7a0d

For more information on hyperabundant deer in the park visit: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/pelee/nature/conservation/surabondantes-hyperabundant

10/27/2024

3 hours to stack 1000 bales! Thanks to an amazing team of third-year TMU film students—Dario, Keefe, and Isaac. Besides coming out to film a documentary about our sanctuary, these dedicated volunteers took time out of their busy schedules to make sure our animals are fed and happy.

Hay is one of our biggest expenses here at the sanctuary. We source some off the best hay money can buy from a local quality supplier. Our work to care for these animals can’t happen without community support. If you’re able, please consider donating to help us cover the cost of hay and other essentials. Every contribution makes a huge difference!

”

10/26/2024

Proud to be a member of such an amazing community!

10/26/2024

Sincere thanks to Kyle Clark of Abbey Road Masonry & Landscaping for kindly giving his time to expertly parge our barn foundation. Beautiful 🤩.

Interested in learning this distinctive craft? We're planning a workshop with Kyle ~ send a DM for information!

10/24/2024

🐶 ADOPTABLE - PLEASE SHARE 🐶

Foxxy was found as a stray on our road. He was on the run for a while, skinny and starving. He was likely used as a hunting dog and kept in a small concrete cell without any bedding. I think so because he prefers pooping on the driveway instead of grass and would at first fall asleep sitting up, until he fell over. 😢 He did not know what a dog bed was and was likely kept locked up most of the time.

He hates being locked up or tied up. If left alone in a room or crate, he eventually settles. Foxxy is energetic and loves to play with other dogs. He is uninterested in cats. True to his husky nature, he does love to wander, so needs a secure, fully-fenced yard.

Foxxy is looking for his forever home. Please reach out if you are interested.

10/24/2024

🐶 ADOPTABLE - PLEASE SHARE 🐶

Foxxy was found as a stray on our road. He was on the run for a while, skinny and starving. He was likely used as a hunting dog and kept in a small concrete cell without any bedding. I think so because he prefers pooping on the driveway instead of grass and would at first fall asleep sitting up, until he fell over. 😢 He did not know what a dog bed was and was likely kept locked up most of the time.

He hates being locked up or tied up. If left alone in a room or crate, he eventually settles. Foxxy is energetic and loves to play with other dogs. He is uninterested in cats. True to his husky nature, he does love to wander, so needs a secure, fully-fenced yard.

Foxxy is looking for his forever home. Please reach out if you are interested.