Location: Canada
Secondhand Stories is a chicken sanctuary near Perth, Ontario. Our mission is to inspire compassion for chickens through rescue, advocacy and education. We are Canada’s first charity focused exclusively on providing lifelong care for chickens, where they can live their natural lives in peace, be free from exploitation and suffering, and have fulfilling, enriching experiences.
Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary was founded by partners Liz & Craig Wheeler and is supported by an incredible board of directors and volunteer team.
Liz is a passionate animal advocate who is dedicated to improving the lives of animals in our community. She has completed a certificate in Animal Welfare from Thompson Rivers University and a certification in Anthrozoology at the University of Windsor. In the past five years, her enthusiasm for connecting people and animals together has led her to a career as a professional fundraiser. She’s worked at the Ottawa Humane Society, Humane Canada (Canadian Federation of Humane Societies) and is currently the Philanthropy Manager at Faunalytics. Liz spends her life dedicated to animals, and when she’s not working or running Secondhand Stories, she is finding new ways to advocate for animal rights to various levels of government.
Craig is a social worker and lifelong animal lover who brings his professional experience working with children and adults facing mental health challenges, addictions, and crisis situations to his compassionate animal advocacy work. Craig has extensive experience volunteering with local animal rescues and sanctuaries in various capacities, and has fostered over 250 cats and kittens, including advanced critical care cases. Through his work with chickens, Craig has developed a better understanding of their unique personalities and intelligence, finding comfort in their presence during challenging times. This connection has inspired him to become a dedicated advocate for chicken welfare, engaging city councillors on bylaw issues, writing educational blogs, and corresponding with major chicken operations to promote policy improvements. Craig leads our animal care operations and maintenance while ensuring the chickens receive daily care, cleaning, and feeding. He is our behind-the-scenes rockstar.
Bios of our board of directors can be found here: https://www.secondhandstories.ca/team
Secondhand Stories is lucky to have an incredible Research Scientist, Dr. Jo Anderson, on our board of directors. Jo is helping us fill knowledge gaps for sanctuaries that care for chickens. Reproductive illness is a leading cause of mortality in rescued hens, yet a life-saving preventative treatment (Suprelorin implants) remains prohibitively expensive and difficult to access in Canada. Secondhand Stories is launching a multi-phase project to bridge this gap by gathering data from sanctuaries, collaborating with veterinary professionals, and compiling evidence-based research on the efficacy of this intervention. We will leverage these findings to create resources for chicken guardians and veterinarians, ensuring every rescued hen has equitable access to the preventative healthcare necessary for a long life free from suffering.
Website: https://www.secondhandstories.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondhandstories_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secondhandstoriesmicrosanctuary
Donate: https://www.secondhandstories.ca
