Maynard loves his toys!
This new website has been dedicated to Maynard!
A serious situation developed at our Redmond location of Sara’s Sanctuary. One of our neighbors filed a formal complaint against Sara’s Sanctuary. When King County Animal Control responded to the complaint and conducted an on-site inspection, they found NO code violations with our sanctuary. ONLY because of this neighbor’s persistent threats and efforts against us, our case was transferred to King County DDES. This neighbor then obtained a petition against us. This petition action resulted in an investigation of our property. King County is now questioning our animal enclosures, in proximity to the property lines/and the property line set backs laws. The set back laws for a private farm or a Sanctuary for animals, is 10′. We are a Sanctuary for animals, not a shelter. A shelter, is a temporary housing facility, which adopts out animals. Because we are a Sanctuary the setbacks are “10 ft” . King County now wants to change our classification to a shelter instead of what we are a “sanctuary”. This will change our set backs to 50′ for any animal enlcosure and even our pasture grazing area. There is No grandfather clause for buildings for a shelter. Although, this property was bought for the sole use of the “Sanctuary”, our barn, that was built over 20 years ago, (not by us) is not safe from the Neighbors and the County. Because of the neighbors threats, the County now say’s it’s too close to the property lines. Our barn is 48′ from our surveryed property line, but we have been told to tear it down. Just one of many enlosures where our babies call home.
We are USDA licensed and exotic animals do not fall into the the same laws of domestic animals. Maynard, was not an issue – he was protected as an exotic endangered species. Sadly to say, many of any of the other animals living at the Sanctuary were not protected by this same act because they were not exotic. The injured little dove, an abused and injured goat, or the goose that was shot in the head, are not protected because they are not exotic endangered species. We are working with King County to try and resolve these property ”set back” issues. Sara’s Sanctuary needs your support now more than ever. Throughout the 10 years we have existed at this location, we have always had the community’s support, including King County. We believed that support included our neighbors, it is very dis-heartning to find out they do not support us and our mission. We will continue to fight to be allowed to continue our mission of helping animals in need at our Redmond, King County, location.
If you believe in what we are doing here and want to help us to continue our mission of offering a lifetime home to animals who have nowhere else to go (and you are a resident of King County, WA), please click on the button above and sign our petition to show King County that we have our community’s support. We have made it through many hurdles over the years, and we will never stop fighting to provide the highest quality of life for the animals that find their way to our door. We will continue our love and dedicated care to these incredible creatures no matter what obstacles are thrown in front of us. Sara’s Sanctuary is here for life! It is now up to King County whether we will be allowed to continue to operate out of our Redmond location. Please help us protect the animals that have come to find a safe and happy home, here in Redmond WA.
