About Us:

For over 20 years, at a grassroots level, Wild at Heart Refuge Centre has provided veterinary treatment and rehabilitation to wild animals that are orphaned, sick or injured, so that they may be reintroduced into the wild. The centre’s volunteers treat up to 500 animals per year, including songbirds, raptors, shorebirds, waterfowl, small mammals, and orphaned large mammals. Wild at Heart is a non-profit organization as well as a registered charity.

Wild at Heart operates in partnership with the Walden Animal Hospital. Dr. Rod Jouppi DVM is the president of Wild at Heart as well as the owner of the Walden Animal Hospital. The Walden Animal Hospital donates the time and expertise of its staff as well as the equipment to provide veterinary care to the wild animals brought in to Wild at Heart. After emergency treatment, our dedicated volunteers care for the wild animals around the clock until they can be released. We currently employ one individual and have over 30 volunteers.

The abundance of nature and wildlife are one of the main reasons people choose to make Northern Ontario their home. When an wild animal in distress is found, it's also a stressful situation for the humans. It brings peace of mind to deliver an animal to Wild at Heart and know that it will receive veterinary attention and a second chance at life. It's simply the right thing to do. Compassion isn't reserved soley for humans.

While wildlife rehabilitation is the key focus, the centre is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the community about local wildlife issues, and to be a resource for the public regarding wildlife. Our educational outreach has been done through the development of a website, public presentations and appearances, open houses, and brochure distribution whenever possible. While these are all beneficial, in order to be as effective as possible, we plan to expand by developing hands-on, interactive programs and displays for area schools and community groups in the City of Greater Sudbury.

As Northern Ontario cities expand into wild spaces and human-wildlife interaction increases, there is a greater need for a wildlife rehabilitation centre. Wild at Heart Refuge Centre is the only registered wildlife rehabilitation centre in Northern Ontario (north of Parry Sound), and currently operates within a limited space in and around the Walden Animal Hospital in Lively. Our current facility allows us to treat 20 to 30 animals at any given time. Due to increasing awareness and demand for wildlife rehabilitation services and the new Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) guidelines for wildlife rehabilitation centres, Wild at Heart Refuge Centre must expand and build a new facility in order to continue to care for wildlife and meet the public’s demand for these services.

Once complete, the new facility will double the centre’s current capacity to treat wild animals. It will be located adjacent to the Walden Animal Hospital to allow for continued access to veterinary expertise and equipment. In keeping with Wild at Heart’s respect for nature, the new facility will be a state-of-the-art “green” building. Plans are afoot to create a hay bale structure for Wild at Heart. Hay bale buildings have many ecological and economical benefits. Solar energy, a heat pump, and a gray water treatment pond will be integrated. The facility itself will become an attraction. By showcasing all of these features in one place it is anticipated that the centre will also serve as an inspiration to homebuilders to create more environmentally-friendly dwellings.

Inside, visitors will be able to view wild animals that are in for treatment via unobtrusive ways – such as one-way glass and webcams. They will also be able to learn about the wild animals of Northern Ontario and their care through educational exhibits and programs offered at the new facility. The main public area will provide space for an exhibit about our native wildlife, and will be utilized to provide curriculum-based educational programming for school groups. Once all of this is in place, Wild at Heart Refuge Centre will be on its way to being a self-sustaining endeavor, and small fees will be charged for admission, and to provide educational programming to schools. Access to the Trans-Canada Trail system will be available from the wildlife refuge.

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