4 March 2026
GLO Farm News
MANITOWANING, ONTARIO — GLO Farm Sanctuary has launched a major fundraising campaign to purchase and convert a fully equipped mobile veterinary unit that will allow the sanctuary to establish a dedicated surgical suite on site, bringing lifesaving medical care directly to animals living at the sanctuary on Manitoulin Island.
The sanctuary, which provides lifelong care to rescued farm animals, is seeking to raise $50,000 to purchase the unit from a retiring Ontario veterinarian and convert it into a permanent surgical and diagnostic space at the sanctuary.
Located in Northern Ontario on Manitoulin Island, GLO Farm Sanctuary faces a significant challenge when animals require emergency surgery or advanced diagnostics. The closest facility capable of performing complex surgical procedures is the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Guelph, more than six hours away.
“In an emergency, that distance can have devastating consequences,” said Ali Valentine, Executive Director of GLO Farm Sanctuary. “Having a surgical suite here at the sanctuary would change everything for our animals.”
The opportunity arose when a retiring veterinarian offered the sanctuary the chance to purchase their fully equipped mobile veterinary unit for $30,000, a fraction of what it would cost to purchase similar equipment new. Additional funds will be used to convert the mobile unit into a permanent stationary surgical suite and treatment space at the sanctuary.
GLO Farm Sanctuary is fortunate to have veterinarian Dr. Sarah Dodd as our primary care veterinarian. The addition of a surgical suite would allow Dr. Dodd and visiting veterinary professionals to perform many diagnostics and surgical procedures without animals needing to endure long-distance transport.
The sanctuary has already taken an important step toward this goal by purchasing a complete in-house blood laboratory from the retiring veterinarian. This allows staff to run full blood panels on site, complementing existing diagnostic equipment already available including an x-ray machine, portable ultrasound, and point-of-care emergency blood testing devices.
With the addition of the surgical suite, many of the sanctuary’s residents—including birds, sheep, goats, and potbelly pigs—could receive critical care without ever leaving the sanctuary they call home. This accounts for over 75% of the animals on site who will benefit from this suite.
“This project is about providing animals with the highest quality of care they deserve, right where they feel safest- at home,” Valentine said. “For animals who have already been through so much, reducing stress and travel during medical emergencies can make an enormous difference.”
The $50,000 fundraising campaign is the largest in the sanctuary’s history, and supporters are being encouraged to donate or share the campaign to help bring the surgical suite to GLO.
GLO Farm Sanctuary is a registered Canadian charity that was founded in 2015 and provides lifelong care for rescued farm animals while promoting compassion, education, and advocacy for animals. Many of their animals are rescued from unimaginable abuse, and neglect.
Donations to support the surgical suite project can be made online or by contacting the sanctuary directly. All donations over $20 are eligible for an official tax receipt.
