Future Plans
Home for Life® is embarking on the final phase of construction for our prototype facility in Star Prairie, Wisconsin. The planned construction of the Dog Training and Exercise Building and Horse Arena is a modest project that will nevertheless enhance life for many of our special needs animals.
An artist's rendering of the proposed new building. See a rendering of the interior. Back to exterior view.
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This multipurpose building will house our population of paraplegic dogs. The building will provide an indoor exercise area where these and other fragile dogs can play and run when the weather is inclement.
The building will also serve as a training arena for younger dogs who participate in the Renaissance Program. Several of these dogs do so well in the Renaissance Program that they become certified therapy dogs who visit nursing homes, hospitals and battered women's shelters. The dogs' training currently involves long drives— time that would be better spent in training at the facility!
We have also planned space in the building for our small population of FIV-infected cats. (FIV is a fatal, infectious disease in cats. Cats with this virus can live many years in good health despite being positive for the virus. However, they need to be isolated to prevent the spread of the disease.)
Home for Life® needs $250,000 to complete construction of the new facility.
Land acquisition
One hundred and sixty acres lying to the south of Home for Life were once part of the Wisconsin farmland where our sanctuary is located. Home for Life® would like to acquire this land to insulate the sanctuary from development.
Star Prairie, Wisconsin is still very rural. However, the Minnesota side of St. Croix valley has been rapidly developed in recent years. As the population in eastern Minnesota continues to grow, development will inevitably spill over to the Wisconsin side. We want to preserve the serene and natural setting around the sanctuary by buying the property while it is still available and affordable. The cost to purchase the land is $500,000.
Home for Life® hopes to purchase this acreage to protect its serene environment and to provide land for horse rescue.