SPEAK FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T
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Whether we are allowed to continue, or if we have to fund moving all of the animals to prevent euthanasia - we have a lot of expenses to cover
Even a small donation will be greatly appreciated!!!
Pacific Wildlife Project is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization
Your donation to support our Emerald Sanctuary location is tax deductible
SIGN THE PETITION
Your signature can save the lives & homes of
hundreds of animals
SAVE THE ANIMALS
before they are evicted or euthanized
Help us continue our 50+ years of community service - so we can
keep saving countless lives for years to come!
Pacific Wildlife Project's Emerald Sanctuary
URGENT! Orange County’s only no-kill animal sanctuary is being evicted!
Hundreds of animals need your help NOW.
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Pacific Wildlife Project's Emerald Sanctuary has been a beacon of hope for abandoned, forfeited, exotic, and former pet animals in
Laguna Beach for over 50 years.
The only facility of its kind in Orange County, the humane sanctuary offers safe and nurturing forever homes to a wide variety of animals that include: alpacas, emus, swans, small and giant tortoises, as well as smaller former pets such as birds, bunnies, waterfowl, guinea pigs, and pocket pets.
In recent years, the Sanctuary became part of the award-winning wildlife charity Pacific Wildlife Project. Together, they formed the region’s first all-inclusive wildlife and exotic care program that is staffed solely by volunteers and supported through public donations.
Nestled on a south county hillside on Orange County parkland, the organization has worked hand in hand with State, County, and local agencies and the general public in offering a safe placement for exotic animals, meeting the needs of agencies and the demands of the public for humane animal treatment and care.
Recently, following the Laguna Beach hillside fire dubbed the “Emerald Fire,” the Sanctuary founder was credited with saving the community from further damage with his effective, natural fire break planting at the Sanctuary’s edge.
THE BAD NEWS - despite local accolades in fire prevention, the event prompted a County review of the Sanctuary's grandfathered land use. OC Parks ordered the Sanctuary to close and vacate the animals from the property.
Many residents are older, injured, or plentiful deeming them not desirable for placement. With no alternative location to safely house those animals and no other placement options, the animals now face imminent seizure by the County animal authorities and euthanasia death.
We need help from the community to let the agency know that we value these animals and the Sanctuary's worthy purpose.
If you value the lives of all animals and the preservation of our natural spaces;
If you support our humane “no-kill” environmental mission; and
If you agree that Orange County should have a safe sanctuary for abandoned and unwanted animals.
THEN NOW IS THE TIME TO BE HEARD AND TAKE ACTION. PLEASE GIVE US YOUR SUPPORT TO SAVE THEM.
You have the power to move mountains and save countless innocent lives if you make it known that you support the Sanctuary at its current location. It is up to you whether or not the Sanctuary will survive.
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Thank you for helping us continue to serve you and the animals.
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Meet Kris
Kris’ first architectural experience was building custom aviaries and enclosures for animals he cared for and rescued in his youth. Showing early aptitude, his parents, famous Laguna Beach philanthropists, Vernon & Cherry Spitaleri, encouraged his skills by asking him to design a cabin for the family. Kris and his family built his design. The stunning geodesic creation still stands in the mountains today!
After earning his architectural degree he continued serving Laguna Beach as a designer, builder and renovator on local projects. For several years Kris then traveled by backpack around the world. From spending time with mother Teresa in Calcutta India to living with Aborigines in the Australian outback. Then to camping with the nomads in the Tibetan Himalayas and many other parts of the world.
His building efforts restored hope to victims of the Yugoslav war. Kris founded the Dawn Society which helped bring relief to orphans, save the lives of refugees, and teach people to live in peace by creating a project that brought refugees of opposing sides together to help re-build each other's homes after the ravages of war.
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, he co-founded the Afghan Amity Society to bring relief and restoration to victims of war in Afghanistan. Kris designed a self sustaining multi-functional center consisting of schools, housing, cultural arts complex, orphanage, regenerative food garden, self contained green energy systems, medical clinic, and ecology center to rebuild the region in a clean and sustainable way.
Now, Kris' attention is turned back home to his roots in Laguna, where he is offering his lifetime of knowledge and skill for the benefit of the community. Residents know, the Straw House has been a tremendous labor of love that was slowed by Kris making himself available for years of sleepless nights at the bedside of his parents until thier passing.
The Straw House is dedicated to Cherry & Vernon, in loving memory, and in continuation of their legacy.