When outdoor adventurer Justin set out on his Saskatchewan rafting trip, he didn’t anticipate becoming a lifesaver. However, after he encountered a drowning coyote, he saved the animal’s life and gained a travel companion.

An Unusual Sound

Rafting on the river by his lonesome, Justin wasn’t expecting to hear anything out of the ordinary. So, when he heard squeaking in the water, his interest was piqued. After a quick search, he realized that the noise had come from an animal that was struggling to swim. He couldn’t tell what the creature was because it was so submerged, so he lept into action.

Justin Saves The Day

In his attempt to reach the animal, Justin toppled over into the water. Luckily, he was able to carry out his rescue mission before his raft sailed away. The bad news was that the animal – which turned out to be a young coyote – wasn’t breathing. A lot of people would have panicked in this situation, but Justin knew what to do. He was familiar with CPR, so he gave the coyote the Heimlich maneuver with a few adjustments. Thankfully, it worked.

Nursed Back To Health

After barely avoiding a watery grave, the young animal was understandably weak and afraid, Justin couldn’t just leave it alone in the wild, but he also had no cell service to call for help. So, he decided to become the coyote’s temporary carer. He fed the animal, let them sleep in his backpack, and even gave them a name – YipYip.

Time To Say Goodbye

The pair definitely bonded during their time rafting together. However, Justin eventually got in contact with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan, which meant it was time for them to part ways. It was a sad goodbye, but it was for the best.

If it weren’t for Justin’s bravery and kindness, YipYip wouldn’t be with us today. He’s definitely a hero in our eyes.

Back in 2017, Christopher Vane did something special to honor his late mother. He opened up a sanctuary for farm animals where they could live out the rest of their days in comfort. Since then, more than 150 creatures have found their way to him, and it’s saved their lives.

A Shared Love

Christopher has always had a deep love for animals, partly because his mom was so passionate about them herself. For the longest time, he wanted to do something to help, which is how Little Bear Sanctuary came to exist. It was sad for Vane to lose his mom just a few months before the place opened, but he knew she’d be proud of him. After all, he was giving back to the animals that both of them loved so much.

A Second Chance

The sanctuary is home to a number of different species, including sheep, cows, goats, and even a tortoise. Around half of its inhabitants are pigs, including Willy, the sanctuary’s very first resident. The majority of the animals here were destined for slaughter, but thankfully, Christopher gave them a second chance of life. Now, while they might still be scarred by their traumatic pasts, at least they have an opportunity to be happy.

Money Vs. Happiness

Although the sanctuary doesn’t make any money, Vane isn’t bothered by the lack of income. Going outside and seeing his animals free to roam the 30-acre property gives him all the satisfaction he needs. Of course, if he wants to keep opening the sanctuary’s doors to new inhabitants, he does need some money coming in. That’s why he set up a GoFundMe so that anyone who wants to help out with the expansion project can do their bit. So far, $15,000 of the $55,000 goal has been raised.

It’s nice to see these farm animals getting another shot at happiness. We’re so grateful for what Christopher’s doing.