Tuulispää animal sanctuary
Tuulispää is an animal sanctuary for farm animals. Tuulispää was founded in 2012 and is based in Somero, Finland.
Animals come to Tuulispää for very different reasons: some are stray animals, and some need a new home because their owners are unable to keep them. Some come through public authorities as animal protection cases. Some are individuals that have been saved from animal farms and therefore slaughter. A common factor for all these animals, regardless of age, is that they no longer have a place to go, and many are under threat of slaughter or being put down. The animals either spend the rest of their life at Tuulispää, or a new home is found for them. Tuulispää documents the lives of its animal residents and through these videos strives to elevate the dignity and status of animals in society as well as spark discussion about humans’ relationship with other animals.
In addition to helping individual animals, Tuulispää’s goal is to share information about animal protection and animal rights. In the summer, the sanctuary hosts visitation days which allow people to get acquainted with Tuulispää’s daily work and inhabitants. The guided tours inform visitors about how different animals ended up as residents as well as facilitate discussions about the status of animals in our current society.
The sanctuary is currently building an education center where they intend to host lectures, courses and events related to animal rights and welfare. During visiting days, the vegan cafe Pikku Puhuri helps visitors fill their bellies and offers them a chance to try animal-friendly food.
Tuulispää animal sanctuary is run by a non-profit organization, Eläinsuojeluyhdistys Tuulispää ry. The organization raises money through donations, membership fees, sponsors for individual animals, proceeds from the vegan cafe, endorsement products, and events. The money is used to maintain and improve the sanctuary’s work as well as for different construction projects.
You can take part in Tuulispää’s work by volunteering or organizing your own event to raise money for Tuulispää.
Residents of Tuulispää animal sanctuary
Kassu
Kassu’s story is a typical one for a racehorse. He didn’t do well in races and changed owners multiple times. People tried to turn Kassu into a riding horse, but when that didn’t work out, the life of a vagabond continued. Kassu started getting older and could no longer find a new owner, so the next stop would have been the slaughterhouse. Tuulispää provided a safe retirement home where Kassu can spend the rest of his life. He now lives with four other horses and has lots of free space to run around in.
Osku
In the town of Janakkala, there was a tame pack of wild boars destroying people’s gardens, and the police ordered the boars to be killed. Tuulispää spoke out on behalf of the boars, and due to public pressure, the plan was cancelled – but not before four members of the pack had already been shot. Some of the boars are unaccounted for, but Osku made it to Tuulispää with the help of volunteers. Osku loves food and scratches, digging the earth, rolling around in ditches and running around. Osku lives together with miniature pig Sulo in their own shelter, where they are free to decide if they want to be indoors or outside with the other residents.
Elli
Elli and three other sheep were part of a larger herd raised for meat, and when the farm shut down, the four stayed behind as pets. However, the owner changed their mind and wanted to get rid of them, and would have sent them all to be slaughtered, but instead offered them to Tuulispää as a last resort. The sheep were very timid when they came to Tuulsipää. Little by little, they became more trusting: along with the others, Elli has gained a lot of courage and comes as close to humans as possible to receive scratches. The sheep live in the same shelter with cows and are free to decide whether they want to be inside or outside.
Late
Lauri, aka Late, moved to Tuulispää as a 7-week-old calf. Late was born on a field, and the human who was working at the time took such a liking to Late that they wanted to help him continue his life at Tuulispää. Late is full of energy; he jumps and leaps around and afterwards takes a nap in a pile of straw. Tuulispää’s other bovine residents Nunnu and Jennifer have welcomed Late, and they spend a lot of time together. The three of them live in a shelter with outdoor access whenever they want.