Rescue dedicated to small animals raising funds for shelter space
A Manitoba animal rescue, which works exclusively with exotic animals and ‘pocket pets,’ is turning to the public for help in raising money for a shelter space.
Popcorns and Binkies Rescue Haven, a charitable not-for-profit in Winnipeg, focuses on animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, and hedgehogs.
After five and a half years in operation, the rescue is looking for a physical shelter to provide emergency intake space. The not-for-profit is currently a foster-based rescue without a physical building.
To help with its goal, Popcorns and Binkies launched the ‘Stairway to Haven’ campaign on Monday to raise $150,000 towards getting that shelter location.
“We’ve been doing okay for about 5.5 years, but the demand for the animals we take in, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, all those kinds of things, has grown exponentially,” said Cindy Hildebrand, director and founder of Popcorns and Binkies Rescue Haven.
Popcorn and Binkies helps exotic animals and pocket pets. (Source: Scott Andersson/CTV News)
Hildebrand said that post-pandemic, many animals have been surrendered and need a placement. Since Popcorns and Binkies is one of the few places that take in exotic animals and pocket pets, the rescue needs more space to care for all the animals coming in.
“Foster homes aren’t cutting it anymore, so we need an actual shelter,” Hildebrand said.
Hildebrand explained that fostering rabbits and guinea pigs tend to be a longer commitment than taking in dogs or cats, which makes it difficult to find foster homes.
She added that having a physical space would help Popcorns and Binkies with emergency intakes for small animals that need immediate placement.
“Having a shelter would allow us that emergency intake space to bring them in, assess them and get them the medical care that they need,” Hildebrand said.
She noted that a physical shelter would also take some of the strain off of the rescue’s foster homes, freeing them up for the more long-term cases.
More information about Popcorns and Binkies and the Stairway to Haven campaign can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Donald Trump indicted; 1st ex-president charged with crime
Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, prosecutors and defense lawyers said Thursday, making him the first former U.S. president to face a criminal charge and jolting his bid to retake the White House next year.

Police find 6 bodies, including 1 child, in St. Lawrence River
The bodies of six people, including one child, were found in the St. Lawrence River Thursday afternoon after an air search involving the Canadian Coast Guard, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police said.
'Nova Scotians' sense of safety was rocked': RCMP failures dominate inquiry's final report into 2020 mass shooting
A long list of failures by Nova Scotia RCMP leadership and policing systems dominate the final report into Nova Scotia's April 2020 mass shooting.
Meet the Canadian astronauts up for a seat on the Artemis II mission to the moon
This Sunday, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will announce the four astronauts that will be blasting off to fly around the moon for the Artemis II mission, one of whom will be a Canadian astronaut.
Gwyneth Paltrow not at fault for ski collision, jury decides
Gwyneth Paltrow won her court battle over a 2016 ski collision at a posh Utah ski resort after a jury decided Thursday that the movie star wasn't at fault for the crash.
Memes, ski etiquette and that missing GoPro video: Highlights from the Gwyneth Paltrow trial
When two skiers collided on a beginner run at an upscale Utah ski resort in 2016, no one could foresee that seven years later, the crash would become the subject of a closely watched celebrity trial.
Facebook users consume more fake news than users of Twitter, other social media sites: Study
When it comes to election misinformation on social media, Facebook takes the cake, according to a new study which found heavy Facebook users were far more likely to consume fake news than Twitter or other social media sites.
People may buy less alcohol when stores have non-alcoholic drinks on sale, study suggests
Researchers believe the availability of non-alcoholic drinks can help to combat drinking problems.
EXCLUSIVE | Security increased for prime minister's advisers after break-and-enter incidents
Ottawa Police are investigating an attempted break-in at the residence of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national security adviser, the second such incident involving one of his top aides in recent months.