Julie Grgurich said people will have the opportunity to interact with the animals for an hour or two.
THUNDER BAY – Goat yoga was held at Town Line Equestrian Centre on Sunday to benefit the Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue.
Town Line Equestrian Center owner Julie Grgurich said she opened the center and is donating half of the profits to the charities she works with.
“We came up with the idea after seeing so many people struggling with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and wanting to connect.
“I watched a lot of goat yoga videos and realised this would be the best place to do yoga. It has an indoor centre so it doesn’t matter rain or shine, winter or summer,” she said.
Grgurich said people will have the opportunity to interact with the animals for an hour or two.
“We have a lot of people telling us this is exactly what they needed today.”
Grgurich continues to be amazed by the support she receives from the community: About 80 people signed up and participated in the goat yoga fundraiser.
Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue is set to take home nearly $1,000, Grgurich said.
“We’re so grateful that people are willing to support charitable efforts like this. Thunder Bay is a great community.”
Before Gruglich and her husband retired, Thunderbird was very good to them, she said.
“Now it’s our turn to give back and help charities and people who work hard and pay a lot of money out of their own pockets.
“I feel like we all came together to make this all happen,” she said.
Jennifer Salo, a certified wildlife conservation officer with Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue, said they are trying to meet the need for wildlife conservation in the north because there aren’t any other wildlife rescue groups.
“You can’t help anybody, not even the deer that got hit on the road yesterday, or any of these other creatures.
“We try to be a resource for people and a source of support for injured and orphaned wildlife,” she said.
Salo expressed her gratitude to the community for the support she and Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue have received.
“We run entirely on donations. We don’t receive any funding, but events like this really help support our work,” she said.
Salo urges anyone who finds an orphaned or injured wild animal to call her immediately at (807) 355-2345.
CanadaHelps provides a platform for Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue to automatically generate tax receipts.
The next Goat Yoga event will be held on July 21. For more information, inquiries or to donate, please email thunderranch@tbaytel.net.