Twin Meadows Animal Rescue Society (TMARS) mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home animals and to educate their owners and community members about responsible pet ownership and animal interaction.

TMARS is a non-profit animal rescue organization launched in February 2020, located in Fernie, in the East Kootenays, British Columbia. TMARS rescues and re-homes local stray, abandoned and feral animals, animals from nearby reserves, owner surrenders, animals from high kill shelters and more. It’s a kennel free organization relying on foster homes to help care for animals until they can be adopted. In their first full year of operation, 2021 almost 150 animals were rescued including 71 cats and 65 dogs. 2022 and 2023 saw 75-85 rescued animals.

TMARS has no paid staff and no physical facilities. The volunteer board of 8 raises funds through events and bottle drives, donations and adoption fees. At TMARS every animal that comes into care is vetted, spayed or neutered, and provided vet care as needed so all animals put up for adoption are in good health. Around 75% of the annual budget of $100,000 is spent on vet bills alone despite substantial discounts from our local partner, Tanglefoot Vet Services.

TMARS relies entirely on volunteer resources for fostering, rescue support, fundraising and dozens of other activities. The Elk Valley community is hugely supportive of TMARS; individuals giving hours of their time, giving up their homes to house distressed and anxious animals, as well as dozens of businesses donating gifts and supplies for fosters to use, and to our annual silent auction.