About Us
True North Sanctuary provides refuge, lifelong care, and compassionate support for animals in need while fostering healing, connection, and hope through the transformative bond between animals, people, and nature. Inspired by the unconditional love that guides us, we strive to create a safe place where every life is valued, every journey is honored, and every being has the opportunity to thrive.
Our Story
Some stories begin with a dream. Ours began with a dog.
Tucker was not a rescue animal, a therapy dog, or a celebrity. He was simply a loyal companion whose capacity for love transformed a life. He showed what it means to love without conditions, to remain present in difficult moments, and to find joy in life’s simplest experiences.
He sparked a vision. A vision of a place where animals would never have to wonder if they were safe. A place where animals could be loved. A place where people could reconnect with hope. A place where healing could happen naturally through compassion, intention, community, and the remarkable bond between humans and animals.
That vision became True North Sanctuary.
Today, that vision is taking shape through animals receiving care, adopters welcoming new companions, volunteers giving their time, and supporters helping us create safer, more comfortable spaces. True North is growing through the everyday acts of compassion that make rescue possible.
Our spiritual connection to this work continues to deepen. We believe the bond between animals and people is sacred, and we honor healing as physical, emotional, and spiritual. Reiki and gentle energy healing are part of our approach, offered with respect for each animal’s comfort and alongside appropriate veterinary care.
As we grow, our vision includes lifelong sanctuary for animals who need it, humane education, and future experiences that help children, families, and our wider community connect with animals and nature. Tucker’s love remains at the heart of it all.
What Guides Our Care
Compassion
Every animal is an individual with their own history, personality, and needs. We meet them with kindness and respect, especially when they arrive frightened, uncertain, or in need of extra care.
Patience
Trust takes time. We respect each animal’s boundaries, make room for rest and reassurance, and let connection develop at a pace that feels comfortable for them.
Community
True North grows through people showing up for animals and for one another. Volunteers, adopters, donors, and veterinary professionals all play a part in making this work possible.
Responsibility
We grow with the animals’ needs at the center of our decisions. Welcoming another life means considering the space, time, resources, and ongoing care we can provide.
Meet the Founder
Hi, I’m Matt!
I grew up on a farm, where caring for animals was part of everyday life. Those early experiences taught me responsibility, patience, and respect for the lives depending on us. That connection has stayed with me and is at the heart of True North Sanctuary.
Tucker helped give that love a direction. His companionship changed my life, and losing him deepened my desire to create something meaningful in his memory. True North is one way I carry his love forward, by offering other animals the safety, kindness, and belonging every life deserves.
Today, that calling takes shape in the daily work of rescue. It means feeding, cleaning, coordinating veterinary care, finding loving homes, and making time for an animal who is still learning to trust. Whether their stay is brief or they need ongoing care, I want each animal to feel safe, valued and loved.
My spirituality is woven into how I approach this work. I believe there is something sacred in the bond we share with animals and in the quiet moments when we are fully present with them. My practice of Reiki and energy healing is part of that connection, offered gently, with respect for each animal’s boundaries and alongside veterinary care.
To me, “true north” means remembering what guides you. For this sanctuary, that is compassion. My hope is to grow a place where animals find refuge and people find opportunities to reconnect with nature, with one another, and with their own sense of purpose.
Thank you for helping bring this vision to life. Every volunteer hour, donation, shared story, and word of encouragement helps us keep showing up for the animals who need us.
I’m grateful you’re here.
Matthew Schultz
Founder, True North Sanctuary