Designing for Animal Welfare
At The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada in Puslinch, Ontario, every aspect of the barn was planned around one goal: creating a safe, functional environment that supports the unique welfare needs of donkeys, mules, and hinnies.
Unlike a traditional equine facility, the Sanctuary required stall systems that would accommodate bonded pairs, improve staff visibility, and provide the flexibility needed for rescue, rehabilitation, and lifelong care. System Equine was proud to manufacture a fully customized stall package designed specifically for these unique requirements.
Custom Mesh Stalls Built for the Sanctuary
The foundation of the project is System Equine’s Custom Mesh Stall system, modified to meet the Sanctuary’s specific operational and animal welfare needs.
Because donkeys naturally develop exceptionally strong social bonds, maintaining visual contact with their companions was an important consideration throughout the design process. Rather than using traditional solid partitions, the stalls feature custom mesh partitions that provide excellent visibility while maintaining safe separation between animals.
The mesh design allows even the Sanctuary’s smallest miniature donkeys to easily see neighbouring companions, helping reduce stress and encourage the social interaction that is so important to donkey behaviour.
Equally important, the open design provides staff with unobstructed sightlines throughout the barn, allowing caregivers to quickly monitor animal health and behaviour without entering every stall. This improves the efficiency of daily welfare checks while ensuring concerns can be identified sooner.
Designed Around Daily Operations
Built by Post Structures, the barn was designed to support the Sanctuary’s daily operations while providing a safe, functional environment for both the animals and the people who care for them.
Every feature of the stall system was selected to improve safety and functionality. The larger stall layouts comfortably accommodate bonded pairs of standard donkeys while providing ample space for training sessions, veterinary care, and rehabilitation. Since many Sanctuary residents arrive with little handling experience or difficult backgrounds, having flexible spaces where staff can safely work alongside the animals is essential.
Each stall is also equipped with System Equine’s durable horseshoe latch, providing secure operation while allowing staff to open and close stalls quickly during daily routines. Built for reliability and ease of use, the hardware contributes to the smooth operation of a busy sanctuary caring for more than 100 equines.
Combined with the barn’s wide aisles, thoughtfully placed gates, and equipment access, the custom stall system helps create a facility that prioritizes animal welfare, staff safety, and operational efficiency.
Safe Enclosures Inside and Out
System Equine’s involvement extended beyond the barn with the installation of 3-board and 4-board fencing throughout the Sanctuary’s training facility.
As an accredited member of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the Sanctuary follows rigorous welfare standards that recommend board fencing for its visibility and safety. The fencing provides durable, highly visible enclosures that reduce the risk of injury while creating secure spaces for training, rehabilitation, and daily turnout.
A Facility Built Around Compassion
Every project is unique, and The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada is a perfect example of how custom manufacturing can solve real-world challenges. By combining custom mesh stalls, specially designed mesh partitions, horseshoe latches, and board fencing, System Equine helped create a facility tailored to the behavioural needs of donkeys while supporting the staff who care for them every day.
The result is a thoughtfully designed sanctuary where animal welfare, operational efficiency, and long-term durability come together to create a safe home for generations of rescued residents.
