Sanctuary gets a custom ride for a critical mission

West Place Animal Sanctuary has a new addition — a custom Land Rover Defender 130, awarded after winning the 2025 Defender Service Awards

March 31, 2026

Vanessa Combs

East Bay Newspapers

From left to right are Wendy Taylor, founder and executive director; Laura Rejto, operations manager, with Buffy the duck; Patrick Cole, director of grants & communications; Sarah Broadbent, animal care manager, with Sadie the goat; and Sara North, development manager, with Happy the horse, alongside West Place Animal Sanctuary’s newly awarded Land Rover Defender 130.

By Vanessa Combs

West Place Animal Sanctuary’s new vehicle was officially unveiled on Sunday, March 29, at Jake Kaplan Land Rover, in Warwick, where supporters, community members, and local leaders gathered to celebrate the milestone moment. For the Tiverton-based nonprofit, the celebration was more than a single moment — it was the culmination of five years of persistence.

“We entered the [Defender Service Awards] for the first time in 2021, thinking we probably wouldn’t win,” said Patrick Cole, director of communications and grants. “We’re a small nonprofit from Rhode Island, but we gave it a shot—and ended up as a top five finalist.”

That first near-win sparked a yearly effort. West Place climbed steadily in the rankings — fourth, then third, then second — before finally securing first place in 2025. The competition, open to nonprofits across the U.S. and Canada, is decided through public voting, making community support critical.

“This wasn’t decided in a boardroom,” Cole said. “It was our community showing up, voting every day, and pushing us to the top.”

The winners were announced Nov. 15 during a live presentation in California, where Executive Director Wendy Taylor accepted the award while staff and supporters watched via livestream back in Rhode Island. The reaction — captured on video — shows the team celebrating years of effort finally paying off.

“It was the ultimate culmination of our efforts,” Cole said.

A vehicle built for rescue

More than just a prize, the customized Defender 130 is expected to transform daily operations at the sanctuary — and it already carries a personal touch. The vehicle has been affectionately named Hayden, after Taylor’s 15-year-old Labrador retriever who was rescued as an injured pup, a tribute that reflects the sanctuary’s mission at its most personal level.

The vehicle is equipped with a tow package for transporting large animals like horses and cows, along with added cargo space for hauling feed, hay, and emergency supplies. For a sanctuary that often responds to unpredictable rescue calls, its off-road capability is especially valuable.

“Sometimes rescues happen in places without roads — literally in fields or along rocky shorelines,” Cole explained. “This allows us to go where animals are, when they need us.”

Additional custom features, including a roof rack, will support water rescues and other hard-to-reach scenarios, expanding the sanctuary’s reach across the region.

The Defender will also serve as what Cole calls “advocacy on wheels,” wrapped in West Place branding to raise awareness wherever it goes.

A win for the community

While the award recognizes West Place’s work, Cole emphasized that the victory belongs to more than just the organization.

“It’s a huge win for Rhode Island, for Tiverton, and for the farm coast of New England,” he said.

West Place is the only Rhode Island organization to reach the finals of the competition, making the win especially significant on a regional level.

Supporters, volunteers, donors, and local leaders attended the unveiling in Warwick, marking the moment the vehicle was revealed for the first time.

Looking ahead

As the sanctuary approaches its 20th anniversary next year, the Defender is expected to play a key role in expanding both its physical reach and its impact.

The organization plans to increase wildlife rehabilitation efforts this spring after scaling back in recent years due to avian flu concerns. The new vehicle will help transport rescued animals — from ducklings to larger wildlife — more efficiently.

It will also support future rescues, including the potential arrival of another horse to join a recently rescued horse named Happy.

“Being ready at a moment’s notice — that’s what this gives us,” Cole said.

For West Place Animal Sanctuary, the Defender represents more than a vehicl. It’s a symbol of community support, persistence, and a growing ability to serve animals in need.