West Place Animal Sanctuary has received a customized Land Rover Defender 130 vehicle after winning the Honoree Award in the 2025 Defender Service Awards presented by Chase, the organization announced Monday.
The vehicle handover took place Sunday at Jake Kaplan’s Land Rover Warwick, where West Place supporters, volunteers and staff gathered to celebrate the honor. Along with the vehicle, the sanctuary received a $30,000 grant.
The competition was international in scale. According to West Place, the 2025 contest drew 6,700 nonprofit nominations across six categories, 900 video submissions and 375,000 votes cast for the 25 finalists.
“Our Defender 130 is a stunning and capable vehicle that will expand West Place’s ability to provide lifesaving care to overlooked animal populations,” said Wendy Taylor, founder and executive director of West Place. “We are proud to represent Rhode Island as a Defender Service Award winner.”
West Place is a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center and farm animal sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates abused and neglected animals. The only organization of its kind in the region, its rescue work spans New England, the broader East Coast and even Texas. More than 100 volunteers and student interns provide animal care year-round.
The Defender 130, which seats up to eight passengers and offers nearly 89 cubic feet of cargo capacity, was customized with accessories suited to West Place’s needs and wrapped with the sanctuary’s branding.
Paul Martineau, general sales manager at Jake Kaplan’s Land Rover Warwick, said the vehicle is more than transportation.
“More than a truck, this Defender is a tool for good: enabling faster response, greater capacity, and increased flexibility so West Place can focus on what they do best — caring for animals and educating our community,” Martineau said.
West Place Animal Sanctuary has been operating for 19 years. More information is available at westplace.org.
Photos provided by West Place Animal Sanctuary.
