Those who volunteer and work at Critter Care, a British Columbia wildlife rehabilitation center that has treated and released thousands of animals since its inception nearly four decades ago, are rarely the type to boast.

It can therefore be said that a documentary highlighting the hard work of countless team members, interns and volunteers was long overdue.

Scheduled to premiere Nov. 13 on YouTube, a new short film presented by Critter Care offers behind-the-scenes access to the Langley-based center. Featuring interviews with various staff members and footage of some of the center’s most beloved creatures, it delves into some of the center’s most moving rescue stories.

Critter Care’s Rod Janz said the film will highlight the “countless hours” his team members dedicate to each animal’s care. By closely following each creature, the film will capture everything from the moment the animals are brought in for treatment to their release into their natural habitats.

“I really hope people see what a great job Critter Care does caring for orphaned and injured animals and getting them out into the wild,” he said.

Janz said he hopes the documentary sparks compassion in viewers, not just for the typically adorable creatures who walk through the center’s doors – bobcat kittens and baby bruins, for example – but the few less conventionally cute ones that can often be overlooked.

“Critter Care gives animals second chances and cares for some controversial animals that people wouldn’t necessarily give a second chance to,” he said.

“Even some animals that are considered nuisances, like coyotes and squirrels, are very important to us and the environment. It is extremely important that we take care of all of these different species and not lose them.

Alongside headline-grabbing patients like big cats and bears, Critter Care is often home to raccoons, skunks, deer, river otters, rabbits and opposums. Among the animals currently in the facility’s care, Janz said the documentary pays special attention to a “magnificent bobcat” named Tucker, a rescued young bear, a group of playful raccoons, vivacious otters and deer saved.

The diverse group includes “real characters,” Janz said, some of whom possess enough star quality to merit their own documentary.

Janz said the list of subjects in the film represents just a fraction of the more than 3,000 animals processed at the facility each year, a number growing at an alarming rate as wildlife across the province continues to face growing threats.

“All of these animals that have to come into our care just show the state of the environment that they live in, especially in our urban and suburban areas where we are losing a lot of their habitat,” he said.

“We hope viewers can understand the plight of these animals and experience this journey with us.”