When you hear the term “animal rescue,” you might immediately envision an organization that cares for dogs and cats. While there are plenty of groups devoted to helping these types of pets, there are also organizations that are devoted to rescuing farm animals. Here, a few of the East Valley sanctuaries that provide peaceful and healing homes for farm animals.
Rowell Ranch
Rowell Ranch in Chandler is a 501c3 farm sanctuary, sustainability educator, and event venue, run by members of the Rowell family. The sanctuary, which goes by R. Ranch for short, is home to a variety of rescued animals who all came to live there through various ways—including young bovines Oogi and Mooshi, and goats Caramel Macchiato and Vanilla Bean Frappuccino.
“We care for them to help them live their full lives to their fullest,” says Cheyenne Rowell, Chief Executive Mom of R. Ranch and household operations. “We also like to educate people about each species here, so they get to meet them and learn about how they live and how our impact as humans have changed it.”
The Rowells also rent out their backyard for parties, which serve as fundraisers for the animals’ care, and they host public events.
To learn more about the animals who call R. Ranch home, check out the “Get To Know the Animals” page on their website. Each animal has different needs, care, and costs associated with them. Those who want to can sign up to sponsor an animal.
Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary
The mission of Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary in Queen Creek is to “Rescue, rehabilitate, re-home, and spread awareness of farm animals in need while creating a healing environment for differently abled humans.”
The sanctuary’s founder, Aimee Takaha, who is a trauma survivor with PTSD, noticed that as she began to rescue animals many years ago her episodes of PTSD become less frequent.
The sanctuary focuses on the most vulnerable of animals, including the ones with handicaps that no other rescue group could help.
“We have many animals that were born different, paralyzed, deformed from abuse or injury, [or] broken mentally and physically that we have healed back to help, and these very animals are helping people,” Takaha says, adding that they also have horses, pigs, and cows saved from slaughter, animals with special needs, and seniors.
“We are one of the largest sanctuaries in Arizona with the biggest variety of animals, including alpacas, ducks, goats, sheep, pigs, bunnies, horses, cows, turkeys, chickens, and more,” she says.
Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary also offers Cow Hugging Sessions, and the sessions are so popular they are often booked out a month or two in advance.
USA Clydesdale Preservation Foundation
This animal sanctuary in Gilbert is currently home to six Clydesdale horses.
While the sanctuary is not open to the public, it does host several special events on select dates throughout the year that allow people to interact with the animals one-on-one.
Seasonal events include the opportunity to bathe a clydesdale during the summer; there are also recurring events like “Morning Coffee with the Clydesdales,” which is held on the third Saturday of the month.
“We enjoy presenting the Clydesdales through the community, social media, educational, and barn events. With the support that we receive locally and nationally, we will continue our efforts to help preserve the Clydesdale breed for future generations,” it notes on the foundation’s website.