Blackberry Creek Farm Animal Sanctuary

The mission of Blackberry Creek Farm Animal Sanctuary is to provide a refuge for animals to live out their lives enjoying kindness, compassion, and permanent sanctuary, and to provide opportunities for education to the general public.

The sanctuary shall:
Advocate love toward all creatures and the responsibilities human beings have to demonstrate that love through protection and advocacy for our voiceless companions.
Provide education promoting the humane care of animals, encourage ecological and moral responsibility and the part each individual can play in making compassionate dietary and lifestyle decisions.
Establish a place for children and adults including at-risk youth, veterans, foster children and teens, the elderly, and those with special needs to learn about and connect with animals in a loving and respectful way.
Meet the needs of rescued animals and provide them with appropriate shelter, nutrition, medical care, companionship, and unconditional love.

Programs:

Elderly Outreach
Our visitation programs for the elderly seek to reduce anxiety, stress, and feelings of loneliness in older individuals. We bring gentle animals from the sanctuary to share their stories and provide enrichment for those living in care homes and suffering from physical and mental ailments.

Youth Tours
Animals have special abilities to connect with children in ways that people cannot. Because many of our barnyard residents have come from cases of neglect and abuse, children who have experienced similar situations are able to find common ground with someone they can trust. Children learn about emotions by listening to the stories of the animals and are taught how to relate to others and how to deal with emotions such as fear, shame, and anger.

By helping with chores around the sanctuary and interacting with the animals, young people develop confidence and a sense of self worth. They directly observe animals who have overcome difficult pasts and move forward with new hope for the future.

Special Needs Visits
Blackberry Creek was always meant to be a sanctuary for humans as well as animals. The quiet (except for animal greetings) and peaceful setting of the forest property allows visitors the space and freedom they need to enjoy the outdoors and interact with the animals. Kindness is the message of the day as we introduce children and adults with special needs to our special animals. George, the three-legged golden retriever, Lavender the blind hen and Coconut, a turkey who had the top portion of her beak removed in a factory will relate to people who have experienced challenges in life. We offer hope and encouragement and a sense of responsibility during our visit. We allow our guests to interact with the animals, brush them, feed them, and talk with them in hopes that they will leave knowing that they matter deeply and that they are capable of caring for others and showing and receiving love.

Public Education
The two primary goals of the sanctuary are to rescue and rehabilitate animals and to educate people. As such, we believe that the general public's awareness of animal issues is the number one way we can make a difference in the lives of farm animals both now and in the future. Our visitor days, outreach events, private tours, and school visits all teach awareness, compassion, and responsibility and encourage people to take a stand for animals with every choice they make.