Peace Ridge Sanctuary marks 25 years caring for farm animals

BROOKS, Maine (WABI) - Peace Ridge Sanctuary is the largest animal shelter and sanctuary system on the eastern seaboard. The organization recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Growing up, Peace Ridge Sanctuary founder and director Daniella Tessier spent a lot of time on her grandparent’s large farm.

“so I grew up with cows, particularly, they’re one of my favorites,” she says smiling.

Tessier began volunteering for the Humane Society at age 12. She said that experience shaped her future work.

“There was no help for farmed animals because the shelters don’t have the facilities that you need,” Tessier said.

From seven acres to five facilities

Tessier started Peace Ridge Sanctuary in 2001, on about seven acres in the town of Penobscot.

“Once we opened our doors, it didn’t take very long until we realized that we were going to have to do some development,” Tessier said.

In 2015, the nonprofit purchased property in Brooks. The sanctuary now spans more than 1,000 acres.

“We have goats, sheep, alpaca, we have over 50 pigs, over 50 cows, donkeys, horses, birds as well. And then we have a really, really large dog program,” Tessier said.

Staff, volunteers and daily care

The sanctuary cares for more than 650 animals across its five facilities. It employs 24 staff members and has about 20 volunteers.

“We start at 6 o’clock in the morning and sometimes it goes until 11 o’clock at night,” Tessier said.

Tessier said most animals arrive needing medical care.

“Most of them are arriving really underweight, heavy parasite burdens, untreated medical conditions,” Tessier said.

Peace Ridge Sanctuary goes through 224,000 pounds of grain, 32,000 bales of hay and about $84,000 in wholesale medications every year.

Special privileges and recovery

Some animals are allowed to roam free, in part because of a mile-long driveway on the property.

“The reason they have special privileges is because maybe they’re older animals and they get injections every day. So instead of having to pull them out of their flock or herd every day, we let them walk around and enjoy themselves,” Tessier said.

Tessier said some animals arrive in poor condition.

“Sometimes we get animals in and you can’t even touch them,” Tessier said.

She said animals already living at the sanctuary help new arrivals adjust.

“The animals that have lived here for a long time, they sort of them them into the folds. And very quickly they realize, because the other animals aren’t scared, that they don’t have to be scared anymore. And I feel like that’s where the real healing begins,” Tessier said.

Long-term commitment

Tessier and her staff have taken in well over 2,000 animals since the sanctuary started. While some animals are adopted out, most remain at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives.

“When we take an animal in, we’re making the promise to them that they have a place to be forever. I made a long-term commitment to this. And we will create it for more animals as long as we have community support,” Tessier said.

Ways to help

People can donate through the sanctuary’s home page, you can click here for that link. And right now, all donations will be matched up to $15,000 thanks to an offer by a current Peace Ridge Sanctuary donor.

Monthly donors can receive special access to the facility.

Peace Ridge Sanctuary is also seeking volunteers. Companies can host a Sanctuary Work Day. All of that information is also on the Ways to Give page.

The sanctuary holds Open House Days starting in the spring, summer and fall. And they also host fundraisers periodically.

You can follow their Facebook page for the latest updates on all that is going on at their five facilities throughout the year.

To watch Part One of this report, click here.