We believe that no animal should be mistreated, abandoned or neglected. We believe that no child should receive less access to opportunity than another.
We believe that patience, kindness and love can change everything for any living being.
We believe that animals can offer extraordinary joy, comfort and companionship to the people who care for them. And that facilitated pet therapy is a powerful antidote to loneliness, depression and anxiety.
And we believe in the collective impact of all who work toward the day when no animal is euthanized for lack of a home - and no child receives less thoughtful care than another.
North Carolina’s animal shelters are overcrowded, underfunded and understaffed. Poor or non-existent animal welfare laws, minimal pet surrender prevention resources and limited pet care education have all led to an epidemic of homeless pets in need of refuge.
Strained practices in shelters are only worsening with budget cuts, reduced staffing and a lack of response to compassion fatigue-related burnout, which is on the rise. North Carolina routinely ranks as one of the top three states in the country that euthanizes the most animals, the vast majority of whom are healthy and adoptable.
Since 2021 we have rescued over 1700 homeless pets from overcrowded shelters throughout the state.
We create empathy-based youth programs at our sanctuary for children and teenagers who are currently living in foster care, group homes, at-risk situations and underserved communities.
Our program structure includes a thoughtful combination of academic enrichment, creative education, pet therapy and outdoor exploration. All programs are designed so that children may experience a curative connection to pets, people and nature.
