It began on a few acres outside Frederick, Maryland in 1993.

Having discovered the delightful, playful spirit of goats and having recently purchased a home on a few acres, we thought we would get some “dairy” goats. Like so many, we were completely ignorant of the biological necessities inherent in ALL dairy production. We soon learned that in any operation from small backyard hobby farms to large scale industrial factories, mammals like cows, goats and sheep must be continually impregnated in order to produce milk. Male mammals don’t produce milk and are considered a byproduct that must be disposed of. Even on small scale farms, it is not sustainable to keep the male goats that are born as a result. We learned that people who kept their backyard goats for milk often sent the male goats to slaughter just like larger commercial operations. We didn’t want to bring goats into the world when, like any animal exploited by humans, there were already those in need of a home. We decided instead to provide a home for rescued animals. This awakening coincided with an increasing unease with our consumption of animals and we became vegetarian.

Over the next year we made a number of visits to Farm Sanctuary a few hours north in upstate New York.to learn more about caring for goats in the hope of soon adopting some from there. While visiting,  we met and learned of the pastoral grace and serenity of sheep. When our first herd of arrived in 1994, there were two sheep, Emma and Willoughby, accompanying the three goats, Freddie, Rebecca and Maggie. We also learned during our trips to farm Sanctuary about the cruelty involved in all animal products and made what was for us a very easy decision to become vegan. We’ve never looked back.

In 1994, we met Karen Davis of United Poultry Concerns who was a mentor in all things animal rights in our early, formative years. When she learned we could provide a home for chickens, it wasn’t long before Alexander, our first rooster, arrived. Soon he was joined by a flock of hens and they were followed by the addition of turkeys and bunnies. Since our move to Colorado, llamas, ducks and geese have also been residents at the sanctuary.