Heartland Farm Sanctuary Inc

Heartland Farm Sanctuary’s mission is to inspire compassion for animals, the earth, and each other by offering a safe, welcoming space where people and farm animals come together to experience growth, healing, and connection. They provide high-quality, specialized care to rescued farm animals, offer inclusive humane education programs for learners of all ages, and provide experiential therapy to ensure the community is accessible for everyone. The sanctuary advocates compassionate living and veganism as steps toward reducing suffering, and it actively engages in respectful and restorative land practices.

AT HEARTLAND, WE PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, SPECIALIZED CARE TO OVER 100 RESCUED FARM ANIMALS, OFFER INCLUSIVE HUMANE EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES AND PROVIDE EXPERIENTIAL THERAPY TO ENSURE THE HEARTLAND COMMUNITY IS ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. HOMELESS FARM ANIMALS AREN'T USUALLY SOMETHING PEOPLE THINK MUCH ABOUT. HOWEVER, EACH YEAR MANY WISCONSIN FARM ANIMALS DO FIND THEMSELVES IN NEED OF SHELTER DUE TO A VARIETY OF REASONS. A FARMER, FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, MAY MOVE FROM THEIR FARM AND LEAVE BEHIND AN ANIMAL OR TWO TO FEND FOR ITSELF. A CITY PERSON MAY DECIDE THAT HOBBY FARM (AND ROOSTER CROWING EVERY MORNING) WASN'T SUCH A GREAT IDEA. STILL OTHER FARM ANIMALS BECOME VICTIMS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. UNFORTUNATELY, MOST "CAT AND DOG" ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE FARM ANIMALS. AND THERE JUST AREN'T MANY FOLKS EAGER TO ADOPT A FULL-GROWN COW OR PIG. SADLY, MOST HOMELESS FARM ANIMALS FACE A VERY GRIM FUTURE. OUR FARM ANIMAL SHELTER OFFERS RESCUE, CARE, REHABILITATION SERVICES, AND LIFETIME SANCTUARY TO FARM ANIMALS IN NEED. AND WE SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR SHELTERS AND COUNTY AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE WHO REQUEST OUR ASSISTANCE WITH FARM ANIMAL ABANDONMENT AND CRUELTY CASES. THROUGH HEARTLAND'S HUMANE EDUCATION CAMPS AND CLUBS LEARNERS OF ALL AGES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO MEETING ANIMALS' NEEDS FOR SAFETY, NOURISHMENT, AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS, ALL WHILE DEVELOPING SKILLS TO BE COMPASSIONATE MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, HEARTLAND'S FIELD TRIPS (WHICH MEET SEVERAL WISCONSIN STATE STANDARDS IN SCIENCE AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING) PROVIDE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT CANNOT BE FOUND IN A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM SETTING. HEARTLAND ALSO OFFERS EXPERIENTIAL THERAPY SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AT-PROMISE YOUTH, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED OTHER TRAUMA OR SIGNIFICANT ADVERSITY IN THEIR LIVES. OUR INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUP PROGRAMS USE EXPRESSIVE TOOLS AND ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS ANIMAL CARE, ROLE-PLAYING OR ACTING, ARTS AND CRAFTS, MUSIC, GUIDED IMAGERY OR VARIOUS FORMS OF RECREATION.THE MISSION OF OUR EXPERIENTIAL THERAPY PROGRAM IS TO GIVE INDIVIDUALS FACING ADVERSITY, ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, EXPERIENCE, AND GROW WITHOUT BOUNDARIES THROUGH ANIMAL-ASSISTED INTERVENTIONS AND PLACE-BASED EDUCATION, REHABILITATION, AND RECREATION. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS BARN TOURS AND OTHER OUTREACH EVENTS WHERE VISITORS CAN LEARN ABOUT AND CONNECT WITH OUR RESCUED RESIDENTS.