Milo came from a rescue in Charlottesville. He belonged to a man who lived alone with no family and hoarded quite a lot of things. He passed away, but no one happened to care about what happened to his cat. So Milo, for years, wondered to and from his old owner's house on a search to find any kind of food or shelter, but was constantly being shooed off of people's bench's and away from their porches. One day a nice woman captured him and asked if we wanted him, he no longer has to worry about having a nice warm bed and children to snuggle him! The moment he came home with us, you could tell he was so grateful to no longer have to search for a home or be out in the cold. He loves to be wherever we are and often follows us on walks in the woods even when we are hiking with the donkeys, never letting us out of his sight! 

Meet Wilma! Wilma is just a baby who escaped slaughter by jumping off a transport truck headed to a meat farm. Her start to life was a rough one as the others trying to escape weren’t so fortunate. She landed herself in the hands of kind samaritans, who immediately got her help as she struggled with potential blood in her lungs from her hard asphalt landing and lots of scrapes and bruises. It was a touch and go situation for a while as she struggled to heal…but in the amazing hands of Pigsburgh Squealers Rescue, their never ending faith and love, all of their wonderful fosters and volunteers, they worked wonders to save her. She is still healing from a swollen joint that they believe was from impact that day but is on the mend to a completely healthy lady! She wasn’t ready to leave this world that day and her fight to live and escape from the meat industry, captured our hearts and inspired us as her story is a part of everything we believe in…that all animals matter. Wilma was transferred to us rescue to rescue yesterday as she will live out her life with us as a sanctuary resident! 

Meet this beautiful mother and son duo Marley and Millie! These two sweet donkeys are a bonded pair and they are so incredibly cute together. Millie’s motherly instincts are so apparent as she is always checking and watching over her son Marley. Twenty years ago Millie (who is now 24) arrived to her owners and a couple of short months later delivered Marley, who was a complete surprise to all. Their owners and their kids loved them dearly and they all grew up alongside each other. However as life happens, the kids eventually went away to college and their owner started dealing with disabling health issues of her own. She desperately tried to find someone to help with them but was unable and they started developing painful white line disease/thrush in all of their hooves and weight issues, which overtime can impact their health and make them lame. She knew it wasn’t fair to them and because they loved them so dearly, she knew she had to do what was best for them. Being able to make such a selfless choice like this, even though it is so very hard-is such a admirable and necessary quality to have when making decisions for the animals we love. 

 Maya came to us with her baby Zoey who was born with all four twisted legs and struggled to walk. Unfortunately even with veterinarian care, casting, physical therapy and assistive devices, her genetic disorders were too much for her little body to handle. This time is now about her mother Maya, as loss is hard on almost all animals when they lose their babies. At barely 1 year old, she was bred way too early, which could very well be why her baby didn’t develop the way she should. It is clear that she never had much human interaction as she’s scared to death of every quick movement or noise, but we won’t stop trying to teach her that we are only here to help her. We sit and calmly talk to her and hope that one day she will understand that there is so much more out there than the life and four walls she once knew…and if it takes a long time, that’s okay too…we will still be right here…

“It takes nothing from a human to be kind to an animal” -Joaquin Phoenix

🛑 CUTE PUP ALERT!!! 🛑 

SHARE and help Roscoe find his home! ❤️

This happy boy has been looking for a place to call his own for a year now. Saved from euthanasia just in the nick of time only because he was one animal too many. We know that he wasn’t meant to leave that day and he wasn’t meant to live his life out in a shelter. He just needs that special someone to open their heart and home to him! 

He is a sweet boy who loves to play. He is UTD on all of his shots, neutered and in great health. He is 6-7 years old, would do best with older kids and as a only dog. 

Finally Home Animal Haven 

Adoption fee is $75

Meet Hallee-5 years old and shes been hiding in her litter box at animal control for two months since her owner left. To her owner-did you know when you left her behind she would be so scared and alone? I wonder if she thought you’d be coming back?

Slowly she deteriorated as she only leaves her box to eat or drink and runs quickly back to hide, afraid of every single noise and movement, this is how frightened she has been for TWO MONTHS, day in and day out. Did you tell yourself she was better off and soon would be happy and find a home? Yet little did you know that theory was so wrong, as no one stops to see her because she never leaves the back corner of her cage.

Monday afternoon we agreed to take in a owner surrender. 4 mini donkeys (two of which are very obese) living on over 15+ acres of field for several years. Due to unforeseen circumstances they couldn’t care for them and they were unable to give them the attention they needed. They had been allowed to roam free on a HUGE plot of land and if anyone knows anything about minis-is they get fat on air. They have to be kept on a smaller manageable lot. They can develop many issues including equine metabolic syndrome including fat deposits, inability to regulate insulin and laminitis. It literally can and WILL kill them. One problem however-they were almost impossible to catch!

These mini donkeys were very smart but had not been handled often. After several hours the first day we were able to lure 3 into a shelter with feed and treats and use a gate we brought to trap them. The 4th stood from afar, she was too smart for her own good. However we had to take the moment when we had it: one would scare the other to run out of the shelter and as time went on, they were playing Russian roulette picking when and who would go in and out. We knew we were better off catching 3 than one. They obviously hadent seen a halter or a lead in a while, if ever. It took 5 of us to load them into the trailer and they fought the whole way, if only they knew we needed to help them. They were 3 very strong and heavy minis.

We returned the 2nd day with 7 people/volunteers to try and catch the last mini but we spent hours and the field was too large and she knew how to get away at every moment. There was too much space uncovered and no real spot or corner anywhere to properly trap her. The 3rd day we returned with the help of 8 people. Animals like donkeys form strong bonds with each other. She had been alone in this huge field without her bonded friend and we knew it was a possibility she would get depressed and lonely as the days went on and stop eating and drinking. Many people are unaware that donkeys can essentially die of a broken heart. Unfortunately, donkeys are one of the most misunderstood animals. They are often thought of as being expendable, but they have feelings and emotions and love, it’s a real thing. We could not give up on her, we knew we had to help her, and we knew we were running out of options. She would not come near a single person. We had to hire the help of a professional-a real life cowboy-so we could get her the help she needed.

Now all of the herd are together and as happy as can be. They were just scared and unsure, as they haven’t had much interaction and attention in a while and we will work on helping them to trust us and feel safe. They all need to be vetted/ have their teeth floated as they have no idea how long it has been since they have even seen one. We will be working with them to get used to a halter and a lead. The white one has sunburn on the back of her ears and eyes so we will be working on helping her with her skin conditions. More importantly we will be helping them to lose the weight they so desperately need to become healthy again, hopefully before it causes too many problems that are irreversible. Special thanks to Sydney Peyton, Debby Jernigan Hoskin, Tori Besecker, Barbara Dameron and Deshaun Forbes for all your help over the last 3 days!

Please-any monetary donations towards their vetting and care would be very much appreciated so we are able to focus on their health!

New arrival: this adorable boy has lots to say!

Meet Noble- he was an owner surrender from a lady who actually loved him VERY much! She had him and his brother since they were just babies. They were best friends, always by each others side. Their mom always spent time spoiling them, as they meant a lot to her.

Twelve years went by and Noble’s brother passed. It was a loss that was very hard for her and Noble to handle and she knew that he would be alone and sad without another donkey friend by his side. As days passed she began to worry about Noble and his health, him being heartbroken and giving up-as donkeys really can be so sad that they stop eating and drinking without their bonded friend. She knew he was depressed, she worried about his eating and she couldn’t lose him too.

She wanted him to be happy and she worried about no longer being stable on her own feet, her health and being able to spend the time with him that he needed now that he was alone. In the mornings he would bray at her window for her to come out and sit with him.

She made the incredibly hard and selfless choice to give him up so that he could be happy among other donkey friends. She wasn’t in fact giving him up-she was giving him life. We know she deeply misses him but the hard choice she made with his best interest at mind, was beautiful and inspiring.

“Love is when another person’s happiness [or animals] is more important than your own.” -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

While stocking up on supplies for the animals, we came across baby ducks that were basically being given away. There were 3 smaller than the others that no one wanted who were shivering, overstimulated, scared and hiding. They were “too old” (at over a week old!! ) to sell and anyone willing to take them and raise them as “meat birds” were encouraged to get them out of there before they would be “of no use” when the other shipment came in. We know we can’t save them all but we just couldn’t imagine walking out that door leaving these sweet little faces behind to have no purpose in life other than being raised simply to be sent to slaughter as soon as they were able. (Which usually happens as early as 7 weeks old!) 

Click HERE to see the ducks at 5 weeks old!

Click HERE to see the ducks at 6 weeks old!

Click HERE to see the ducks now

Rescue is hard. You save so very many, but you also experience loss along the way. You wish each and every one of them could live forever, but that’s just not how life works. Providing a sanctuary for seniors is even harder. You know from the beginning that their days are numbered and life is unexpected, so you never know how long you have with them. They often require much more care as they age, they develop cancers such as our dear Grumpy, arthritis and many more health issues. However, the need to provide them a place to live out their days being cared for, loved and doted on near their end of life is also what drives us to continue to do what we do. Letting them live out their golden years as comfortably and as painlessly as possible, until their aged souls know it’s time.

Grumpy AKA Fig Newton (who was estimated to be in his late 30’s by the vet) is the reason we’re here. It all started with a 3 year old little girl who fell in love with a donkey. He was very scared of sudden movements and lots of people, but he loved that little girl. He lived near, so she went to visit him frequently, he often stood from afar watching carefully-eventually being lured in with what became his favorite treats (Fig Newtons) and over the years they developed a extraordinary bond that was deep and unparalleled. He taught us how affectionate and loyal donkeys can be if you only give them a kind hand and time to trust. He is the sole reason we fell in love with donkeys.

We were so blessed to have been given the opportunity for him to be with us in his final years and to provide a permanent home with the little girl who is now a 14 year old. He was the inspiration for Finally Home Animal Haven and all the donkeys we have here. He is the reason we will continue to provide a sanctuary for other donkeys just like him, especially seniors. His passing is harder than most, but knowing how much love we were able to give him in his final years helps greatly. He knew he was loved and he gave SO MUCH LOVE to his people in return, he was finally at home.

In his memory, if you’d like to make a small donation in tribute of helping more seniors like him live out their golden years, we would be forever grateful.