Save A Soul Animal Rescue believes that every animal, no matter the personality or species, deserves a second chance.
Save a Soul Animal Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue located on the five-acre homestead of Cottontail Acres and the forty-acre homestead of Western Skies Ranch. It was founded in 2015 by Tabitha and Ariana when they were fifteen years old. They had a dream of opening an animal rescue and Doug and I did everything we could to help them make their dream a reality. It has since grown into a way of life for our family.
What We Do
Save a Soul rescues abused, abandoned, and unwanted farm animals, as well as working animals that have become too old or fragile to continue working. The rescue is a livestock retirement farm and rescue which means we take in and rescue every species of livestock from the smallest quail to the largest horse. We’ve taken in cows, ducks, horses, turkeys, goats, and so many more species.
Everyone Is Unique
Each animal comes to us with a unique story and we do our best to share their stories and teach people about the importance of the humane treatment of livestock. Some people ask why we rescue livestock because they are “just food” animals. We don’t see them as being “just food”. They are individuals with unique personalities, likes, and dislikes. We have some chickens who know their names and come running to us across the field when we call them and some of the chickens like to be held and walked around like an infant!
Every Animal Deserves A Second Chance
Whether a scared, abused animal about to be slaughtered, or a pampered pet who can’t be cared for any longer, every animal that comes to us is treated with dignity, respect, and kindness because we believe every animal deserves a second chance at a good life, no matter their personality or species. Even the grumpy ol’ roosters!
A Forever Home
We rehome some of the animals that come from healthy environments, but most of the animals we bring in come from tough circumstances. Once an animal in the rescue is ready for a new home, we conduct careful screenings to make sure they won’t be used as food and to make sure they are going to a safe, loving, forever home. Sometimes, despite carefully screening the new owner, things don’t work out. No matter what, we always take the animal back. We are strictly a no-kill animal rescue so animals who, for one reason or another, cannot be rehabilitated and rehomed are able to call the rescue their forever home.
Building Trust
Usually behavior issues arise if an animal has been abused, neglected, or has been relocated from home to home. These animals are deemed “problems” and are usually slaughtered or sent to auction. When we take in these “problem” animals, we rehabilitate them, but we don’t rehome them because rehoming often adds to the animals’ stress, making behavior issues worse. We give them stability to help them feel safe. We also work hard to build trust to help them learn that not all humans will hurt or abandon them. Building trust is sometimes a very long process, but we give the animals the time they need to heal. We allow them to be insecure, grumpy, or however they need to be in order to process what they’ve been through and the changes they’re going through. We have some animals that, despite working with them for a few years, are still so timid that if you move too quickly around them they run. These are not animals that would do well in a new home!
Veterinary Care
We work with veterinarians across the state to help keep the animals healthy. We strongly believe in the importance of microchipping animals, and also spaying and neutering when appropriate. There are some animals that should always be spayed and neutered such as cats, dogs, and rabbit bucks. Some animals shouldn’t, or can’t, be spayed or neutered such as with roosters; although I wonder if neutering roosters would make them more docile? When one of our veterinarians decides medication is the best route to help an animal in our care, we don’t hesitate. Tabitha and I administer oral medication and immunizations and Doug gives the animals injections. One thing we’ve learned from working in the rescue is how important it is to recognize your personal limits. I know my limits; I can clean gaping wounds in a turkey, but I’ve been known to faint at the sight of needles!
A Name Means You Belong
If an animal doesn’t come to us with a name, one of the first things we do is give him/her one. We believe that to have a name means you belong. Naming the animals is especially important for the old, sick, and injured we bring in. Despite working with an amazing team of veterinarians, sometimes the animal is too old, too sick, or too hurt and the stress of leaving their home results in the animal passing away shortly after coming to the rescue. When animals pass away, they are cremated and their urns, with their names on them, are kept in a safe place where they won’t be forgotten. Each animal, whether they are with us for a day or many years, contributes to our lives and reminds us how important it is to always help those without a voice.
Good Nutrition Makes A Difference
When summer storms allow us to, we grow organic fruit, vegetables, and herbs for the animals. Like with humans, we believe nutrition is the foundation for good physical and emotional wellbeing. The chickens free range all the time and the other poultry are allowed to forage for grass and bugs supervised since they can’t fly as easily to escape any predators that may wander onto the property. Our goal in the future is to put up more fencing and divide the property into separate pasture areas to give the animals more room to forage.
Getting Back Home
Through the rescue, we not only take in sick, abandoned, unwanted, and abused animals; we also help lost pets get back home. Tabitha spends hours every day trying to match lost pets with ones that have been found. We’ve helped a lot of pets get home, but it usually takes time and a lot of effort. The easiest cases we’ve had have been with animals who have been microchipped. With a microchip, we can find the pets, contact their owners, and have them back home that same day; without a microchip, it takes weeks and even months to find the pet’s home. Because of our firsthand experience, we strongly encourage people to spay/neuter and microchip their pets!
Finding Support
We are often asked how we financially support the rescue and so many animals. People assume we get grants and have an abundance of donations coming in. The reality is, since there are virtually no grant and funding opportunities available for rescues that focus on livestock (the animals are “just food”), nearly all of our funding comes out of our own pocket. We pay for food, supplies, utilities, veterinarian care, etc. Although almost all funding comes from us, we do receive some donations from businesses and individual supporters. Since the rescue is recognized as a 501(c)(3) charity, depending on the donor’s tax situation, donations can be deductible which helps the person making the donation and at the same time helps us buy food and supplies for the animals! It’s a win-win for everyone!
