Heartland Farm Sanctuary

Heartland Farm Sanctuary, founded in 2009, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless farm animals in Wisconsin, and building connections between animals and vulnerable youth. We created Heartland to provide a safe, peaceful environment where youth and farm animals could come together to heal, grow, and have fun.Many children today face significant life challenges such as physical, emotional, or cognitive developmental delays, a history of delinquent behavior or other detrimental life choices, and an abusive or otherwise troubling home life. Research has shown that these children can benefit tremendously by taking part in animal-assisted therapeutic activities, such as those programs developed by Heartland using the farm animals we help.

Our mission is to provide care for farm animals in need, nurture people through the human-animal bond, and foster respect and kindness toward animals and each other.

Recognizing the growing and unmet need for farm animal shelters in the state, Heartland Farm Sanctuary strives to create partnerships with Wisconsin’s animal shelters, animal control agencies, farmers, schools, and other organizations to raise awareness of farm animals’ needs and improve their quality of life. These collaborations are the foundation of Heartland’s philosophy of how we can best help these vulnerable creatures. We are proud to be an official partner of Dane County Humane Society, Wisconsin’s second largest animal shelter.