Peace Ridge Sanctuary

Peace Ridge Sanctuary Peace Ridge is a state licensed, GFAS accredited, animal shelter and wildlife conservation org Our facilities iare staffed 24 hours a day.

Peace Ridge is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, only one of a handful in the Northeastern United States. We care for nearly 500 animals at any given time at 4 state licensed shelter facilities. We operate with a team of staff care givers, managers and technicians, as well as committed volunteers. Peace Ridge Sanctuary is an organization committed to inspiring positive societal change for the benefit of animal welfare, animal rights and the environment.

Honorary horse, old Phil, is currently residing at Northeast Equine Sanctuary which is our horse shelter and sanctuary. ...
02/13/2025

Honorary horse, old Phil, is currently residing at Northeast Equine Sanctuary which is our horse shelter and sanctuary.

We didn't have any space left at any of our farmed animal shelter locations when we were alerted to the plight of him and his brother, who had been trained pull oxen and working animals for the first 16 years of their lives.

Their lives as they knew it ended because their people figured it was easier to ship them to a slaughterhouse in Massachusetts than to have them humanely euthanized at their own farm, for lack of wanting them anymore. We're wording it like this because yes, being humanely euthanized by a veterinarian is always a better option than a slaughterhouse. But if we hadn't figured out where we might be able to put them, their lives were going to end in unimaginable fear and suffering.

Slaughterhouses are not the option when you don't want your pets anymore. Slaughterhouses shouldn't exist anyway, but because people look at Phil and other animals like they're food, unfortunately they do exist.

Phil and his brother want everyone to know that they are not food. No animal is. And just because it's normalized, doesn't mean it's okay. It's not okay. And being vegan is so easy. There is no need to kill someone for food in modern society. But they are dying in fear by the billions every year. And most people don't even spare it a thought.

Spare some suffering and go vegan.

Morris sure is happy to have found a spot to sunbathe in the winter sun. Check out that smile! 😁Morris is one of our bea...
02/11/2025

Morris sure is happy to have found a spot to sunbathe in the winter sun. Check out that smile! 😁

Morris is one of our beautiful angora goat rescues on the ridge. He came to us last spring with a group of 20 goats, sheep, alpacas, and a little pony that needed a safe place to go. Right now, our shelters are home to roughly 150 (!!!) goats and sheep and we’re in the process of coordinating multiple goat and sheep rescues this winter—so stay tuned to meet the newbies soon!

We’re hiring!Do you have a knack for fixing things and enjoy working outdoors?We’re looking for a Property Maintenance T...
02/10/2025

We’re hiring!
Do you have a knack for fixing things and enjoy working outdoors?

We’re looking for a Property Maintenance Technician. Required skills include carpentry, grounds maintenance, and general building trades. Other skills, such as experience with operating farm equipment and vehicle maintenance, are preferred. Physical requirements include the ability to lift over 50lbs, safely climb and work from ladders, work in all weather conditions, and perform general labor tasks. Work is generally assigned by the Shelter Property & Projects Manager and would be both independent and assisted. A valid driver’s license is required.

To apply, please visit the website link in the comments!

Blue skies + handsome Benny = ❤️❤️❤️
02/08/2025

Blue skies + handsome Benny = ❤️❤️❤️

While most of our donkeys are very social and love each other’s company, almost all of them have one special donkey that...
02/07/2025

While most of our donkeys are very social and love each other’s company, almost all of them have one special donkey that is their BFF that they prefer to everyone else.

One of these bonded pairs is our beautiful Debbie (left) and little Angie (right). Debbie came to us from a sham “sanctuary” where she and her mother weren’t being properly cared for. Angie came from a state cruelty case after receiving no medial care for nearly a year for a dislocated hip she suffered as a foal. By the time we got her, because her musculature had developed around the dislocation as she had grown, surgical intervention was no longer an option. Angie is one of our special needs donkeys and while all the donkeys love her and look out for her, Debbie has appointed herself as Angie’s protector. She always makes sure her little buddy has a prime spot at the hay feeder and is always right by her side. We should all be so lucky to have a friend so loyal!

Animals have rich emotional lives, they have friends, they have family. They are here with us, not for us.

We have over 50 cows at our shelters right now, including these two beautiful, special needs gals, Ms. Celie and Rose. 😍...
02/05/2025

We have over 50 cows at our shelters right now, including these two beautiful, special needs gals, Ms. Celie and Rose. 😍

Both of them came to us after years and years of abuse in the dairy industry, being impregnated (often through artificial insemination) each year, carrying their calves for nine months, and then having them taken from them shortly after birth to ensure all the milk they made could be sold to humans instead of used to feed their babies. The heifer (female) calves are raised to replace their moms in the herd, and the bull (male) calves (along with "excess" heifers) are kept alive for a short while in intensive confinement to be slaughtered as babies for veal. While there are always rare exceptions to the rule, this is standard industry practice on farms of all sizes.

Cows are deeply maternal animals and they often bellow for days when their babies are taken. To add insult to injury, dairy breeds like Jerseys have been selectively bred to produce many times the volume of milk than is normal, which results in painful mastitis infections, the prevalence of which is why the USDA sets an allowable limit for pus in milk.

Rose came to us from a dairy farm shut down by the state when animal welfare agents investigated and found more dead cows than living ones. Her young calf, Axel, was part of this large-scale seizure, from which we took all the survivors, but she was too sick to nurse him. Rose had a body condition score of 1 and needed over a month of hospitalization to try to control a mastitis infection the vet estimated had been brewing at least 4-5 years at that point.

Ms. Celie was sold by a "small, organic, family" farm when her body started to give out and her milk production declined. She was sold pregnant and gave birth to a calf, Chase, who was repeatedly escaping the makeshift pen where his mother had landed. When his keeper called saying that her husband wanted to send baby Chase to slaughter instead of reinforcing the pen, we said we'd take him, but only if his mama could come too.

We're glad that Ms. Celie & Chase, Rose & Axel, and all their friends found safety here, but there are so very many of them right now that still need help. The easiest way you can be part of the solution is to pull your support from the system and ditch dairy. Not your mom--not your milk!

*UPDATE, we’re way too busy to keep dealing with the trolls, so unfortunately, we’re turning off the comments

Many people know PRS for our farmed animal rescue program, but did you know we also run the largest equine rescue progra...
02/04/2025

Many people know PRS for our farmed animal rescue program, but did you know we also run the largest equine rescue program in the state of Maine, with roughly 60 donkeys and horses calling Peace Ridge Sanctuary and our Northeast Equine Sanctuary home on any given day?

Here are just a few of our happy donkeys on the ridge--Fiona, Jed, Debbie, Angie, Chelsea, and Betty. We love our equine friends! ❤

Do you have a soft spot for equines like us? Please consider becoming a monthly supporter (link in comments) to provide a safety net for vulnerable donkeys and horses who need emergency rescue services. We're constantly getting calls about equines in need (we're headed out shortly to investigate one of those calls) and the more support we have for our programs, the more we can help!

This old lady is Mia! She's been waiting for a soft place to finally land forever with a family of her own, since the B...
01/31/2025

This old lady is Mia!

She's been waiting for a soft place to finally land forever with a family of her own, since the Bucksport case got busted last summer.

As you can see she's a big old squish face. We believe she's an American bulldog. She loves people and she loves to ride and she loves to go for short walks. She has advanced arthritis but she does pretty well once she gets going... don't all of us oldies know how that feels!

She's an easy keeper- she's adorable, very pleasant, has wonderful manners, but she's being overlooked because she's an older dog at 10 or 11 and mentions of her arthritis seem to scare people away. It's not hard to deal with-- she just needs to be kept on cosequin and once in a while, when she's sore, she gets carprofen. She's also kept on some supplements and all of these things can come with her to her new adoptive home!

She doesn't seem to really know what to do with cats. And she can get bossy with other dogs.

We need to find her a home that would take her for some short walks a couple times a day to keep her condition in good repair. And when we say short walks like, to your mailbox, to the car, or around the garden would be great.... She's not a marathon runner anymore, although going for a walk certainly perks her up and makes her happy!

Please help us find this beautiful old girl a family of her own so she can get more snuggles and no that she has her own special someone(s) who love her.

Please check our adoption information (linked in comment section) before contacting: [email protected]

This little peanut, Charlie, is one of our new rescues. 🐷Charlie was saved by HerpHaven Reptile Rescue and Sanctuary whe...
01/29/2025

This little peanut, Charlie, is one of our new rescues. 🐷

Charlie was saved by HerpHaven Reptile Rescue and Sanctuary when they were taking in a snake from the same household. Even though they don’t work with pigs, when they saw Charlie's condition, they knew they couldn’t say no when asked to take her as well, hoping that if they stepped up to provide emergency, temporary placement, someone else would step up to help them.

We’re always full, but we’re grateful for the rescues and sanctuaries that do as much as they can (something we wish everyone would do), and we wanted to help them. And then we saw the photo of a skinny potbelly with long, neglected hooves… well, it was a done deal.

Welcome to the Peace Ridge family, Charlie. You’re safe. You’re loved.

We wish they were all so lucky… But sadly, most potbelly pigs end up living a fraction of their 15-20 year lifespan, bounced from home to home, ending up in bad situations and killed. Like Charlie, many are underfed to keep them from properly growing in an attempt to keep them “mini.” Animals deserve better.

These little sister stinkers want to go home! A whole litter of all girls!!!We don't know what they are ( besides cute, ...
01/24/2025

These little sister stinkers want to go home! A whole litter of all girls!!!

We don't know what they are ( besides cute, cute, cute!) but we were gifted a DNA and we have taken the sample! It'll be fun to see what the mix is! Right now we're describing them as colorful eyed lowriders... They came with their mama who is too young to have had puppies... But she's very much an under 25 lb dog and we're thinking these guys and gals are going to be around that size as well.

They're healthy, happy little puppies. One of them is a bit shy. They'll do great in a home with another dog or potentially as your single baby.

They are spayed and neutered and their vetting is complete. The only thing they're waiting for is someone to see them and make that special connection!

If interested please review our adoption information page, make sure you agree with our contract, and send an application to [email protected]

Link to our adoption information application and contract is in the comments!

01/22/2025

👉👉👉We’re in the middle of a cold snap and right now, there are so many animals out there suffering —some freezing to death.

Our newest pig rescue was one of those. Had we not intervened when we did, she would have frozen to death.

Used for breeding so her babies could be taken and eaten, this poor mama pig was left behind when her people moved out. She was receiving little care or food, didn’t have regular access to unfrozen water, and was locked in a shed without adequate shelter or wind breaks from the weather.

The cold weather, wind, and lack of water was a death sentence. Without help, she would have suffered to death in that shed, like so many animals who aren’t getting basic care this winter. As soon as we heard her story, we went to pick her up right away.

We all need to be on the lookout for animals in our communities that need help and reporting to the authorities right away. Here in Maine, contact your local animal control officer, the state animal welfare program, and if you’re hitting roadblocks and need help, contact us.

Mama pig, who we’ll be giving a proper name to once we get to know her better, is with us now and in quarantine while we work to get her fixed up. She is filthy, skinny, infested with parasites, and has painfully overgrown hooves. She can’t stand for long periods of time without dropping to her front knees because her hooves were so neglected. We can tell she is relieved to have a fluffy, heated nest, a full belly, and plenty of warm water to drink.

Welcome home, mama. You’re safe now. ❤️🐷❤️

Aspen, Olive, and Maple came to us last year with a group of twenty goats, sheep, and alpacas who found themselves needi...
01/15/2025

Aspen, Olive, and Maple came to us last year with a group of twenty goats, sheep, and alpacas who found themselves needing a safe place to land. As is so often the case when we're asked to take in big herds or flocks of animals, we decided to take everyone, not wanting to leave anyone behind. Right now, our shelters are home to over 625 rescued animals, including 149 goats, sheep, and alpacas.

Taking care of this many animals every day is no small feat, so, if any of our friends are able to become a monthly sponsor for one of our new animals, we'd be so grateful. We're hoping to get profiles for all the newbies on our website soon, but in the meantime, if you pick a species in the animal sponsorship section of our website (link in comment) and select "new rescue" at the bottom, we can pair you up with one of the many animals who could really use a sponsor! ❤️

Update Feb 6, 2025: Poor sweet Rhea still has not even one application. This dog is so sweet and easy....Look at this be...
01/13/2025

Update Feb 6, 2025: Poor sweet Rhea still has not even one application. This dog is so sweet and easy....

Look at this beautiful girl! Her name is Rhea (pronounced Raya)... She is just a little bit over a year old now and weighs a healthy 40 lb. She's an upbeat, easy dog, walks beautifully on leash and is a joy to be with.

Although Rhea needs a minute to figure out that she can trust new people, she turns into a love bug after that. She enjoys running around in the yard just as much as she likes to lay in your lap. She's fine curling up next to you in bed, or sleeping soundly in her crate. She lives with nine other dogs right now in a staff foster pack and gets along with each one really well.

Although she enjoys being in her foster home with her big friend group of dogs, she needs an opportunity to be in her own family where she can continue learning about all the fun things that life entails. She would love to have a dog friend in her new home too.

This is a really good dog.

For information about how to adopt, please check out the link in our comments which will bring you to our adoption application and contract, as well as our process info. You can also email [email protected] for more information.

***♥️♥️♥️ADOPTED!!!!♥️♥️♥️***Sweet old Maybelline got a new coat for the holidays and she figured if she dressed up and ...
01/13/2025

***♥️♥️♥️ADOPTED!!!!♥️♥️♥️***

Sweet old Maybelline got a new coat for the holidays and she figured if she dressed up and was looking her best someone would take her home. But the holidays came and went and here she is.

Mabel, as we call her for short, is a wonderful 12ish year old girl who still has some pep in her step! She loves to go for walks and absolutely adores a joyride! She still hops up in the car or truck like a champ and she's eager to go on little adventures. She's also extremely polite in the car, and in public.

She's very happy to just curl up in a blankie or on the couch. With a few little p*e breaks during the day, some couch time and a few kind words, this girl would be grateful.

Super easy dog, doesn't ask for anything, just needs a spot to land in her elder years, which at this point are limited.

Anyone out there have a place in their heart for a sweet, old, easy girl?

She doesn't need to be the only pet as she really likes kitty cats. But she doesn't like dogs that are in her face and she will let them know that If they are too rambunctious or disrespectful.

Otherwise she's a bowl of peaches. She's always so happy about anything or nothing at all- If you've got space in your heart and on your couch this girl is the one for you!

For more information please review our adoption application and contract which will be posted in the comment thread below. You can also email [email protected] after reviewing the adoption material with any further questions!

Katie and her yellow lab brother Kurtis are still looking for there forever homes. They are gentle, little, playful pupp...
01/13/2025

Katie and her yellow lab brother Kurtis are still looking for there forever homes. They are gentle, little, playful puppies who are vetted and ready to go.

Katie, the black retriever, can be shy at first. We'd really love to find her a home sooner than later, so she can be coddled and get used to being in a home.

Kurtis is a little more outgoing than his sister, But would definitely benefit from some patience and affection.

They are sweet, healthy puppies who just need someone to show them the ropes before puppy hood is over.

Each puppy would definitely benefit from being with an older confident dog who actually would enjoy the company of a puppy.

If interested please check out our adoption information online. You can review the contract and if you agree, you can email [email protected] with your application, contract agreement and any further questions you might have!

Check out the comment thread for the link to application and contract on our website

Beautiful Benny is one of more than 50 equines at our shelters. 😍
01/12/2025

Beautiful Benny is one of more than 50 equines at our shelters. 😍

Address

1111 Littlefield Road
Brooks, ME
04921

Telephone

+12077223035

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Videos

New Rescue
New Rescue

👉👉👉We’re in the middle of a cold snap and right now, there are so many animals out there suffering —some freezing to death. Our newest pig rescue was one of those. Had we not intervened when we did, she would have frozen to death. Used for breeding so her babies could be taken and eaten, this poor mama pig was left behind when her people moved out. She was receiving little care or food, didn’t have regular access to unfrozen water, and was locked in a shed without adequate shelter or wind breaks from the weather. The cold weather, wind, and lack of water was a death sentence. Without help, she would have suffered to death in that shed, like so many animals who aren’t getting basic care this winter. As soon as we heard her story, we went to pick her up right away. We all need to be on the lookout for animals in our communities that need help and reporting to the authorities right away. Here in Maine, contact your local animal control officer, the state animal welfare program, and if you’re hitting roadblocks and need help, contact us. Mama pig, who we’ll be giving a proper name to once we get to know her better, is with us now and in quarantine while we work to get her fixed up. She is filthy, skinny, infested with parasites, and has painfully overgrown hooves. She can’t stand for long periods of time without dropping to her front knees because her hooves were so neglected. We can tell she is relieved to have a fluffy, heated nest, a full belly, and plenty of warm water to drink. Welcome home, mama. You’re safe now. ❤️🐷❤️ #wheretheycanliveinpeace #truesanctuary #coldweatherkills #speakupforanimals

Teddy has the best moves! If you haven’t ever made friends with a turkey, you’re missing out! 🤩 #friendsnotfood

The pig scramble survivor trio seeing their first snow yesterday morning!

Chase prefers his water straight from the hose! 😍 #wheretheycanliveinpeace #truesanctuary #friendsnotfood #someonenotsomething

This gorgeous mammoth of a dog is Odin. He was found abandoned in a trailer, dehydrated and starving to death. This is an extremely common occurrence these days, even here in Maine. We are getting cases like Odin's almost every week now. Many are drug related. Many are not. He was an anxious, confused mess when he got here. He had never been crate or kennel trained, which makes such an emergency case even more difficult on the poor dog. (PSA crate train your dog, even if you don't want to use one all the time). We are spending alot of time with him and he is settling in nicely, while he awaits his neuter surgery. He is well mannered in our real life cabin, he has basic obedience and is very responsive and observant. He also has great intuitive sense, and obviously, is extremely intelligent. We are looking for a kind, even tempered new guardian for him, who will take time to understand his needs and meet him where he is. Some people may want to turn him into something he's not- he does not want to be a working dog, nor is he cut out for that. What he wants is an adult home with a lovey fence, and happy walking and hiking adventures. As well, he demands time for his favorite games which are fetch, and "pop up". He is right around 2-3 years old. He will weigh 110 pounds at least, when he gets back up to a healthy weight. If you're not totally familiar with handling a very large breed, very smart, very attention needing dog- pick someone easier. But if you want a dog who will be the dog of your life, with all that comes along with that, contact us AFTER reading through our adoption "stuff" as well as our contract at https://peaceridgesanctuary.org/adopt/ Please do not comment about your desire to adopt him unless you will be proceeding to fill out our adoption material. Doing so only lessens his chances of picking up serious interest. #gsdofinstagram #mainedog #mainedogs #adoptdontshop

Those who remember Astra, one of more than 100 animals we took from a local cruelty seizure in late April, know this poor girl wasn’t able to support herself standing or walking when we took her in. Since then, she has been doing daily rehab, walking assisted with a lift, and spending time in her cart. She also loves hanging out in one of the fences, watching all the sanctuary activites. She is doing so much better these days that she has moments where she is able to stand and walk around unassisted now that she has grown stronger and built back some muscle. We’re still waiting for her day in court to officially win her freedom, but in a holding pattern because the people she was seized from have been granted multiple continuances. But as soon as it that happens, we’ll let everyone know! Go Astra, go! ❤️ #wheretheycanliveinpeace #truedanctuary #rescuedog #mainedogs #adoptdontshop #stopbreedingdogs

Ms. Celie having a nice scratch! 😍🤣 It isn’t too late to sign up for our ❤️ Happy Cows Celebration ❤️ tomorrow to see Celie and the other PRS animals while enjoying vegan ice cream sundaes with ALL the fixings! Check out the comments below for more details. Hope to see you soon!

Youngsters Wallace and Webster love enrichment toy time! 🐷❤️🐽 #wheretheycanliveinpeace #truesanctuary #pigrescue #pigs

Peace Ridge Sanctuary
Peace Ridge Sanctuary

MJ and Fred recently joined one of our staff packs and quickly became great friends! When they’re not entertaining each other and their pack mates, they’re looking for cuddles from anyone who’s around ❤️ Both are up for adoption and are patiently waiting for their forever homes! For more information about them and our adoption process: https://peaceridgesanctuary.org/adopt/ #adoptadog #adoptdontshop #mainedogs

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Our Story

Peace Ridge Sanctuary was founded in 2001 and is located on over 1,000 acres in the rolling hills of midcoast Maine. While our primary focus is on farmed animal rescue and rehabilitation, we also have an equine rescue program, a senior dog rescue program, and we maintain the majority of our acreage as wildlife conservation land. At any given time, PRS is home to over 300 rescued animals. We also promote compassionate lifestyle choices through our comprehensive humane education program.