CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm

08/07/2024

Thanks to all who support our work and allow us to provide a "Happily Ever After" for our 100+ rescued residents each and every day.

06/07/2024

As one of the longest-running farm animal sanctuaries in Florida, we've had the opportunity to help hundreds and hundreds of in-need animals in both the Sunshine State and across the country. We've also witnessed several other great sanctuaries (some new and others established) such as Another Chance Ranch, Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary, EPIC Outreach, Kindred Spirits, SAGE Sanctuary And Gardens for Education, Useless Animal Farm and others do the same.

Sadly, over the past 26+ years, we've also witnessed a few "false rescues" that, due to unethical leadership and illegal activity, ultimately failed the animals in their care. In addition, these animal charities' actions tarnish the image of the animal rescue community as a whole and harm the reputations of the sanctuaries that will have to clean up their mess after the offenders have been shut down.

Over the past few years, Rooterville Animal Sanctuary has been under investigation by two separate county animal control organizations. The Chariperson, Edna "Elaine" West, has been investigated for fraud, identity theft and misappropriation of charitable funds (nearly $350,000) which has resulted in being recently charged with seven felony violations. In addition, under her "leadership", the number of Rooterville's residents has dropped from 300+ to less than 60, primarily due to unnecessary euthanasia.

Within the past week, our volunteers toured Rooterville to verify animal counts. They covered the grounds extensively and saw no more than 55 total animals. In addition, countless witnesses (past employees, vendors, veterinarians, visitors and volunteers) have shared horrific situations while on Rooterville's grounds. Some of these accounts are detailed on The Pig Patrol's page at The Pig Patrol

In the past, CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm has assisted Rooterville by volunteering...to taking in animals they couldn't care for...to promoting their fundraising efforts. During the pandemic, we reached out to accept in animals they wanted to surrender. Our offer was first ignored and then flat out refused.

Recently, they have suggested - as their donations have dwindled due to mistrust of how gifts will be used - that no one will take their remaining animals and Elaine has been playing the victim card. This is absolutely NOT the case.

So, here's our request. Surrender your residents rather than kill them. CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm will provide a lifelong home for your one hog, three goats, five turkeys, and all remaining poultry. Other sanctuaries will accept in your remaining cows. That leaves only the roughly 25 potbelly pigs and two dogs which we are in process of finding homes for.

Elaine...the ball is in your court. Do what's best for the animals.

05/07/2024

Our recent rescue turns two today. Happy Birthday, Aliyanna. Thanks to all who support our work to get precious animals like her to safety. ❤️

19/06/2024

Our "Lead Mare" decided to get even older this month. Since starting CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm nearly 27 years ago, he's worked over 60,000 hours to provide "happily ever afters" for hundreds and hundreds of in-need animals.

Please show him some appreciation by donating to his birthday fundraiser which (of course) will benefit our rescued residents. ❤

https://www.facebook.com/donate/473808111844678/

Send a message to learn more

18/06/2024

This week, we've been hosting teen volunteers from Servant Heart Camp, a program from the Diocese of St. Augustine. Opportunities like this not only teach young people the importance of serving but also the importance of being compassionate to all living things.

08/05/2024

Donkey Rescue Update...

The Good: Mom and baby (yep...they need names) are doing well both physically, emotionally and socially. They're interacting with volunteers, visitors and their new equine friends. They are loving all the space (about 100 times more than they originally had) and are enjoying all the grazing opportunities they'd be missing before.

The Bad: While both are healthy, the mom's hooves were worse than expected. We have her on Phenylbutazone (pain management) and have scheduled special sessions with our farrier. Of course, this will take time (probably a year) to get her balanced and in good shape.

Though we hit our initial goal of $1,250 (DONORS ROCK!!) we now need to increase the target to $1,550 to cover the additional treatments and medication. Again, thank ewe to all who've donated and we hope others will help these two new arrivals! ❤❤

https://www.facebook.com/donate/345118688178060

24/04/2024

We're both humbled and grateful to be recognized by the Reinhold Foundation at the annual Celebrate Clay awards ceremony yesterday. Our sanctuary stampeded back to the farm with a Special Judges' Choice award (one of the top recognitions given) for our life-changing work. ❤️🐖❤️🐐❤️🐓❤️🐑❤️🐈‍⬛❤️🐎❤️🦃❤️🐄❤️🦆❤️

14/04/2024

Holy Cow... there's only a few hours left (up to 7:00pm tonight) to own this sPIGtacular art piece. All proceeds will go directly to our sanctuary!

Also, a no-cost way to help the artist (Art by Willow) that created this for us is to text CJACRES to 9042841615. ❤️

Cj Acres Animal Rescue

08/04/2024

We've got Bonnie Tyler playing at the main barn. Fortunately, the path is not over our sanctuary so we don't need to put viewing glasses on our over 100 rescued residents.

07/04/2024

Help our rescued animals AND the artist that created our PIGnic table (currently open for bids) by scanning the QR code and texting "CJACRES" to 9042841615 today! 💕

07/03/2024

We're super EGGcited to once again be participating in the Clay County Fair- PIGnic Table event. A local artist will turn a full-sized table into a MOOsterpiece and then it will be auctioned off, with 100% of the bid going directly to our rescued residents.

Art by Willow will be creating an incrediBULL work (she's kinda a big deal in our neck of the woods as she recently won Best Of JAX's Best Muralist award) and has already sketched out a MAREvelous mock-up that she'll begin painting in the next few days. ❤

23/02/2024

Happy "Finally Friday" to ewe all. We have just one week to hit our February goal of $1,500, which will give us a bonus $4,500. Please help Coco and her other sanctuary buddies by donating today! ❤

https://www.facebook.com/donate/892654845886588/

19/02/2024

A huge high-five (or is that high-one if it's a hoof?) to the Rollins Immersion: Citizens Take Action students who spent a cold and rainy weekend helping our rescued residents. These MAREvelous women stampeded through the elements to feed and socialize our 100+ animals and clean their quarters.

If your group is looking for a sPIGtacular team building experience, simply reach out to us here on Facebook or email us at [email protected] to coordinate your team's sanctuary experience!

17/02/2024

Most folks may not know but February tends to be the toughest time for our sanctuary as the colder temps drive our feed bill up, volunteers tend to shy away until the Spring, and at-farm events don't exist.

Our rescued residents would "love some love" this month through your generous support. We have a $4,500 bonus opportunity if we can reach our goal of $1,500 by February 29. Please help us make that happen by donating today at https://www.facebook.com/donate/892654845886588/ ❤

13/02/2024

Seriously, that tongue could put an eye out! 😁❤😆

02/02/2024

Happy Birthday to our youngest Mustang, Miakoda! In our 25+ year history, only a few large animals have been born on-property, with Miakoda being the first in 2011.

Born on a New Moon, we decided the Native American term "miakoda" which means Power Of The Moon, seemed a great fit. Come out and visit her (plus her mom and other equine friends) at one of our Feeding Frenzy volunteer sessions (9:30am - 12:30pm) every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are required and can be made at [email protected] or messaging us here on Facebook.

14/01/2024

Some of ewe humans will have tomorrow off from school or work to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. To honor the memory of Dr. King, the Points Of Life organization created a Day Of Service event.

Our animal sanctuary will offer a volunteer opportunity (9:30am to 11:30am) on this special day of service to those 14 years old and older. Space is limited and reservations are required, which can be made at [email protected] or my sending us a message to us here on Facebook.

We look forward to seeing y'all down on the farm. ❤

02/01/2024

What was your New Year's resolution? Did it involve animals? Perhaps fostering...or adopting...or volunteering...or not eating them. Coco is curious!

01/12/2023

Don't y'all hate when you "leave money on the table" (or anywhere else for that matter)? Currently, the Giving MOOSday fundraiser for CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm still has $294 to go to reach our goal.

But, that also means we're missing out on an additional $882 in matching funds. And, that kinda money would buy close to 3,000 pounds of horse or cow grain...or not.

There's still one more day left. Please help the sanctuary secure 100% of that matching MOO-la by donating right now! ❤🐮❤🐎❤
https://www.facebook.com/donate/999139554511965

30/11/2023

When you bring a pie to a holiday gathering and it's very popular. 🙃

29/11/2023

Procrastinators Unite (okay whenever y'all get around to it). Though Giving Tuesday is over, the Giving MOOSday fundraiser for CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm is still live until this weekend.

If y'all didn't have an opportunity to support the sanctuary, stampede over to https://www.facebook.com/donate/999139554511965 to give a much-needed gift. ❤🐄❤🐎❤🐖❤🐑❤🐏❤🐓❤🐈❤🦃

06/10/2023

Penelope wants to remind y'all to stay hydrated!! ❤️🐄❤️

12/09/2023

Hmmm...we're thinking of throwing a party. Should it be COWpassionate PIGnic or Wine With The Swine?

04/09/2023

Special thanks to the Rollins College Immersion group students who spent their weekend helping our rescued residents. And, yes, they learned about Manure Management. 🙃

03/09/2023

Special thanks to the Rollins Immersion: Citizens Take Action students who spent their weekend helping our rescued residents. They not only excelled in Animal Caregiving but also got an A in "Manure Management". 😆🙃😁

02/08/2023

Thank ewe for all that helped us reach our latest fundraising goal. Obviously, this is a big win but our need for volunteers and financial support is ongoing. Please consider joining our Compassion Club (just $25/month) at www.cjacres.org/compassion-club or sign up for an upcoming Feeding Frenzy volunteer session to help us continue our life-changing rescue work! ❤

03/07/2023

A couple of trends we've noticed over the years...

1) The folks that say "It's hot but we'll volunteer when it's cooler", don't volunteer then either. Be it cold or hot, our rescued animals always need your help. Please volunteer regardless of the conditions.

2) The assumption that we "have enough ongoing donors" is far from the truth. In fact, our Compassion Club ($25/month) has sadly lost more members than gained this year. Please consider joining at cjacres.org/compassion-club

3) Many visitors or followers think our vet care and grain is donated. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Actually, it's our two biggest category expenses and with the inflation in food an healthcare that y'all have been feeling, it's really kicked our butt.

4) As with many animal-focused charities, the pandemic illustrated an interesting lesson: WE CAN'T STOP. An organization like Habitat For Humanity can stop building houses for a couple months. A charity such as Goodwill Industries or Catholic Charities can take a pause. If we did that, animals would die...it's a treadmill that can't stop and we need your help.

So, even though it's hot. Even though it's not "Giving July" or the holidays, we hope you'll help. Please volunteer. Please give. Please help us to continue our life-changing work.

08/05/2023

Volunteering at the farm. Make memories...make new friends...make a difference. Check out our next service experiences at cjacres.org/herd-calendar

05/05/2023

Five "Kentucky Derby" horses have died in the week before tomorrow's Run For The Roses. While people celebrate with mint juleps, ornate hats and singing 'My Old Kentucky Home', you really won't hear much about these magnificent, sentient beings that have been forced into the cruel sport of horse racing.

Nor, will you hear about the thousand and thousands of equines that are killed or discarded. Much like the billions of animals used for food each year, it's hushed up in the name of 'tradition'.

So, here's hoping that those running in Saturday's race...and other races across the world each day...will be safe. Here's hoping that folks will wake up to the cruelty of 'using animals' for food or for entertainment or for clothing. Here's hoping for a more compassionate future. (Photo; Former racehorse, Nikki, who was rescued by CJ Acres Animal Rescue Farm at the age of 38 and lived another 5 years at our sanctuary)

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/horse-racing/news/kentucky-derby-horse-death-investigation-churchill-downs/esnifdcakmjkn3qlo30n0qga

04/05/2023

We're looking forward to stampeding over to this Saturday's Jax Veg Fest which will be held from 10 - 4 at Riverside Park. Make sure to meet our newest rescues and see if we truly have our ducks in a row. Spoiler: We do for a brief moment at the end of the video. :P