Oh my! Lions, tigers, bears, and even more animals are rescued and can be seen at animal sanctuaries in Wisconsin.
Too often, all types of animals are left abused, neglected, and unwanted — but, thankfully, there are places where they can be rehabilitated and cared for: animal sanctuaries. Differing from places like petting zoos or roadside animal attractions, animal sanctuaries are non-profit facilities that are entirely focused on the well-being of animals, providing oftentimes lifetime care to animals that have been abused and neglected.
There are numerous animal sanctuaries in Wisconsin dedicated to providing great lives for the animals they house. It’s not just animals that are frequently found in Wisconsin that are at some of the state’s animal sanctuaries, either. There are Wisconsin-based animal sanctuaries that take in big cats, like lions and tigers, and some that focus entirely on primates. Of course, there are also sanctuaries that service animals that can be found a bit closer to home, like farm animals, or common pets, like cats and dogs.
While animal sanctuaries operate differently from zoos and focus on the animals’ well-being and rehabilitation, there are still some opportunities to visit animal sanctuaries in Wisconsin and see the animals that are taken care of there. Whether it’s through volunteering at a sanctuary, taking a private tour, or attending a special event at one of the state’s animal sanctuaries, there are plenty of ways to visit and see the animals.
1. Valley of the Kings Sanctuary and Retreat
Location: W7593 Town Hall Road, Sharon
For more than five decades, the team at Valley of the Kings Sanctuary and Retreat, an animal sanctuary in Sharon, Wisc., has been caring for exotic animals. Founder Jill Carnegie said that since founding the sanctuary 53 years ago, Valley of the Kings Sanctuary and Retreat has housed big cats, bears, wolves, small exotic animals, feral cats, and hooved stock animals.
The animals, including big cats, unwanted domestic animals, and retired farm animals, who call Valley of the Kings Sanctuary and Retreat home, do so for the rest of their lives. The animal sanctuary is dedicated to caring for each animal it takes in for the duration of its life and to burying them in an on-site cemetery when they die. The sanctuary is not open to the public; only members and their guests can visit, but memberships can be purchased for $150 per year for individuals or $200 per year for families.
2. Heartland Farm Sanctuary
Location: 424 US-51, Stoughton
As America’s Dairyland, with more than 58,000 farms in the state, Wisconsin is home to plenty of farm animals. But what happens to the animals when they are neglected or unwanted? Some of them end up at Heartland Farm Sanctuary. Opened by Dana Barre in 2009, Heartland Farm Sanctuary is the first animal sanctuary in Wisconsin dedicated to caring for abandoned or neglected farm animals.
The first animals that were brought to the sanctuary were two baby goats, but over Heartland Farm Sanctuary’s 16 years of existence, they’ve also cared for turkeys, geese, pigs, sheep, llamas, horses, emus, ducks, cows, cats, and donkeys, as well as even more goats. The sanctuary is not open for drop-in visitors, but public tours are offered during the warmer months and can be booked online.
3. Tiny Hooves Sanctuary
Location: 1117 North Britton Road, Union Grove
Over the past decade, Tiny Hooves Sanctuary, in Union Grove, has opened its doors to more than 300 abandoned, abused, neglected, and unwanted farm animals. The sanctuary places an emphasis on rehabilitating the animals it brings in and provides veterinary care, partnering with several local veterinary offices, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Another primary focus of the sanctuary is providing lifelong care to the many animals that call Tiny Hooves Sanctuary home, including goats, sheep, mini horses, mules and donkeys, horses, cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, peafowl, and pigeons.
Tiny Hooves is not open to the public, but if visitors want to stop by the sanctuary to see the animals, they can attend a scheduled event, or one of the sanctuary’s public work days, where visitors can sign up to volunteer at the sanctuary for four hours, with an included vegan lunch. Tiny Hooves Sanctuary also offers public and private tours on weekends from April to October.
4. Solstice Sanctuary
Location: 29211 41st St., Salem
When farm animals in southeastern Wisconsin have experienced a trauma, they have a safe space to call home: Solstice Sanctuary in Salem, which has been operating since 2021. While the sanctuary is based in southeastern Wisconsin, Solstice Sanctuary helps rescue and rehabilitate animals from other parts of the Midwest, including Ohio and Indiana, as well as other states, like Texas.
Over the past five years, Solstice Sanctuary has housed several different species, including horses, donkeys, cattle, goats, pigs, and cats. The sanctuary has regular events throughout the year that visitors can attend, as well as volunteer opportunities for people who want to get more involved with the Sanctuary.
5. Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: 1660 East Shore Drive, Green Bay
Spread across 535 acres in Green Bay, the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary has taken in more than 6,500 injured and orphaned animals in its 90 years of existence. The sanctuary was first opened in 1936 as a site for waterfowl rehabilitation, and while it still cares for several types of waterfowl, it has grown over its nine decades and now takes in numerous species.
Some of the animals the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary rehabilitates include mice, frogs, salamanders, geckos, turtles, snakes, squirrels, coyotes, wolves, otters, deer, and several species of birds, among other animals. The sanctuary is open every day, from 8 am until 7:30 pm in the spring and summer, and from 8 am until 4:30 pm in the fall and winter, and offers free admission to the public.
6. Sol Criations Farm Sanctuary
Location: N1924 Rizer Road, Endeavor
The main goal of Sol Criations Farm Sanctuary is to follow the Sanskrit principle of Ahimsa, which focuses on nonviolence, compassion, and respect for all living beings. The sanctuary, based in Endeavor, Wisc., extends that kindness to every animal that is welcomed into Sol Criations Farm Sanctuary, and they welcome a lot. Sol Criations Farm Sanctuary cares for several species of animals, including alpacas, pigs, donkeys, cats, dogs, sheep, and several types of birds, like chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.
The sanctuary is not open to the public, but it offers private small group tours, which show visitors the many animals that call Sol Criations Farm Sanctuary home, and teach tourgoers about the animal agriculture industry and veganism. Tours take between 90 and 120 minutes and require a minimum donation of $100 for five guests, and $20 more for each additional guest. Visitors can also see the sanctuary by attending one of its retreats, including an all-day yoga retreat, which includes time in nature, a plant-based lunch, and guided meditation.
7. Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary
Location: 151 North Broadway, Green Bay
Many animal sanctuaries house exotic animals that aren’t found as often in Wisconsin, such as big cats or primates. But there are animals found just about everywhere in the state that need a bit of help, too, like cats and dogs. That’s where Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary comes in. The sanctuary is dedicated to rescuing and caring for cats and dogs, and ultimately, finding the perfect forever home for them. Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary offers a frequently updated listing of all of the animals in the sanctuary’s care that are available for adoption on its website.
Visitors are welcome at Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary during its operating hours, which are 12 pm until 6 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and 12 pm until 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The sanctuary also hosts regular events, where visitors can meet the cats and dogs that call Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary home, like a yoga with kitties classes or story hour with kitties.
8. Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue
Location: 305 Pine St., Rock Springs
Jeff and Jenny Kozlowski first opened Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue in 2005, but the Wisconsites had prior experience with big cats—they’ve owned their own since 2002. While the Kozlowskis initially imagined running a business having visitors take photos with their big cats, they quickly realized the stress that it puts on the animals and pivoted. Instead, they opened Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue as a sanctuary for lions, tigers, liligers ( which are the hybrid of a male lion and female liger), lynx, and servals. The sanctuary’s mission is to provide the numerous cats it houses with a safe and comfortable home, and also offer education to visitors about the animals.
The sanctuary is open at different times, depending on what season it is. During the spring and fall, it’s open from 10 am until 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and by appointment only on Mondays through Fridays. In the summer, Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but open every other day from 10 am until 4 pm.
9. Primates Incorporated
Location: W8782 County Road M, Westfield
Wisconsinites might not think that there are many, if any, primates in their state, but that’s certainly not the case at Primates Incorporated, a Westfield-based animal sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates monkeys that have been tested on in laboratories. Founder Amy Kerwin experienced the laboratory testing firsthand, working with rhesus monkeys at a University of Wisconsin laboratory for five years. In 2004, she founded Primates Incorporated, with the goal of providing an enriching and spacious sanctuary for monkeys.
The sanctuary currently houses 12 primates, who were either rescued from the pet trade, or sent from laboratories. Primates Incorporated is not open to the public, but it hosts occasional open house events, where visitors can tour the sanctuary and see the monkeys. It also welcomes volunteer work groups, and volunteering opportunities are listed on the sanctuary’s website.
10. Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary
Location: W4985 County Road FF, Elkhart Lake
Over the past 17 years, Elkhart Lake’s Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary has cared for more than 356 horses, ponies, and donkeys, placing more than 339 horses in a permanent home. The sanctuary, which focuses its care primarily on horses, but also serves miniature horses, ponies and donkeys, has a mission to offer a safe home for unwanted, abused, and neglected horses.
Founder Erin Kelley-Groth fell in love with horses at the age of 11 while working at the Glass House Ranch, a trail-riding business in Milwaukee. She has carried her love of the animal with her throughout her life, ultimately founding Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary in 2009. Interested visitors can tour the sanctuary on the first Sunday of each month, as part of Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary’s Visitor’s Day. The sanctuary also offers private tours, which must be arranged in advance over the phone.
