From farm animals to wolves, animal sanctuaries in Pennsylvania offer safe, permanent homes for rescued animals.
Animal sanctuaries are places where creatures big and small—often those who have been abused, neglected, or injured—can safely and comfortably live out the rest of their lives. Unlike shelters, the focus isn’t on adoption, but lifelong care.
Across Pennsylvania, you’ll find a wide range of sanctuary residents, from retired horses and former dairy cows to often overlooked farm birds like ducks, geese, and chickens. Here are 11 animal sanctuaries in Pennsylvania providing forever homes for animals in need, and how you can visit or support them.
Animal sanctuaries in southeastern Pennsylvania
1. Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines—Pottstown (Chester County)
The country’s first horse rescue and retirement farm, Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines, has been caring for horses in southeastern Pennsylvania since 1888. The horses at Ryerss Farm have retired after lives in equestrian sports or as riding horses, while others have been rescued from abusive situations. Here, they are no longer required to work or endure being poked and prodded at auction. No matter their background, all of the resident horses live peaceful lives as part of a herd—did you know horses are social creatures that form deep and lasting bonds with one another?
You can visit Ryerss Farm, which is open daily, and meet the residents at no charge (though donations are welcome). You can even purchase treats in the gift shop to share with your new horse friends.
2. Chenoa Manor—Avondale (Chester County)
For more than two decades, 25-acre Chenoa Manor has served the Chester County community as a permanent home for over 200 animals rescued from abuse, factory farms, or laboratory experiments. After arriving, many of the animals must learn—or relearn—how to trust humans, as a sanctuary volunteer told the Reading Eagle in 2015.
Some of the residents include Ina, a shaggy pony who was once chained outside and beaten; Zulu, an African spurred tortoise who had been kept as a pet; and Giuseppe and Felicetta, a pair of donkeys who bonded so deeply on a transport truck that one refused to leave the other behind.
Visits to the sanctuary can be scheduled as part of events or educational workshops.
3. Sweet Peace Farm Sanctuary—Lincoln University (Chester County)
Sweet Peace Farm Sanctuary, established in 2021, is a small farm sanctuary on six acres in southeastern Pennsylvania, home to cows, sheep, pigs, and often overlooked farm birds, including ducks, chickens, and geese. Among the sanctuary’s residents are Huckleberry, a Jersey steer rescued from a petting zoo and described as having “a bit of a mischievous and wild nature,” and Dewdrop, a white mixed-breed goose fiercely protective of his partner, Jelly. Dewdrop’s hobbies include “swimming in the 500-gallon pool, picking at watermelon and lettuce, and making sure that nobody gets too close to Jelly.” Sweet Peace regularly shares videos and photos of its animals on social media.
Unlike many sanctuaries, Sweet Peace also has adoption programs for cats and domestic ducks. And as it grows, it plans to expand opportunities for public involvement.
4. Rose Bridge Farm and Sanctuary—Dresher (Montgomery County)
Rose Bridge Farm and Sanctuary is a sanctuary and working farm in southeastern Pennsylvania. It’s home to calves, chickens, camels, horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, and more. Farm tours, workshops, and other events—like goat hiking and goat yoga—allow community members to spend time with the animal residents. The farm even offers overnight glamping opportunities.
Unlike most sanctuaries, Rose Bridge also rehomes some of its animals, including goats, calves, and cats. Adoptions help “continue our mission of rescue and rehabilitation,” according to the sanctuary; since its founding in 2013, it has found homes for more than 250 animals.
Animal sanctuaries in northeastern Pennsylvania
5. Indraloka Animal Sanctuary—Dalton (Lackawanna County)
Just 15 minutes from Scranton, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary provides a permanent, safe home for rescued farm animals. Roughly 200 residents live at Indraloka, including alpacas, chickens, cows, ducks, geese, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, sheep, and turkeys.
Beyond offering lifelong care, the sanctuary also focuses on education for humans through programs and events that connect visitors with the animals, such as guided tours and even monthly meditations alongside the residents.
Visits are only available through scheduled tours and events.
6. Animal Care Sanctuary—East Smithfield (Bradford County)
Animal Care Sanctuary is different from most sanctuaries in that its ultimate goal isn’t to provide a permanent home for the companion animals it takes in, but rather to find them one. In this way, it’s both a sanctuary and a shelter for dozens of dogs and cats looking for their forever families.
The no-kill shelter was first launched in 1967 and takes in animals that many shelters won’t accept, pledging to care for animals for as long as it takes to find them a home. And that care is innovative: For example, the dogs live in “tiny homes” (complete with heating and air conditioning) designed to reduce the stress of traditional kennels. The sanctuary also supports families with animals through affordable vet care and other pet services.
If you’re looking to add a cat or dog to your family, you might want to reach out to Animal Care Sanctuary’s adoption team.
Animal sanctuaries in central Pennsylvania
7. Lancaster Farm Sanctuary—Mount Joy (Lancaster County)
Lancaster Farm Sanctuary opened in 2017 to provide a safe home for farm animals in need in the Lancaster area. Animals like Shelby—a piglet found on the side of the road, likely after falling from a transport truck—and Margot—a goat rescued from a hoarding situation who soon gave birth to twins—now live gentle lives at the volunteer-run farm.
The sanctuary also offers educational initiatives, such as a pen pal program for elementary school kids to “correspond” with an animal at the farm, as well as seasonal guided tours.
To visit and meet the animals, sign up for a tour or event.
8. Wolf Sanctuary of PA—Lititz (Lancaster County)
On roughly 80 acres of woodland just north of Lancaster County’s Lititz, Wolf Sanctuary of PA provides a refuge for more than 50 rescued gray and timber wolves, as well as wolf-dogs. The wolves roam in large, naturalistic enclosures and can be visited during the sanctuary’s year-round public and private tours. The sanctuary also hosts special events, such as Music and Art with the Wolves on Apr. 18, which will feature self-guided tours, food trucks, an arts market, live music, and more.
Animal sanctuaries in western Pennsylvania
9. Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary—Sewickley (Allegheny County)
Located on six acres in Pittsburgh’s North Hills, Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary is a veterinarian-run sanctuary home to rescued farm animals, including pigs, goats, sheep, alpaca, llama, donkey, emu, and farm birds. The more than 100 animal residents may have lessons to teach all of us. “The animals at Hope Haven have an incredible ability to live in the moment—finding contentment in each day and coexisting with ease,” founder and vet Karen Phillips said in an email. “It’s a beautiful reminder of how simple and happy life can be.”
Visitors can meet the sanctuary’s animals on monthly seasonal tours and at other events. Plus, tours end with free plant-based refreshments.
10. J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary—Saxonburg (Butler County)
J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary in Saxonburg is home to more than 175 rescued farm animals. The volunteer-run operation serves cats, dogs, ducks, chickens, geese, horses, and turkeys. Among them is Big Boo, “the friendliest Muscovy [duck] we’ve ever met,” per the sanctuary, and Buttercup, a bantam cochin chicken who raises the farm’s ducklings.
The sanctuary is available to visit only during planned events, which include yoga, game nights, and more.
11. Kindred Spirits Rescue Ranch—Darlington (Beaver County)
Beaver County’s Kindred Spirits Rescue Ranch is a farm rescue and sanctuary providing a safe home for 200 rescued farm animals. Founders Lisa and John Sopko initially bought the farm “because we had two horses that we no longer wanted to board,” Lisa said in an email. But after John suffered a severe injury and Lisa closed her business to care for him, they began taking in abandoned and abused animals.
Today, the sanctuary is home to ducks, pigs, cows, chickens, horses, sheep, and other farm animals. Many of the residents are domestic birds, like ducks and geese, that had been left to fend for themselves in the wild, but most were abused animals seized by humane law officers charged with enforcing anti-cruelty laws. John continues to work and pay the mortgage, Lisa said, so all donations go directly to the animals.
You can visit the sanctuary via scheduled seasonal tours and other events.
