It was a busy year at Live and Let Live Farm, an animal sanctuary in Chichester.
The farm took in various species throughout the year, often working with state authorities handling animal abuse and neglect cases across the state.
“It’s been endless this year,” said Live and Let Live Director Teresa Paradis.
Make no mistake, Paradis and her growing group of volunteers are happy to be busy, and they hope to continue helping animals in the new year. The group works to rehabilitate injured and emaciated animals, who are often later adopted once they return to full health. The ones that aren’t adopted live out their days on the farm.
Approaching Thanksgiving in November, a crew of volunteers were dispatched with horse trailers out to Langdon to help rescue a herd at another animal sanctuary that was struggling financially. The crew battled through snow squalls on their way back as they transferred three horses suffering from emaciation and possibly infected mouths.
A month later, those horses are showing signs of improvement. They still look rather thin, but their bodies are filling out as Paradis and her group work to carefully bring them back to a healthy weight. The horses are being trained mostly indoors for now and will get back outside at the end of winter. Paradis hopes to have them ready to be considered for adoption sometime in the summer.
The farm holds tours on Sunday afternoons where visitors can get an up-close look at the animals that are being helped. Paradis said it is the best way for people, particularly donors who support the farm, to see the work that is being done. She said the farm is always in need of support, whether through monetary donations, large or small, through the organizations website, or with materials such as hay and even just paper towels.
“We always need hay angels and volunteers,” Paradis said. “There’s always a need. Whether they want to come adopt, volunteer or just see the animals they’re helping, they should come on the guided tour.”
Tours are held each Sunday at 2:30 p.m. For more information visiting and to see a wish-list of items the farm needs, visit liveandletlivefarm.org.
(Nick Stoico can be reached at 369-3321, nstoico@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @NickStoico.)