It’s time to discuss responsible rescue. This topic sparks strong opinions because it highlights the importance of what happens after rescuing an animal.

Let me take you back to my 40th birthday.

That day, I found myself cutting through feces-filled mats on the backsides of two sheep. 😳

When Johnny and June arrived, they were a mess—quite literally. Their wool was so overgrown and matted with feces that new “number 2s” didn’t have a clear path to the ground. Instead, it was a slow game of Plinko, where poop would occasionally drop out of their wool.

They carried around the heavy weight of their wool, unable to escape it. This was heartbreaking to see and a perfect example of why rescue is just the beginning.

Johnny and June’s caretaker had taken them in years earlier with the best intentions. She loved them deeply, but she came to a difficult realization: they needed a life she couldn’t provide.

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Rescue + Lifelong Sanctuary. 

Because rescue is only a moment in time, we pair our Lifelong Sanctuary program with our rescue efforts. 

It’s about saying yes only when we’re confident we can provide animals like Johnny and June with the safety, medical care, and attention they need—not just today but every day. 

While we may expand to include an adoption program in the future, a robust (and effective) adoption program on top of our current programs is beyond what we can responsibly manage right now. There are significant challenges when trying to place farm animals in safe homes (which is exactly why we operate a sanctuary), which I can talk about in a future post if you’d like to learn more. 

In the meantime, we’re carefully and steadily building our capacity to say yes more often without overextending our resources. This delicate balance requires thoughtful planning and a commitment to the animals who rely on us.

3 to 1: The Secret to Saving Lives at Lily’s Place

What does 3 to 1 mean for animals like Johnny and June? Monthly sponsors make up the bulk of our funding, so no single person carries the financial burden of the sanctuary. Instead, a community of awesome people gives what they can, lifting the weight together. 

On average, 3 monthly sponsors support 1 resident.  We call that sanctuary math ;). The 3 to 1 ratio is why we’re always looking for more monthly sponsors, as they mean more animals saved! 

But only some rescues operate this way. 

It’s frighteningly common for rescues to become overwhelmed, taking in more animals than they can adequately care for. When that happens, the line between rescuing and hoarding is crossed, and everyone suffers.

I saw this firsthand during my time at the SPCA, and those experiences are seared into my brain. There’s a domino effect when resources run thin and good intentions are stretched too far – the heartbreak of rescues that are unable to provide the care they set out to, and the devastating consequences that escalate quickly when overwhelm sets in and promises of a life worth living can’t be kept.

Compassion changes everything when paired with responsibility.

That’s why we love our “sanctuary math” (the 3 to 1 ratio) so much. ✨

As I think back to my 40th birthday—a pair of scissors in hand and Johnny standing patiently as we cut away years of neglect—I feel deeply grateful. That sounds strange, given the vantage point I found myself in 😅, but it’s true. I’m thankful we had the resources, support, and commitment of monthly sponsors to say yes to Johnny and June and give them a home for life.

If you believe in responsible rescue, consider becoming a monthly sponsor and becoming part of Johnny and June’s extended family.

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Jamie Sabot
Executive Director, Lily’s Place Animal Sanctuary