Sanctuary to the rescue: Jefferson’s Safe Haven in Leverett celebrates 3rd year by continuing to expand

Kathy LeMay, co-owner of Jefferson's Safe Haven in Leverett, says hello to Lou who was in the shade on Thursday morning.

Kathy LeMay, co-owner of Jefferson's Safe Haven in Leverett, says hello to Lou who was in the shade on Thursday morning. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS—

Tricia Hamilton, co-owner of Jefferson’s Safe Haven in Leverett, offers a treat to Nester, a donkey at the sanctuary, while Keenan Hamlton gives the donkey a hug. The sanctuary, which opened two years ago, now takes care of 35 animals on a 3-acre site in Leverett.

Tricia Hamilton, co-owner of Jefferson’s Safe Haven in Leverett, offers a treat to Nester, a donkey at the sanctuary, while Keenan Hamlton gives the donkey a hug. The sanctuary, which opened two years ago, now takes care of 35 animals on a 3-acre site in Leverett. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

Kathy LeMay, co-owner of Jefferson's Safe Haven in Leverett, bends down to greet Wilbur, a donkey at the sanctuary.

Kathy LeMay, co-owner of Jefferson's Safe Haven in Leverett, bends down to greet Wilbur, a donkey at the sanctuary. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS—

Nester and Wilbur, donkeys who are inseparable, have a moment of play at Jefferson’s Safe Haven in Leverett Thursday morning.

Nester and Wilbur, donkeys who are inseparable, have a moment of play at Jefferson’s Safe Haven in Leverett Thursday morning. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

Nester and Wilbur, Donkey's who are inseparable, have a moment of play at  Jefferson's Safe Haven in Leverett Thursday morning.

Nester and Wilbur, Donkey's who are inseparable, have a moment of play at Jefferson's Safe Haven in Leverett Thursday morning. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS—

Kathy LeMay, co-owner of Jefferson’s Safe Haven in Leverett, walks to a back field as Lou the sheep follows along. In the back is Keenan Hamilton with Rosie and Wilbur, both donkeys.

Kathy LeMay, co-owner of Jefferson’s Safe Haven in Leverett, walks to a back field as Lou the sheep follows along. In the back is Keenan Hamilton with Rosie and Wilbur, both donkeys. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 08-02-2024 3:24 PM

Modified: 08-02-2024 5:02 PM


LEVERETT — In the company of young donkey friends, miniature donkey Franklin has perked up, overcoming the grief of losing his life mate of 20 years.

In a similar way, Rosie, another miniature donkey, who had once been left alone and without companions after her sister succumbed to a neurological disease, has made several new acquaintances.

And losing much of his mobility as the only sheep in the field, Lou is now rediscovering his purpose by looking after two young Jacob lambs.

Franklin, Rosie and Lou are all residents of Jefferson’s Safe Haven, a 3-acre site where 35 animals, including alpacas, sheep, lambs, goats, donkeys, chickens and a rescue dog, make their home, and when, not otherwise munching on hay or leaves, or playing with 10 Icelandic chicks dropped off by children at Shutesbury Elementary School, are quick to come up to and seek affection from human visitors.

“It’s a peaceable kingdom,” says Kathy LeMay, who, alongside sister Trica Hamilton, runs the rescue home for farm animals from their Cave Hill Road home.

Founded in 2022, the sisters initially created the sanctuary as a space for the six alpacas they owned, but quickly grew the number of inhabitants as they adopted more farm animals, often coming from bad situations and at risk of being put down, such as a handful of chickens too old to lay eggs.

“We are first and foremost a rescue and forever animal home,” LeMay said. “The principle is for the animals to live out their natural lives here, and they count on us to take care of them.”

“It’s a labor of love for me and Trish,” she added.

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On Saturday morning, the sanctuary celebrates its third year of existence, with the public invited to drop by for lemonade, live music, pictures with animals and personalized tours, and to buy fundraising items that will support the sanctuary’s ongoing expenses, such as T-shirts and alpaca-fleece filled bird feeders. Already, well over 100 area residents have RSVP’d for the event.

The origins of the sanctuary date back a number of years when Hamilton and her friend, Sue, were traveling through Oregon and, after spending weekends at a farm, fell in love with a newborn alpaca named Jefferson. Hamilton brought Jefferson with her when she moved to western Massachusetts.

Though Jefferson died in 2011, Hamilton began thinking about building a place where Jefferson and his fellow alpacas could be loved and appreciated. Then, seven years ago, she moved to Leverett and put the idea at the forefront, after boarding the alpacas at another local site.

“It’s incredible what they do for people,” Hamilton said of the animals she describes as being social and loving. “We loved them so much and thought people would enjoy them.”

While Hamilton currently works professionally in talent acquisition management, her prior career was as a veterinary technician for over 14 years, where she worked in several states with large and small animals. She combines that with LeMay’s experience as a professional fundraiser with 30 years as a global social change leader, though LeMay is now running a landscaping company and also earned a master of science degree in trauma-informed development psychology.

Education programs and therapeutic tours have become part of the purpose of the sanctuary. During COVID, LeMay said she and her sister began thinking more about the power of healing, and, since opening, have seen how people can benefit, like seniors with dementia and children with autism.

They also work with Community Options in Belchertown, whose developmentally disabled adults come, and they light up upon seeing the animals, LeMay said.

That same thing happens with children. “They’re so social, kids go bananas here,” LeMay said.

The sisters, while living on site with their families, do much of the work in caring for the animals, alongside a single paid farm professional, Sierra Hirsch, who lives nearby. On a warm summer day, Hirsch makes sure that the animals are getting hay and staying hydrated by keeping the buckets of water filled around the property, and helping the sisters and volunteers spread stone around a muddy area to protect the animals’ hoofs from disease.

“If you’re ever sad, hug a donkey,” Hirsch said as she gives Rosie a hug, expressing her appreciation for getting to work at the site.

The biggest cost to having a sanctuary is medicine, LeMay said, but there are also costs associated with the feed and the structures on site.

“We have incredible loyal and committed donors, making increasingly generous donations,” LeMay said.

One donor has prepaid for significant amounts of hay to ensure a constant supply of food, especially during the winter months. Others have helped construct barns where the animals are sheltered, with fans running to keep some of the animals cool. The alpacas and sheep are also shorn before Memorial Day so they can be cooler during the summer months.

“We couldn’t do what we do without volunteers,” LeMay said. “Volunteers put in so much labor and donors provide us so many supplies.”

The sisters are planning to bring in another three to four alpacas, even though the site is nearing capacity. They want to make sure they continue to know each animal by name.

“We’re really close to all them. We’ll always stay small enough where their well being is centered,” LeMay said.

But there are hopes to continue to grow, with the sisters leasing another acre of pastureland from neighbors, so there is more place for the animals to graze, both on the grass and the green leaves of trees.

Long term, LeMay said she would love to identify a 10-acre site and possibly place small cabins where students and others could live for a time and get experience, whether it be for practical training in veterinary medicine or to be closer to a naturel environment.

“Animals will give love easily, you just have to be kind to them,” LeMay said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.