Fall Visitors Day at West Place Animal Sanctuary showcases new friends and old success stories 

An emu, two donkeys, and three cows are out in a pasture together. That may sound like the start of a dad joke, but at West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton, it’s simply reality. Near the barn, in other pastures, across the grounds, and in separate enclosures, there are also three peacocks, four guinea fowl, three pheasants, a gaggle of ducks and geese, alpaca, sheep, donkeys, and a miniature horse. In the pond, there are turtles and koi fish. There are over 300 animals at West Place – about 90 of which are farm or ground-dwelling – and almost every single one has been rescued from abuse, cruelty, or neglect. 

West Place Animal Sanctuary has been an active nonprofit for about eighteen years. Wendy Taylor, owner of the estate property in Tiverton and the founder of West Place, had been a lawyer before she pivoted into a hands-on role in animal justice. West Place used to be a place of residence; Taylor had been rebuilding the house on the property, living there happily with her nine four-legged companions, including a goat named Mo. Mo had lost the ability to walk, but with fantastic care and research at Tufts Animal Hospital, he started taking his first steps. Then, a horrific house fire destroyed everything. Mo and the other animal friends were killed. Taylor took the advice of a friend to support animal foundations. She rebuilt her home, earned a wildlife rehabilitation license, and in 2007, created West Place Animal Sanctuary. 

Clover. Credit: West Place Animal Sanctuary

The nonprofit protects all types of animals, from aquatic species to farm animals, waterfowl to exotic birds. Even some wild animals are brought to West Place for rehabilitation with the goal of release. “For the most part they [the animals] come to us from law enforcement, explains Patrick Cole, director of development and communications at the rescue center. West Place works with organizations like the ASPCA, animal control, and the DEM to bring hurt and abused animals to them. While most come from Rhode Island, southern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut, others come from other states in the Northeast or across the country – a wild turkey on the property, Ankara, was brought to the center with a broken foot after being hit by a car in New York City, and the two donkeys at West Place were brought in from Texas. 

Ankara, like the other wild animals the sanctuary has rehabilitated, is free to return to the wild (though he chose to stick around for the cushy life at the center), but every rescued pet or working animal stays at the sanctuary for life, free and safe from past trauma. “That’s really what separates us from a shelter,” says Cole. “We’re not trying to adopt them out or find a good home for them. This is the good home.” 

Jack. Credit: West Place Animal Sanctuary

Home, over the years, has had to expand in size as more and more residents make their way to this protected place. For example, in 2016, a Westport farm became the largest animal cruelty case in New England with more than 1,400 animals found in distress. West Place took 67 of those animals to be permanent residents of the sanctuary – including three peacocks. Around 2017, Taylor gave up her law practice to focus of West Place full-time and to continue to expand the capacities of the sanctuary in a safe, loving, and intelligent way. 

Like any family or house filled with roommates, all of the animals at West Place have their own behaviors, personalities, and quirks, and as they heal from their trauma and come to know the humans who care for them, they aren’t afraid to let their oddities out. For example, the peacocks are picky eaters, and one of the only foods they will consume is Iams dried cat food – from the purple bag. Colby, one of the rescued sheep, loves a very specific pair of pants that Cole occasionally wears. “We’re guests in their home,” Cole laughs. The animals aren’t afraid to make that known. 

Jack. Credit: West Place Animal Sanctuary

Three weeks ago, West Place rescued three dwarf goats and an emu named Clover. The new residents are settling in; Clover used to stay close to the barn, but now she is comfortable hanging out in the pasture with large farm animals like the three cows and two donkeys. She uses the “animal trail” network of paths to safely wander the grounds, and her favorite pastime is splashing in her bathtub. Life at the sanctuary is slowly starting to look up for her. 

Of course, as in the nature of these things, care for life also includes end-of-life care. Such is the case with Jack and Diane, the first two pigs the animal center rescued. Jack and Diane were both morbidly obese when they came to West Place over five years ago, and the expectation was that the duo would need hospice care. Now at 15 years old, Diane is “the queen of the sanctuary, and she knows it,” jokes Cole. “She’s a diva” and gets into everything, including tomatoes in the greenhouse. Jack suffers from arthritis in his old age, but with the help of a custom-made orthotic device and acupuncture treatments, he has rejuvenated energy for “cruising the sanctuary” and getting into mischief with Diane.

Clover. Credit: West Place Animal Sanctuary

The public will soon have the chance to visit with Jack, Diane, Clover, Colby, and all of the other animals at West Place. West Place’s annual Fall Visitors Weekend occurs on September 7 and 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is one of three chances each year for the public to tour the animal sanctuary, visit old success stories, and welcome new friends to a life of peace. For many, visiting Clover will be an extra-special treat because of her nature as an emu. A giant exotic bird that “drums” when she is aware of a new person, Clover is “like a dinosaur. It can be very intimidating for people, but she’s so sweet,” says Cole. Pictures and videos online or from family and friends are great, but it can’t capture the feeling of seeing an emu, having a rescued pig walk up to wipe their snout on your pants and ask for belly rubs, or seeing the vibrant, happy life all of the animals now lead. “There’s really nothing like being here in person.” 

Cole suggests buying tickets online in advance. Tours leave every thirty minutes and last between 75- and 90-minutes total. Each tour is capped at 25 people, for the benefit of the animals. For more information, participants are encouraged to visit the West Place website, or email or call the sanctuary.    

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