A 110-acre refuge where every resident — goat, pig, sheep, turkey, former dairy cow — was rescued from a slaughterhouse, a hoarding case, or a farm that couldn't keep them, and the 90-minute tour gets you close enough to scratch a few ears while the guide tells you exactly how each one ended up here.
Heads upOpen weekends only (Sat–Sun) April–November. Reservations required 2 business days in advance; no drop-in visits allowed. Tours are outdoors and subject to weather; extreme conditions may shorten duration. HPAI bird flu alerts may affect bird access. Comfortable walking shoes essential. Bring lunch or pre-order from partner restaurants.
Since 2001, Catskill Animal Sanctuary has rescued more than 5,000 farmed animals from slaughterhouses, hoarding situations, and failing farms. The 110-acre property is home to 150-plus residents across 10 species, living freely and socially. The sanctuary marks 25 years of operation in 2026.
Visits happen as guided tours (90 minutes for the full experience, or 60 minutes for the "Family Focused" version aimed at kids under four) or self-paced day passes from 10am to 3pm with an optional tour add-on. On tour, you get close enough to scratch a goat or pig behind the ears. Your guide tells you where each animal came from: a slaughterhouse truck, a hoarding case, a farm that shut down. The sanctuary's vegan philosophy shapes everything, and guides explain the reasoning naturally, without turning it into a lecture.