Animal Sanctuary in Maryland
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is a 400 acre non-profit refuge in Poolesville, Maryland for farm animals and wildlife. Founded in 1996, our mission is to offer care, rehabilitation, and permanent sanctuary for neglected, abused or abandoned farm animals, as well as providing a protected habitat for wildlife. We promote compassion and the humane treatment of all animals by educating the public on farm animal and wildlife issues.
The restored colonial-era farmhouse situated on the property houses the operations of the sanctuary. Overlooking the Potomac River, and surrounded by ponds, streams, and open fields of preserved natural habitat, the sanctuary provides an idyllic setting for wildlife and farm animals.
Through generous public donations, and the dedication of over 100 volunteers and 7 paid staff members, we’ve been able to not only maintain the farm and it’s acreage, but also build new barns and fences to house our growing animal family. From Petunia the pig, our first rescue, to the over 200 animals currently living at the sanctuary – your donations and support ensure their continued happiness and comfort.
Volunteer With Us
Volunteers are at the heart of Poplar Spring.
We rely on them to help us shower our animals with love and provide daily feed and caretaking for them.
Our dedicated volunteers also help us with sanctuary tasks such as mowing, trimming, and fencing around the farm, and administrative tasks such as filing and data entry.
If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the following forms:
Volunteer Application [online form]
Liability Waiver [PDF]
You may complete the application form online; the liability waiver should be mailed to:
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
P.O. Box 507
Poolesville, MD 20837
How You Can Help
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It is run entirely by donations from the public and does not receive any county, state, or federal funding. Donations go directly to help feed and care for the animals, and are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Please support the sanctuary by making a tax-deductible donation.
Donate Through PayPal Donate
You can also Give to the Animals in Many Unique Ways:
There are many wonderful farm animals at the sanctuary who are in need of “sponsor” parents. Your sponsorship of a sanctuary resident helps to provide them with daily feed, shelter and veterinary care. You will receive a framed photograph and the story of your adopted friend, along with the opportunity to visit in person. With your support we can continue to rescue even more animals who desperately need a home.
Combined Federal Campaign– If you are a Federal employee, please consider us when selecting an organization to support in the Fall Campaign. Our CFC code is #62455
Stock Donations– If you would like to make a stock donation, please provide your broker with the following information: Broker: Morgan Stanley Smith Barney for Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary Acct.#785-319931-301 Stock donations are tax deductible and can reduce your capital gains tax
Bequests– Help to leave a legacy for the animals by making a provision for Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in your will or by designating Poplar Spring as a beneficiary in your life insurance policy. Our tax ID# is 52-1970569. Please contact us at301-428-8128 or info@animalsanctuary.org if you have questions.
Vehicle Donation– Help the animals by donating your vehicle! Your car, truck, boat or RV will be picked up promptly and you will get a tax receipt. Just go to v-dac.com for all the information, and designate Poplar Spring as the non-profit beneficiary.
Wish List
- Items for our Annual Yard Sale and Silent Auction
- Gift Certificates from Southern States (for animal feed and supplies)
- Folding chairs
- Stamps
- Photo Paper
- Paper Towels
- AA, AAA, or D Batteries
- Ecover All Purpose Cleaner
- Copy Paper
- Exam Gloves
- Wild Bird Seed
- Apples and Bananas
- 6 or 8 ft. folding tables
Visiting the Sanctuary
In addition to our scheduled special events, the sanctuary is open for tours and visits by appointment. Please call 301.428.8128 or email us to schedule a visit. Please try to be on time for your scheduled tour, and allow extra time for finding the sanctuary if this is your first time visiting. If heavy rain is forecast, we may need to reschedule. Call to check on your tour status if there is any question about the weather.
Group Tours
School and community groups of any age are welcome to schedule a visit with the rescued animals. Tours will be tailored for the specific age groups and last approximately one hour. We have offered many tours to groups of all ages, from preschool to senior citizens.
Group tours may be scheduled any day except Wednesdays, and are always offered in the mornings only, starting any time from 10 a.m. – noon. Please make reservations well in advance, especially in the Spring during field trip season, as we frequently become booked up. There is a $5.00/person suggested donation for the tour. (This includes children and adults – infants are free)
Tours for Individuals and Families
Individuals or small family groups can call or email to find out about our schedule for weekend tours. Due to our small staff, we cannot offer small private tours on weekdays, but we usually will offer at least one tour that individuals may join on each weekend, except on or near event weeks. There is a $5 suggested donation/person, or you may give any amount to benefit the rescued animals.
Visiting Your Sponsored Animal
Individuals who are sponsors of an individual or several animals are welcome to visit their animal(s) with 24 hour notice, on any day except Wednesdays. We prefer that you visit in the morning, when staff will be around to assist you – please call or email for an appointment.
What to Expect
Poplar Spring is home to over 200 rescued animals – we have horses, mules, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys and many other animals, including free ranging wildlife. During the tour we will walk around to all the different barns and visit the animals to meet them and hear the stories of where they came from. Every animal has a name and a story, and many are very friendly and sociable.
We will be able to interact with the animals, and during the tour you will be able to pet many of them, give a pig a belly rub, and hold some of the chickens. During group tours we often provide some treats for the animals so that visitors can experience feeding them.
Tours last approximately one hour, but may be longer depending on the size of the group. With large groups of children it is recommended that you visit the restroom before coming for the tour. There is only one Port-A-John available, and this can take a lot of time before or during the tour if there is a line. There is also a hand washing area with a sink, soap and paper towels that visitors are welcome to use after the tour.
We have a small gift shop you are welcome to browse before or after the tour, with t-shirts, crafts, notecards and other items that we sell to benefit the rescued animals. We accept cash, check and credit cards for gift shop purchases and donations.
What to Bring and What to Wear
Poplar Spring is a 400-acre sanctuary with no paved roads or sidewalks. It is wheelchair accessible on the grass and gravel roads to most of the barns but there are a few small hills that will need to be navigated.
We recommend wearing clothing and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty as the paths and barns (and animals) can sometimes be muddy or dusty, depending on the weather. We may be walking through tall grass to see some of the cows or other animals that may have wandered from the main areas, so if it has rained recently, boots might be a good idea.
If it is actively raining, we may need to reschedule, as the tour is all outdoors and many of the animals are afraid of umbrellas. You should dress appropriately for the weather, and wear shoes suitable for walking through grass. If it is a hot day, you may want to wear sunscreen and bring water with you on the tour.
Cameras are welcome, and there will be many wonderful photo opportunities on your tour.
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