Vegan Animal Sanctuary in Maine
Peace Ridge was founded in 2001 in order to address animal cruelty, neglect and exploitation, and to promote vegan ethics in New England. We advocate for all animals – farmed animals, domestic companion animals, and wildlife.
We believe society needs to rethink the way that it views and interacts with animals in order to become a more peaceful and just society. We believe that social justice cannot be achieved unless we acknowledge the social injustice we perpetrate on animals.
Situated in Mid Coast Maine, our sanctuary is currently home to over 240 farmed animals that come from all types of situations where they have been neglected, exploited, or abused. They all have their own stories, but what makes them especially unique from others just like them, is that they got out of their situation alive and are now safe with us. Since our founding, we have rescued over 1100 animals and will continue to spread our compassion in the future.
Mission
Our mission is to provide permanent sanctuary to once abused and neglected animals, with a particular focus on farmed animals. We also promote compassionate lifestyle choices through humane education.
Our Programs
Sanctuary Operations
Peace Ridge Sanctuary provides a permanent home to over 250 animals at any given time. All of our residents enjoy the life they were meant for, with ample open space and closely supervised care. Peace Ridge staff prides itself on superior farm management and animal care standards.
Farmed Animal Rescue
Our residents come from a number of situations, but they are all places where the animals would not have survived. We answer over 60 calls per month from concerned citizens or authorities needing assistance with animal cases. We direct our efforts toward helping with emergency cases, responding to calls from the State of Maine Animal Welfare Program, or assisting authorities who need our help.
Our Rescue Dogs
Peace Ridge is the long-term home of many rescue dogs, and is a short-term home for those canines who are best fit for adoption. We are always looking for qualified families to adopt our dogs, and for foster families who would like to work with a team to provide housing, training and/or just simply some love while a dog adjusts. Help us get them ready for the real world by joining our dedicated foster team.
Our focus is not on adopting out as many dogs as possible, rather, we are focused on finding permanent families for dogs who deserve their forever happy ending!
Visit Us
Situated atop a hill overlooking hundreds of acres of protected forests, Peace Ridge is a peaceful enclave of pastures and ponds, making it a haven for wildlife and farmed animals alike. Many of our residents love having visitors, and spending time with them is an experience you will not soon forget. We hope you will find the time to come visit us, and see what a truly special place Peace Ridge is!
Open Houses
Visitors are welcome during our Open House season, which runs from June through October. No appointment is necessary for these visits, so mark your calendars and come see how life should be for farmed animals! Visit our Events page for the current schedule.
Private Tours
Private tours are always available for our donors (weather permitting); we simply ask that you schedule your visit ahead of time. Not a donor? Visit our Donation Page and make arrangements to come see us!
Youth & School Groups
Most children have a special affinity for animals. Our tours for student groups offer the chance for young people to learn directly from some of our very special rescues, making the lessons even more memorable. Contact us at info@peaceridgesanctuary.org to schedule a visit.
Volunteering
Peace Ridge Sanctuary is looking for dedicated, hardworking volunteers who do not mind getting dirty, and who share our passion for farmed animal rescue. This work is NOT EASY, but it is all for a very important cause, and it just might be the hardest work you will ever love. Plus, you will have the chance to be around the animals while you work!
We need people who are:
- Willing to do hard physical labor in all seasons and all types of weather (the animals depend on us even when there is 3 feet of snow!).
- Compassionate, dedicated and eager to tend to the basic needs of animals who might have once been abused or neglected.
- Good at communicating and following instructions.
- Dependable and committed to volunteering at least one day per week.
Volunteer responsibilities may include (but are not limited to):
- Cleaning barns and pastures
- Feeding and watering
- Loading and unloading supplies, grain, etc.
Does this sound like something you are up for? If so, we would love to hear from you! To sign up for a Volunteer Orientation, email us at info@peaceridgesanctuary.org or call us at 207-722-3035.
Fundraising
Are you looking for a great way to support animals and the Peace Ridge Sanctuary mission?
We are looking for a handful of committed, hardworking new members to join our Fundraising Committee. No special skills are required, just a sincere desire to work with us on a regular basis. If you do not have time to join a committee, there is still plenty you can do! Here are a few ideas:
- Bottle drive
- Ask your school or employer if you can set up a bottle collection bin, and check with friends and family about donating their returnables, too!
- Yard Sale
- Everybody loves a chance to get rid of unused things or collect new treasures for a good cause. Host a yard sale on our behalf and we will supply you with a kit filled with Peace Ridge brochures, a poster and more to help make your sale a success.
- House party
- Whether it’s a formal affair with wine and hors d’oeuvres or a simple afternoon potluck, house parties are a great way to meet like-minded people, share ideas and have some fun. We’d love to send someone from Peace Ridge to attend your event and talk to your guests about who we are and what we do!
Host a Sanctuary Work Day
Do you have a group of friends or co-workers who would like to spend a day at the sanctuary helping with projects? Peace Ridge always has ongoing projects and welcomes groups who want to spend time doing non-animal related work. Projects depend on the season but can include:
- Painting barns
- Raking/gardening
- Small construction
- General clean-up
This is a great way to spend a day with friends while helping the animals.
Consider Going Vegan
Veganism is much more than a diet; it is a way of life whereby animal products and the exploitation of animals are avoided in the consciousness that animal suffering of any kind should not be supported.
Adopting a vegan lifestyle is the best way to help animals, while also protecting the planet, and the proliferation of vegan products on the market today make it easier than ever! If you are just starting out, there are many vegan companies out there from which to choose. You will have no problem eating similarly to how you did before, and you will be supporting a more compassionate and healthful lifestyle.
Once you become more familiar with vegan foods and vegan cooking, you will quickly realize how delicious and easy it is to make the switch! The majority of vegans will tell you that their only regret about becoming vegan is that they did not do it sooner.
Fortunately, there is a lot of information available for people who want to go vegan, and a great educational website about the nitty-gritty of doing so is Vegan Outreach.
For those of you who are thinking about making the change, Peace Ridge offers FREE vegan cookbooks and other resources to help with your transition. Contact us at info@peaceridgesanctuary.org for more information.
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