The Backyard Barnyard Sanctuary

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United States
Phoenix, AZ
The Backyard Barnyard Sanctuary

A small neighborhood backyard farm sanctuary. We are not a rescue and we do not adopt out .

The Backyard Barnyard Foundation began in 2010 to help support a long time neighborhood farm that was home to rescued donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs and chickens. Little did we know that two years later we would actually become a sanctuary with a motley crew of rescued barnyard animals living in our backyard. We are a small backyard sanctuary providing a permanent and loving home to the animals in our care.

06/30/2025

I’m deeply honored to share that I’ve been officially ordained as an Animal Chaplain.

This 9.5-month journey of learning, reflection, and transformation with the Compassion Consortium has forever changed how I walk through the world.

This calling has been growing in me for quite some time, and the journey has been both challenging and profoundly empowering.
While I’m not yet certain where this path will lead, I do know it has deepened my commitment to being a better steward for the animals in our care, and to advocating for those whose voices too often go unheard.

While I don’t yet know exactly where this path will lead, I do know this:

🐾 Compassion begins in our own backyard.
🐾 Kindness can ripple far beyond what we see.
🐾 Every voice matters, especially the ones we rarely hear.

Thank you to those who’ve supported me along the way. I’m excited for what’s to come. So stay tuned!!!

🕊️ “Ordained to walk gently with all beings.”

06/03/2025

I woke up this morning with a heaviness in my heart and tears in my eyes. Three years ago today, you left your little body and gained your wings.

The hole you left in our hearts was deep. Over time, that hole has closed, but the scar remains, a reminder of just how much you meant to us.

How do I put into words the impact of a pig so small, yet with a presence so big? I never knew a little pig could change everything, but you did. You were the one who started it all, and because of you, our lives were never the same.

Thank you for your love, your indomitable spirit, your funny noises, and the way you made every day brighter. The tears I shed were not only tears of grief but also tears of joy and gratitude. We were so very lucky that you chose us to spend your life with.

And thank you for the penny from the Rainbow Bridge, it made me smile through the tears. I felt you, sweet boy, I felt you 💖

We miss you, Frank, and we always will. ❤🐷

03/12/2025

Success! 🐷💩 ❤
Thank you for all your well wishes for Romeo. We finally had "movement"!

03/11/2025

Looking for good vibes, positive energy, prayers, anything you can send our way for our bestest boy Romeo. He's not feeling well, and is constipated. Midwestern was out here yesterday, did an ultrasound, took blood, gave him an antibiotic shot and left us with a laxative. Hoping the laxative does the trick otherwise we're looking at a possible blockage and surgery, which finding a vet to do that will be challenging as it's not something that can be done in the field as he would need to stay where he could be monitored. So if you all could just pray for a good 💩 we would all greatly appreciate it. 🐷❤

03/07/2025

Ironwood Pig Sanctuary - is an amazing sanctuary. Jessica, Chantilly & Minnie all came from Ironwood. 🐷❤

03/02/2025

It’s with a very heavy heart that we share the news of Gary the Goose’s passing. She came to us as a gosling along with a little
baby chick. We didn’t know what the sexes were, so we named the chick Gretchen and the gosling Gary. Well, one morning Gretchen started crowing and the one-day Gary laid an egg. We had their genders wrong but decided to keep the names.
Gary & Gretchen were a bonded pair up until we lost Gretchen a little over 2 years ago. We witnessed Gary mourn the loss of her friend; she never bonded with anyone else, preferring to be a solitary goose although she shared her pasture with Milton B***o and our new pig Nicholas.
I write this with tears rolling down my cheeks. I keep thinking one day the pain won’t be so bad and the tears won’t come. But if I’m honest, I don’t ever want that day to come. As painful as it is to lose one of these beautiful souls, we feel blessed that we are their stewards while they walk this earth and will continue to honor them once they have made that final journey. Holding her in her final moments was a privilege we will always cherish.
Here’s to you sweet Gary, may you and your special friend Gretchen soar free together again. We will forever miss the sound of your sweet honking. 🪿💔

01/06/2025

Sometimes, I wonder if our small backyard barnyard sanctuary truly makes a difference. We don’t do much on social media, don't do a lot of fundraising, or have a big presence like other sanctuaries. As humans, we have a tendency to compare ourselves to others.

But today, I realized the kind of impact we do have. A couple stopped by with their 13-year-old son, a boy who visits often and loves our animals. He’s autistic, and his parents told us how much joy the sanctuary brings him. They said he follows us every day on Facebook and knows all the animals by name. When he read about Hamish, he was devastated. He called his parents, distraught, worried about the animals he loves so much.

They told us a story about him that stuck with me. One day, he noticed something was wrong with one of the little pink pigs. Jessica wasn’t acting like herself. Concerned, he told his parents. Sure enough, she had a breathing problem that needed attention. His parents said he sees the world differently, more deeply, and he notices things others might miss.

We told them that anytime he notices something is off, to let us know right away. It struck me then how meaningful this small sanctuary is—not just for the animals, but for people like him. He’s a sensitive soul, and he reminds us that impact isn’t about numbers or visibility. It’s about connection.

So while we may not have the visibility of larger sanctuaries, we have something just as important: a safe, loving space where both animals and people—like this boy—can find joy, connection, and purpose.

Thank you Kingston for reminding me that we have made a difference for you and for others

01/01/2025

The hardest part of loving an animal is knowing we will likely outlive them. Their lives are measured in heartbeats far quicker than our own, their years only a fraction of the time we are given. And yet, in that brief span, they teach us lessons we carry forever.
To those who live long—who grow gray alongside us, who walk slowly by our side until their legs can no longer carry them—we are given the privilege of years. Years of quiet companionship, gentle routines, and the ache of a slow goodbye.
To those who don’t live long enough—whose bright eyes are here one moment and gone the next—we are reminded of the fragile, fleeting nature of joy. Yet in their short time, they leave an imprint sharp and unforgettable, a reminder to treasure every moment, no matter how brief.
Whether their time is long or short, they shape our lives in ways words cannot fully capture. They open our hearts and break them in equal measure. And when the end comes, one truth remains: the love they gave us was infinite, no matter how finite their time.
So tonight, we raise a glass to all those who have loved and lost, who carry the memory of furred, feathered, or scaled companions in their hearts. Your grief is the echo of the love they gave you—a bond that never truly ends. They remain our greatest teachers.

12/27/2024

On a cold, cloudy December day, we made the difficult decision faced by all who love animals. We had to say goodbye to Hamish, set his spirit free, and let him gain his wings. He had seemed a bit off for the last couple of days, so we decided to have him checked out. What we discovered was devastating: his bladder was full of stones, and he faced the risk of a complete blockage and rupture.

Some losses you can see coming—you try to prepare yourself, though you never truly can. Others blindside you and take your breath away. This one took our breath away. Hamish had just turned three—a playful, joyful soul who filled our lives with love and laughter. His sudden departure feels unreal, a heartbreaking reminder of how fleeting life can be.
Fly free sweet boy we will miss you so 💔

12/11/2024

Thank you all for your kind words, positive energy and prayers. Jessica is feeling better today. No more wheezing and she seems to be back to close to her normal self.
Animals are so stoic and it's so difficult when they can't tell you where they hurt.

11/01/2024

Happy heavenly birthday to Frank, the little pig who started it all!
Frank's spirit continues to be the heart and soul of what we do, so we thought it appropriate to have a fun-filled fundraiser where you can let your creative juices flow and paint your own ceramic flying pig and heart. All funds raised will help support the animals in our care and keep Frank's legacy alive!
We will also have paintings for sale by our artist pigs in residence. No harm was done to the pigs in this process. The paint was covered with protective wrap and they enjoyed apple sauce and cheerios while moving paint around with their snout!
If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at [email protected].

10/28/2024

Meet sweet Clover. AZ Piggy Network needed an emergency foster for her as she was close to being slaughtered. Yesterday was the day she needed out and a place to land. So we opened our hearts and our pasture until she could be moved to a longer-term foster. She is so sweet and docile, and it is hard to imagine what her fate would have been.
So many pigs in need and AZ Piggy Network has an amazing team of volunteers to help as many pigs in need as they can. It is hard work and compassion fatigue can set in very quickly. But you do what you can and know that if you can help save a life there's always a glimmer of hope. ❤

Address

Phoenix, AZ

Website

http://www.thebackyardbarnyard.org/

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