Healing Hearts, Hooves and Paws

08/20/2025

Edit: covered!

Need a horse hauled from Wayne to McHenry as soon as possible.

08/20/2025

Volunteer opportunity! And donation opportunity.

See all the blue dots? We're replacing the boards ourselves and then priming and painting the barn a dark charcoal to match the goat barn. We will be replacing some rotting trim as well. And FINALLY painting over the weird faux door thing in the side of the barn.

We're calling Woodstock lumber this week to order the boards and then will have a volunteer party to replace them in one day! Something different and satisfying. We hope to be supervised by volunteer Magic Mike bc he knows ALL the things!

We have to rent scaffolding to deal with the peak and trim. Dates uncertain until we ensure they have all the wood we need. We want to get this done in the next three weeks!

And then we paint! Fun with a paint sprayer on your bucket list? Let us know (they kind of scare us).

We're doing the work ourselves to save $$ but if you'd like to contribute towards materials cost you can PayPal at [email protected].

We are estimating $3000 all in for wood, paint and rental equipment.

08/20/2025

We really need to purchase one more bale barn before winter as we have one group without one. We waste soooooo much less hay and they get access to 24/7 dry hay with a bale barn in their lot. So much healthier for them! Can you help?

If you're willing and able to provide support you can also PayPal directly to [email protected]!

Our goal is $1000 to purchase one more and we'll figure out pick up (in WI).

08/19/2025

08/19/2025

Not gonna lie- it's a month like this that makes me want to cry. And quit.

A horse and mule returned. Another fabulous horse coming back. Maybe one more.

I'm dealing with paying 60% of all rescue costs myself. And being one of three volunteers. Ok, I can do this.

But then this. Sometimes things like this feel like the tipping point. You're doing ALL you can. Everyday. Did Mother Nature really need to kick me in the shins?

It will be a late night in the barn, trying to keep water out, stalls dry. Then downtown for work tomorrow.

It's a lot. Everyday. Send good energy vibes for strength and a better attitude. 😰

~ Chris

08/18/2025

Sooooooo frustrated. Today the west 1/2 of the barn flooded in the downpour. Looks like the $5000 fix needs be done.

08/16/2025

If you're thinking of getting into animal rescue, here's something you need to know: you need to build armor, not just for the hard work, but for the people.

You’ll need more than compassion. You’ll need resilience. You’ll need to remind yourself daily why you started, because the world will test you.

People will cheer you on when you post a happy rescue story. But when you say no, because your rescue is full, your funds are low, or your team is exhausted, those same voices will criticize you.

They’ll forget the 600 animals you saved and focus on the one you couldn’t take. Don’t let it change your heart.

Some people will praise your care, your process, your kindness, until they want to surrender a pet, and you ask questions or try to help them work through it. Suddenly, you’re the worst person for them.

That’s part of the job.

You’ll lose relationships. Some friends won’t understand why you fight for animal rights. Others will be cold to you when you’re being too dramatic for them after spending the night with a dying rescue. Let them go.

People will call you every hour, message you at 2am, expect you to be available around the clock. And when you finally pause to breathe, they’ll say you’re fake, you don’t care. It’ll sting, but keep breathing anyway.

Other rescuers will criticize how you operate, even if they’ve never set foot in your rescue. Some will help. Others will just talk. Focus on the work, not the noise.

You’ll see things you can’t unsee. You’ll witness cruelty. And sometimes, no matter how fast you get there or how much you spend, you’ll still lose the animal. Those are the nights you’ll sit and cry alone, and no one knows that.

But even in that pain, you’ll keep going.
Because despite all of it, the judgment, the burnout, the loss, the work matters.
Every life saved is a reason to continue.

Rescue is beautiful, heartbreaking, and unforgiving. But if you’re in it for the right reasons, you’ll find strength in the heartbreak and purpose in the pain. Just don’t lose yourself in the process.



Felt like this was much needed right now. For my friends, my partner and all my rescue friends struggling and for everyone who wonders why I don’t respond, why I dont answer your calls, why I forget things, why I miss or cancel appointments… it’s because of this.

08/16/2025

Whew! Well that storm burst was a whole thing!

Ran around an hour before the storm bringing in barn horses, feeding a mash for a pasture horse, emptying the truck of a bedding and feed order, covering the grill, etc.

Downpour hit when I was a 100 yards from the house. Soaked through by the time I hit the house. Oh well. I almost made it.

Changed my clothes, brushed out my soaked hair and looked out the front window and saw goats and sheep making their way into their barn... but the newer sheepy sheep boys were just hanging in the corner of a pasture. Rain picked up, they didn't move. Sigh.... back outside in the downpour. ⛈️

Walked the boys into the goat barn lot and then checked on the horse barn. Water pouring in the side mandoor. We've had issues since the dry lot was put in and the fix has a $5,000 price tag so we dug a trench for now. It's been working great! But it was clogged with hay. So dug out the trench with lightening dancing in the sky. Swept water out of the barn.

Walked back to the house and changed again. I think I need pizza and red wine! 🍕🍷

Pic of the big boys back where they belong. ❤️

08/08/2025

The answer is always no if you don't ask....

We really need a bunch more Adirondack chairs on the farm and a bigger grill! Checking to see if anyone has some to donate? Or sees a really good sale?

We need about 20 more chairs for events and larger volunteer gatherings and a bigger grill to cook for larger groups!

08/08/2025

😂