2025: A year of growth
This year was amazing thanks to our supporters and Maya. Maya is an angel who gifted the sanctuary funds for expansion. We were only able to use this gift for growth because our sponsors and supporters have been strong. If you are a sponsor, donated, came to an event or are an avid social media follower...you made all of this happen!
We helped 4 animal lives this year!
For a small sanctuary... this is huge. We now have a total of 13 animals, big and small, in our care. We are committed to these animals for their life, so we take into consideration their lifetime needs. We are thrilled to say that we were able to accommodate helping every animal that was in immediate life threatening danger this year.
In 2025, we were contacted about 153 animals. We wish we could help every animal, but it is not possible or sustainable. We want to provide individualized, high level care which would be unfeasible if we accepted every animal. The need for sanctuaries is high! We respond to every single request and provide resources to rehome their animal. Sometimes this ends with people yelling at us and other times it is a nice exchange. We understand why people become frustrated because there are limited places for homeless animals to go. At Bark & Bray we do what we can, when we can.
2025 laid the foundation for more possibilites
Our supporters and Maya allowed for so much! We cleared 2.7 acres for additional pasture plus added a feed cottage and rescue bunny cottage. With this, came water access to 4 key areas for animal care. Easy water access is for vital for animal care and our future.
Maya's Fluffle Flat will give a voice to domesticated bunnies, who are a vulnerable population. We captured 2 dumped rabbits (Cho and Lumos) in 2025. They are the 3rd most abandoned pet in the US and need a light shined on thier struggles. We are still completing it, but hope to open by Spring 2026!
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The feed cottage will allow our volunteer program to grow and levels up our care. All feed has been stored in co-founders Jen and Ben's home, but the feed cottage will allow everyone to take part in caring for the animals. It will be temperature controlled so it can safely store medications.
The new pasture was cleared and is ready for seeding and fencing come Spring! Once spirng comes, we will be finishing the plumbing that will allow 4 different areas to have water access. Thankfully, the hard part with laying of the lines was completed.
Our hopes for the future
You guys crushed our 10 year goal in just 3 years, so we honestly need to start at the drawing board for goals for the animals. We will continue dreaming and scheming for the animals...BUT we have some programs we are hoping to start sooner rather than later. Animal welfare is bigger than just the animals in our care. We know we can do more and reach higher for animals in our local community and beyond! We are excited about the prospect of these programs starting in the near future....
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A food and veterinary care pantry for farm animals. Many of the programs available focus on dogs, cats or just horses. They also only focus on food and not vet care, which is a vital aspect of keeping animals well. We want to offer local support for all farm animals! This would prevent neglect and help keep animals home, where they want to be.
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Animal Advocates Support Group facilitated by co-founder Jen. Creating meaningful, lasting change in animal welfare goes beyond caring for the animals themselves—it also means caring for the people doing the work. Those who show up day after day for a voiceless population carry a great deal. In rescue and veterinary work, there are high levels of depression, anxiety, burnout, PTSD and even suicide. They deserve support in order to continue this vital work in a healthy, sustainable way. When we invest in our own well-being and in one another, we build resilience, strengthen our impact, and make it possible to do more—together. This support group will provide a confidential, peer-led space for individuals involved in animal rescue, sanctuary and veterinary work. Participants may include volunteers, technicians, veterinarians, foster caregivers, sanctuary and rescue staff, and others who regularly care for animals in need. How can Jen do this? Jen is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She has been a nurse for over 15 years and a nurse practitioner for 10 years, with training grounded in hospice, palliative care and mental health care. This background allows her to bring a supportive, informed perspective to conversations, while keeping this space rooted in peer connection. Jen's hope is that this group becomes a strong, compassionate community of animal advocates across New England. Together-we can do more for animals.