Keeper's Haven Animal Sanctuary

Goal: $8,000.00

Specific Need

Keeper’s Haven Animal Sanctuary is on a mission to show that every animal is a keeper! We are looking for funding to further our 2024 programs to include: expanding our rehabilitation programs and therapies, raising funds to cover our hay cost for this year, & fund our annual equine dentals and spring vaccinations. We have high care standards for our sanctuary animal residents and every donation helps make this possible.

Mission

Keeper’s Haven Animal Sanctuary, aregistered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, that was founded in 2022 and serves the Northern Virginia area. Our overall mission is to provide care, compassion, and safe shelter for abused, abandoned, and neglected companion animals of all ages; with the goal that helping one animal heal gathers us into community to help us all. KHAS is the forever home to 6 horses (including 2 young orphan mustangs that were saved from a kill auction), 2 cows (one with a permanent ankle deformity), a potbellied pig, a senior special needs bulldog, a sheep that was attacked by 2 animals where he lost an ear on top of sustaining numerous injuries, and a young lamb that was born with a birth defect limiting his mobility and balance.

Profile

Sarah Graham founded Keeper’s Haven Animal Sanctuary with not only the dream of providing a safe haven to animals in need, but with the goal of providing the best care possible for these animals. The inspiration behind KHAS was Sarah’s first horse, Keeper, an off-the-track thoroughbred race horse that was underweight and in need of a tender hand and a guiding light. As her first rescue project in her teens, Keeper taught Sarah the importance of lending a listening ear to best understand his needs to heal. Over the years, they formed an unbreakable bond, but not without hard work and dedication. As time rolled on, Keeper started slowing down and was ready for retirement. At this point, some horse owners feel the need to “replace” their older senior horse, and in many cases, this means moving the retiree on. Luckily for Keeper, Sarah vowed to keep him until he peacefully passed on her family’s farm, where he remains buried, overlooking the property’s tranquil creek. Unfortunately, most horses that come to the end of their riding/showing career are not as fortunate and, in some cases, end up in a kill pen at an auction house.

While the United States no longer has active horse slaughter manufacturing facilities, horses that are sent to auction often end up on a kill buyer truck to be exported for processing. It is unfair that once someone’s best friend and confidant can become replaceable and essentially, “thrown out” or “dumped.” No animal deserves this. No animal deserves to live in fear, not knowing if they will ever have a loving home again. This is where Keeper’s Haven Animal Sanctuary comes in! Sarah wanted to honor her first rescue horse, Keeper, by providing a sanctuary for others. Every new sanctuary resident honors Keeper’s life and legacy. KHAS was created to show that every animal is a “keeper” and deserve to live out their days with love, dignity, and grace.