When people talk about adopting a pet, usually a dog or a cat is what they have in mind. But for folks in the Sky Valley, who sometimes own homes with a bit of property, a goat or a pig might be just what they have in mind.
At Pasado's Safe Haven animal sanctuary, located near Monroe, farm animals can be adopted just as easily as domestic critters. And every time you adopt from Pasado's, you are making room for them to save the life of another animal.
Situated on 85-acres of property located northeast of Monroe, Pasado's has been in operation for 22 years. A 501C3 nonprofit, the animal sanctuary relies solely on volunteers, donations, grants and fundraising events. Pasado's primary mission is to end animal cruelty, which is the foundation upon which the organization was built.
The nonprofit was named after Pasado the donkey, who was brutally killed by teenagers at the Kelsey Creek Farms in Bellevue in 1992.
Pasado's actively investigates claims of animal cruelty and neglect and works with other agencies, including law enforcement, to help make sure that endangered animals are removed from their abusive environments.
Approximately 150 animals are cared for at Pasado's, including cats, dogs, llamas, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, turkeys, geese, cows, ducks, a donkey and a blind pony named Peach Pie.
"Probably 99 percent of the animals that come to us have suffered through some sort of trauma,GÇ¥ said Marketing Manager Tami McMinn. "They've been beaten or chained or something horrible. It happens all the time, all day long.GÇ¥
While at the sanctuary, the animals are able to experience human interaction with both staff and volunteers. Adoption and Events Coordinator Tabitha Phillips explained that, with the animals at Pasado's, adoptions can take a much longer time to occur, so they try to make the living quarters as pleasant as possible.
For example, Tipper, an American Staffordshire mix, has his own small yard with a tiny cabin for when the weather is inclement. He was rescued from abusive owners who were training him to attack other dogs. Typically this is done through abuse and by forcing the dog to attack and kill smaller-sized mammals like cats and small dogs.
Because of the inhumane treatment he received in the past, Tipper's prey instincts kick into overdrive when he sees smaller mammals, and would be better off living in a household without smaller dogs or cats.
Despite his history, Tipper is an extremely social dog, both friendly and outgoing. He is obedient, loves to play ball and loves to give kisses.
"He's so sweet,GÇ¥ said Phillips. "Everybody loves him.GÇ¥
Oftentimes, it simply comes down to finding the right human for the animal. And sometimes, the process of locating that perfect person or family who can navigate an animal's special needs takes time.
"The great thing about Pasado's is that we consider all of our animals adoptable,GÇ¥ said Phillips. "It's just a matter of who adopts them.GÇ¥
In addition to abuse, many of the animals at Pasado's have been rescued from hoarding situations.
The sanctuary currently has three American foxhounds which came to them in October of 2012. Approximately 70 dogs had been found near Chehalis living in completely deplorable conditions, so Pasado's and a few other agencies went in to recover them. A total of 12 of the foxhounds came to live at Pasado's.
Being as the dogs had not experienced human interaction, it has taken a lot of patience and diligence on the part of the staff and the volunteers to care for the traumatized dogs. Several of them have been adopted and there are only three left to go. The male, Paka, is friendly, curious and very handsome, but still too scared to allow people to pet him.
McMinn has begun allowing the three foxhounds to remain with her in her office during the day, in a sort of simulated home environment, to increase the dogs' level of social interaction.
"They're amazing dogs,GÇ¥ said McMinn. "They're smart, friendly and sweet. They just need a different approach.GÇ¥
Pasado's advocates strongly for adopting animals from rescue organizations and shelters rather than purchasing them from breeders, and making sure that all pets are spayed and neutered. According to the Humane Society and the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), nearly 3 million healthy cats and dogs are euthanized every year in shelters in the United States.
Even at no-kill shelters, oftentimes sick or senior-age animals get euthanized due to lack of adoptability and the need for shelter space.
Paid staff is lean at Pasado's, in an effort to dedicate more money to saving animals. The organization relies on volunteer workers to provide numerous functions. Tasks like mucking out stalls, socializing cats, cleaning barns, walking dogs, stuffing envelopes, doing graphic design work and much more are all accomplished with volunteers.
Phillips explained that Pasado's offers a truly unique opportunity for volunteers.
"They're going to have experiences that they've never had before. I mean, before I came to Pasado's I had never walked into a yard filled with 10 pigs before,GÇ¥ said Phillips. "I'd never been so close to a llama I could just go up and pet it. These are kind of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.GÇ¥
Volunteering at Pasado's is also a great opportunity for anyone who wishes to learn more about animals, as well as a great way to be able to experience different types of animals. As Phillips pointed out, volunteers can spend time with llamas, or the pigs, or even one of the sanctuary's cows. Pasado's has two male cows that were born of dairy cows, both of whom have been allowed to grow to their full size.
These gentle giants usually don't become full grown, as the male offspring of dairy cows are typically sold for veal and sent off to slaughter.
Families or individuals interested in adopting an animal from Pasado's can start the process by filling out the online adoption application, which is available on the Pasado's website. After they are screened, families can schedule an appointment to visit the sanctuary.
There are other ways for people to support the Pasado's mission. Donations can be made via the website; folks can sign up to become a volunteer and there are opportunities to participate in fundraising events periodically throughout the year. Through Pasado's Animal Angels program, people can sign up to donate as little as $10 per month. For convenience, the amount can be automatically debited from their checking account.
In November, Pasado's will be launching their new sponsorship program, which will allow people to sponsor an animal at the sanctuary. Participants of the sponsorship program will be sent a photo of the animal they've chosen to support.
And for people who prefer a hands-on experience, the facility can always use more volunteers.
"You can imagine, with 150 animals, it's a busy place,GÇ¥ said McMinn. "We rely on volunteers for than you can imagine - they are crucial to our day-to-day operations.GÇ¥
For more information on Pasado's, please visit their website at: http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/, or visit the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pasadosafehaven.
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