Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary, Inc.: Disaster Response and Recovery Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

After assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the team at Farmhouse Animal and Nature Sanctuary (FANS) determined that the most urgent need was replacing the fencing that once surrounded the six-acre property. The majority of the fence was destroyed from the 100+-mph winds that sat over the property for over seven hours.

This fence is essential, as it protects all the animals on the property. The fence is a barrier to keep predators out and the farm animals in. Currently we are unable to use over two acres at the back of the property. The front of the property, although there is a secondary wire fence, is exposed to the main road.

The grant helped us purchase the posts and support boards needed to rebuild the 8'-high perimeter fence along the 272' front of the property and along the side of the pig yards.

How many pets did this grant help?

There are currently 130 animals at the sanctuary. The fence will benefit all of them and any additional animals that make there way here over the next few years.

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

When our perimeter fence was destroyed by hurricane Ian, it left the animals exposed, without protection from predators like coyotes, bobcats, and wild boars that are in our rural area.

The small goats, tortoises, geese, chickens, pigs, and horses had no protection other than the secondary 4′-high wire fence. Re-installing the 8′-high stockade fence will help keep these animals safe.

The grant allowed us to restore safety to all the animals at the sanctuary, including Stella and Lucy (first photo), a bonded pair of potbelly pigs, who were adopted after reports of the damage were shared on local news stations.