Tucked away in Tucson’s Foothills, the sounds of the city give way to the gentle calls of sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and rescued turkeys. At Sunny Haven Farm Animal Sanctuary, visitors are encouraged to slow down, connect with animals that have been given a second chance and discover what founder Elizabeth Matthews calls “the healing power that compassion toward animals can have.” The nonprofit sanctuary has become a peaceful refuge not only for rescued farm animals but also for the volunteers, families and community members who visit.
For Matthews, Sunny Haven is the realization of a lifelong dream.
“This has been actually my childhood dream,” Matthews said. “Since I was a little child, I’ve been collecting money for this sanctuary. It took me decades to be able to do it, but the mission has always been to rescue animals, give them a safe place to live, but also provide a peaceful environment for the community to come and visit and connect to these animals to kind of slow down from everyday life and discover the healing power that compassion toward animals can have.”…