It’s as much a sanctuary for people as it is for animals.”

Patrick Cole

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Meet the rescued farm animals at West Place

A nudge to the leg from Charles, a miniature donkey at West Place Animal Sanctuary, is his way of saying, “This is my home, not yours.” Acknowledging it may prompt him to move on — depending on his current desire for attention. After all, this is his space.

As zoos across the nation evolve into conservation centers, the term “zoo” — once criticized by animal rights activists — has become less controversial. Zoos now play a role in preserving and protecting species and habitats, though the spectacle of seeing animals in enclosures often remains the main attraction. Patrick Cole, director of development and communications at West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton, acknowledges this trend towards kindness in zoos, stating, “A lot of the better zoos are now focused on preservation and conservation, which is important.”

He also points out the main difference between a zoo and a sanctuary is space. For the animals at the sanctuary, this is their space. They are not here to be seen, but heard. The experience is different — their stories are told, in part, by them, through vocalizations, nudges and demands for attention.

Charles, the miniature donkey, was rescued from a kill pen in Texas, along with his companion Timothy. Both spent a month in the hospital recovering from horrific living conditions. “They have become boisterous, confident, and goofy members of our farm family,” Cole said, acknowledging Charles’s growing confidence as he nudges visitors, letting them know he sees them in his home. 

The sanctuary serves as a refuge where these animals can live their lives in peace, away from the abuse and neglect they endured before coming to the sanctuary. It is their “forever” home.

The need for more space 

The sanctuary focuses specifically on criminal cases or situations where abuse and neglect are evident, even if they haven’t yet reached law enforcement. Cole added, “Our goal is to rehabilitate these animals and restore their health. Once they’re here, they stay here — it’s their forever home.” With the health of the animals comes longevity, and many are living beyond their projected life spans, so the need for more space is becoming a pressing concern. 

According to Cole, the sanctuary is operating at or near capacity, always keeping space available for when authorities reach out. Many of the animals come from criminal abuse cases, with law enforcement and the Department of Environmental Management contacting the sanctuary when they encounter animals in need. 

“We’re the go-to for farm animals and wildlife that have suffered abuse and cruelty,” said Cole. 

In 2024, the sanctuary welcomed more than 60 new animals, from fish and turtles to goats, an emu, and a horse. As the need for more space grows, the sanctuary is interested in acquiring the property next door to help accommodate more animals, as it is almost always at full capacity. With plans underway to renovate the barn to add more space for animals, Cole noted the limitations on the property, stating, “After the barn renovation project this spring, there isn't much more we can do with the barn and it wouldn't be feasible to construct new buildings on the current site. That would take away from the pastures and grazing areas and impact our rotational grazing program.”

The neighboring property the sanctuary wishes to acquire was recently in the news due to the unforeseen demolition of the Lafayette House. Cole expressed his shock at the event, stating “Like all our neighbors in Tiverton, we were shocked to see the historic home demolished in a matter of hours.” The goal for acquiring the land is not only about more space for animals, though it eventually would be used for them. The use of the space would be about preservation. Cole commented, “We would honor and preserve the history of our agrarian community by creating a ‘farm coast’ destination in Tiverton for residents and visitors.”

Meet the animals at West Place!

Cole noted that the current infrastructure on the neighboring land is not adequate to house the animals. He added, “There is enough available space next door that we could do many things that would entice visitors and support West Place's work, allowing us to serve more animals.” Other recent and future updates to the sanctuary to improve the home of the animals include building a high-end chicken coop and an upgrade to the thousands of linear feet of fencing. 

 Visiting the sanctuary  

The sanctuary is home to the animals as much as it is to the volunteers who come — even on the harshest winter days — to show love and care for the animals’ special needs. The reason these animals aren’t adopted out is because of their ongoing medical needs, which require daily attention from people who know them well and can recognize signs of flare-ups. Feeling that nudge serves as a reminder that these experiences between animals and humans are a two-way street. 

“It’s as much a sanctuary for people as it is for animals,” Cole said. 

Volunteers form lasting bonds with the animals. “When you see the same animals week after week, you start to build relationships and learn their quirks and personalities,” Cole said. “There’s a sheep named Colby who loves a pair of pants I wear. Every time I put them on, he rubs his face on me, glued to my side.”

The work at the sanctuary emphasizes that farm animals are just as intelligent, emotional, and sentient as dogs and cats. Cole said, “While dogs and cats are widely adored, farm animals often go overlooked and underrepresented. They deserve the same care and compassion.” 

The sanctuary offers public visitors weekends at certain times of the year,  private group tours, couples tours, and a “chicken experience.” It also hosts small weddings and engagement photo shoots. Later this year, they plan to offer more public tours on weekends to provide more options for the community to visit, meet the animals, and learn about their work. 

Beyond meeting the animals, visitors can also visit a graveyard dedicated to the nine pets lost in a house fire on the land before Wendy Taylor, the sanctuary’s executive director, turned it into a refuge. The names of the deceased animals that inspired the sanctuary are as follows: a Doberman named Dobie, a Black Lab named Jake, cats Alec, Mulder, Tweak, Maizey, Bailey, and Stewart, and a special goat named Mo.