PLENTY Spring 2020 Plenty Spring 2020-WEB | Page 13

they’ve estimated the value of all
the care they’ve provided—the feed,
bedding, sheds, everything. The
cost is exorbitant. “You want the
pigs? Pay the bill! Or sign over their
custody and we won’t charge you a
dime,” Terry proposes. The strategy
worked. Documents were signed
relieving the owner of any liability
and the pigs were free to romp,
play, eat grass, apples… and look
up at the sky.
“Our lawyer took two pigs, the
sanctuary in West Virginia took
100, and another in upstate New
York took 40. We kept 22 at Poplar
Spring. Everyone got to live out
their life peacefully. The last one
passed away at 17,” Terry beams.
A front-page article in the
Metro section of the Washington
Post generates more press and
compassionate concern. Donations
pour in from all over the coun-
try—every state and as far away as
Japan and Germany. “That whole
tragedy really was the beginning of
our sanctuary. And we’ve been able
to help so many animals ever since
because of that singular event.”
Two decades later, Poplar
Spring Animal Sanctuary is firmly
on the map and forever home to
some 250 abandoned, abused and
neglected farm animals—goats,
sheep, cows, horses, chickens, tur-
keys…and pigs. Due to the remark-
able generosity of a woman whose
family owned the farm property
since the Great Depression, and in
conjunction with Maryland’s Rural
Legacy Program, the Sanctuary will
never be developed. It was gifted to
the Sanctuary and will always re-
main a place of peaceful refuge for
farm animals and wildlife fortunate
enough to find their way there.
Poplar Spring Animal Sanctu-
“The moment they allow you
ary is a pastoral to pet them is truly amazing...” are going to be
hit—to the mo-
gem with 200
ment they allow you to pet them is
acres of woods and 230 acres of
truly amazing. You just see it in their
rolling pasture land, barns, a fully
eyes… they trust you. It’s the most
restored 1776 farmhouse and out-
rewarding experience and makes all
buildings. Its two- and four-legged
the hard work worthwhile.”
animal residents are a delight-
Terry and Dave are always
fully motley crew with a common
looking for volunteers to help with
experience. All overcame profound
the animals. With ten paid staff and
trauma and fear, and when loved
over 100 volunteers it’s a big opera-
and cared for, began to thrive.
“We work with Humane Societ-
tion solely supported by donations.
ies up and down the East Coast.
Terry likes to say that volunteering
They rescue farm animals from
at the Sanctuary is “labor of love,
abuse situations or cruelty cases.
and a lot of labor!” Transformation
Often they involve a situation where
takes place among the volunteers,
numerous animals have already
too. “A lot of our long-term vol-
died, usually due to starvation,” says
unteers—some have been coming
Terry. “We get animals coming
from the very beginning 23 years
from some of the worst scenarios
ago—say this is a sanctuary for
you can imagine. Most of the ani-
them as well. It’s the highlight of
mals are terrified of people when
their week after a regular job.”
they first arrive. We work with them
Visitors are always welcome at
and over time they become trust-
Poplar Spring on weekends from
ing and loving. We respect the time
April through November and by
it takes for that to happen—and it
appointment. “We love for people
could be weeks or even years.”
to enjoy how friendly all the animal
Terry has witnessed the trans-
residents are and to see how each
formation that animals experience
one has its own distinct personali-
from fear to trust again and again.
ty, like the 800-pound pig that rolls
“None of them come here happy,
over to have his belly rubbed! Most
tame or friendly. Watching them go
people have never petted a cow or
from scared and shaking—where an
held a chicken. All you have to do is
outstretched hand could mean they
call them and they come running,”
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