Taylor Dennis 
Contrary to popular belief, we’re not just New York’s neighbor; New Jersey is a place filled with animal sanctuaries. These sanctuaries give animals who’ve had difficult backgrounds a safe, comfortable place where they can truly thrive and heal from their pasts. From Highland cows, goat yoga, cuddly llamas, and howling wolves, New Jersey has it all. These sanctuaries not only provide the public with a place to make great memories and hang out with adorable, furry animals, but also allow animals a fresh new start. Sanctuaries are a wonderful place to visit and volunteer. Read on to find out more and plan your own animal adventure.
Bluebird Farm | 44 Willow Avenue, Far Hills
Bluebird Farm is filled with snuggable alpacas you can hug, pet, feed, and even go for a guided walk with. That’s right, you can walk your very own alpaca. The farm is open on weekends by reservation only. There is a farm store on site where visitors can purchase some alpaca-made goods and offer a variety of other artisan items. As one of the only alpaca farms in New Jersey, the farm hosts different events throughout the year, like paint parties, lunches, picnics, pictures with the alpacas, and Santa. You can even adopt an alpaca right from their farm.
Read More: A List of Dog-Friendly Places in Hoboken
Celestial Acres Sanctuary | 17 Hollow Brook Road, Califon
Celestial Acres Sanctuary offers visitors the chance to make unforgettable, unique memories at their farm. They offer a wide range of activities and events like animal encounters, farm tours, photo-ops, and hands-on experiences with their many animals. Some animals on the farm include alpacas, horses, pigs, goats, peacocks, and bunnies. Celestial Acres provides care for re-homed and surrendered animals. They remain committed to giving these animals the love and care they deserve.
Deer Run Hay Co. | 110 Amwell Road, Flemington
Hay, straw, and Highland cows are what you can expect when visiting Deer Run Hay Co. With over 1,000 acres of land, these adorable cows are living their very best lives. Deer Run offers cow classes, special events like bachelorette parties and engagement with the cows, and a tour of their farm. When visiting, you will get an up-close and personal view of the mini Highland cows, where you can meet and interact with them. You can even brush their long hair as you learn about their breed, where they come from, and what their names are.
Funny Farm Rescue and Sanctuary | 6908 Railroad Boulevard, Mays Landing
Funny Farm Rescue and Sanctuary features over 600 rescued animals, most of which would not be alive if it weren’t for the incredible work this rescue does. At the farm, most animals can roam free across acres and acres of land. While these animals were saved from horrible situations, they now live a peaceful, loving life at Funny Farm. You can volunteer and help out around the farm or plan a visit. You can feed and pet the animals and just spend time with them; they love having visitors. Some animals you’ll see at the farm include alpacas, ducks, cows, pigs, peacocks, donkeys, chickens, goats, and emus, just to name a few.
Goats of Anarchy | 10 Lower West Street, Annandale
Goats of Anarchy is an animal sanctuary dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of goats with disabilities. The farm’s leadership is on a mission to provide a safe and loving forever home for disabled goats. The farm offers farm visits where you can meet the animals, hear their stories, feed them, and spend the afternoon with them. They’re always looking for volunteers to help out around the farm. The farm hosts events as the weather gets warmer.
Hidden Hill | 690 Woodbury Glassboro Road, Sewell
Hidden Hill Farm offers visitors the chance to share their love and passion for farm life by offering visits with their amazing animals. Some animals you’ll find on the farm include mini cows, chickens, mini donkeys, alpacas, horses, and sheep. When visiting, you’ll get to learn all about each animal and their background. The farm has a ton of fun activities you can buy tickets for, like baby goat feeding, holiday events with highland cows, cow, goat, and lamb yoga and meditation classes, and options to just meet the animals and get to know them a bit more.
Howling Woods Farm | 1371 W Veterans Highway, Jackson Township
Howling Woods Farms offers visitors the chance to hang with wolves, which might seem shocking in the state of New Jersey, but it’s true. These beautiful wolves come from difficult backgrounds and come to Howling Woods Farm to be rehabilitated and properly cared for. Howling Woods is dedicated to saving these beautiful creatures and to providing the public with information about them while debunking myths. They offer one-hour visits with the wolves and wolfdogs, where you and your friends can learn about each one, hear their stories, and be part of the pack for a while. Some wolfdogs are up for adoption and are looking for their forever homes.
The Oasis Animal Sanctuary | 698 Central Avenue, Franklinville
The Oasis Animal Sanctuary is a non-profit, no-kill refuge for homeless farm and companion animals. They provide food, love, care, and medical attention to all their animals and offer the public a chance to visit and volunteer. The farm team is always looking for people to volunteer, such as helping with fundraising, taking care of their many animals, and cleaning out their enclosures. The farm also has cats and horses up for adoption that are looking for their forever homes.
See More: A Trip to the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties, New York
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