Sanctuary for older animals celebrates 20 years, seeks volunteers

SANTA FE, N.M. — For 20 years now, Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary in Santa Fe has cared for hundreds of older and unwanted animals.

“They all have stories and they’ve all come with all kinds of traumas and issues. Of course, it’s just a drop in the bucket that we can do,” said Ulla Pedersen, their founder and director.

They don’t focus on just dogs, either. Their care is for horses and even poultry, like ducks.

“They do not get adopted out. This is their last home so we don’t have cages for the animals. Of course, we have good fencing, so they are roaming around rural farm setting,” Pedersen said.

Sanctuary officials say they’ve cared for hundreds of animals and want to continue to help more people.

Still, they need the staff and volunteers to do it.

“We are looking for staff. We are very short-staffed after COVID. So please, please, anyone who loves old animals and wants to help, we invite them to go to our website and there are applications,” Pedersen stressed.

This Saturday, they’re inviting the public out to the sanctuary to learn more about what they do and to celebrate 20 years of work.

“Some people may think, ‘Oh this must be a sad place,’ not at all. They are healthy and happy. They will meet you at the gate with big smiles and wagging tails,” Pedersen said.

Pederson told us they want to inspire people to care for those older animals. She says people looking to adopt often overlook them.

Their open house is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

See the video above, the flyer below or their Facebook page for more information.