As part of our trip Colorado in August, Ethan and I drove out to Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary and spent our anniversary day with Michele and Chris Alley-Grub and some truly special and very lucky animals. Peaceful Prairie is located about 45 minutes east of Denver, in the middle of rancher country. Usually when we think of animal sanctuary, we think of an out of the way, bucolic setting, not in the heart of rancher country. But, that is where you find this amazing haven for rescued farm animals. Unlike many of the popular and well known sanctuaries like Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, Catskill Animal Sanctuary and Farm Sanctuary, Peaceful Prairie does not have the resources or staff these other sanctuaries do. Instead, the bulk the work is done by Michele and Chris and only a handful of volunteers who come to help when they can.

We had never been to the sanctuary, but after learning about them and knowing they did not have the financial support like the more well known sanctuaries, Ethan wanted to help them as much as we could. For Ethan’s 40th birthday, we held a very successful fundraiser for Peaceful Prairie. Through this fundraiser, we developed a long distance relationship with the sanctuary and Michele and Chris. After so many years of emails, letters, and continued support of their work, we were excited to finally meet these friends from afar and, knowing how much work there was to do, were so grateful that Michele took the time to give us a tour and have lunch with us. Finally getting to actually visit the sanctuary was truly wonderful.

During our time with Michele, she told us that thanks to the generousity of friends and donors, they have been able to acquire 5 adjacent 35 acre parcels of land to create a 175 acre sanctuary where the animals are free to roam and graze as they want. However, getting to where they are now was not easy. When Peaceful Prairie first opened and the neighboring ranchers found out what was happening, they tried to scare Michele and Chris away. Michele told us of how when they first arrived one neighbor brought a cow right up to the fence separating their properties, slit her throat right there and put the cow’s decapitated head atop a post staring directly into the sanctuary. Another time, some people murdered a cow right at the entrance to the sanctuary and just left it there. She told us about the first year when every night around sunset a group of local ranchers would march up the hill towards the sanctuary in an attempt to scare them off. Thankfully, none of these scare tactics were successful. In fact, they had the opposite effect. Everytime one of their neighbors tried to intimidate them it only made Michele and Chris work harder. And now they own the pieces of land that were once held these neighbors.

We met Michele at the house located on one of the newest parcels of land they acquired. They are working to transform the house into a guest lodge and education center. As we began our tour, Michele took us to a small building that was in horrible condition; the roof was mostly collapsed, the walls were broken, and in fact one wall was completely missing. She told us that the people who used to own this parcel used this neglected structure as a “barn” and this was the actual condition

Frank

it was in when it housed animals. They acquired this land when Michele saw the “for sale” sign put out with another sign saying they would slaugher their animals on site for anyone who wanted them. Michele quickly took the “for sale” sign down and immediately set a plan into action to get the land and the animals. One of the residents of Peaceful Prairie, a gentle black bull named Frank used to live in that dilapidated barn and witnessed his sister being slaughtered in front of him before Michele and Chris could save them both. Now thankfully Frank is safe and free to live out his life with other survivors and humans to keep him company.

Bumper in front, Justice in the background

As we continued our tour, we came upon a herd of cows, including Frank. One large, majestic, gray and white bull was sitting slighty away from the rest of herd. Michele told us that was Justice. He is the leader of the herd and while he usually hangs out with everyone else, he sometimes sits a little apart from the herd and just keeps an eye on things. We also met Bumper who arrived at Peaceful Prairie in September 2006, as a 6 month old steer. He was supposed to be a 4-H project that would have ended with him being sold and slaughtered at only 2 years old. He is now over 8 years old thanks to one young girl named Maya who saw the hypocrisy in the 4-H program and convinced her parents to help find Bumper a safe and loving home. Also part of the herd is Clifford. However, instead of the Big Red Dog, he is the big reddish-brown cow. But if you sit down with him and rub his head and neck, he will roll over so you can have better access to rub his neck!

Michele giving Clifford some love. As you see, he loves being rubbed under his chin.

RUB MY NECK!!!!

Me and Clifford

We bid adieu to the cows and moved on to the main barnyard area of Peaceful Prairie. The place was a hub of activity. We first stopped to meet some of the hens, roosters and turkeys who are fortunate to call the sanctuary home. They were all curious about us and came over to check us out. As a former chicken eater, it is really heartbreaking for me seeing how curious and smart these animals are, knowing that I once mindlessly benefited from their murder. Everytime I see a chicken in a sanctuary I feel the need to apologise to him or her. Thankfully, they don’t seem to hold grudges. In fact, none of the residents of Peaceful Prairie are scared of humans, despite what humans did to them. Frank the aforementioned cow, witnessed his sister’s murder just feet away from him at the hands of humans, but he was still happy to see us and let us pet him.

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary of course!

Ethan is getting checked out by some chickens

Some of the chickens were happy to get their pictures taken.

There are a number of other feathered friends there too like turkeys, ducks and geese.

After some bird love, we met some of the other 4-legged residents of the sanctuary. As “dog-like” as Clifford was, one goat in particular, Jack, followed us around like a puppy. Any time Ethan tried to pet another goat, he would immediately push his way in. Jack liked me well enough, but he was particularly enamored with Ethan. I have never seen a goat who was that affectionate. He just loved being pet and leaning into us.

Trying to do a selfie with a goat is not easy…

…but it can be done, Ethan and Jack

Me and Chewy. Chewy was a breeding doe whose babies had been repeatedly stolen from her and slaughtered so her milk could be stolen by humans. Chewy was on her way to the auction house to be sold for slaughter as a “spent” dairy goat , but was rescued before she could be sold.

Among the other residents of Peaceful Prairie are pigs, llamas and sheep. The four legged animals are free to wander whereever they want on the sanctuary, but it was feeding time when we were there, so everyone was up by the barn.

Thelma taking her mud bath. Thelma and her sister Louise were rescued as the only surviving piglets on a family farm where all the others had starved to death or died of dehydration. They were found snuggled up together against their dead mother’s body and surrounded by other dead animals. Now they are strong healthy happy playful girls who run all over the sanctuary and are friends with the cows, goats, sheep, other pigs, geese, ducks, chickens, llamas and human visitors.

How cool is it that they have llamas?!? It is sad that they were on farm, destined for slaugher, but now they get to live out their lives in peace at Peaceful Prairie.

Henry (white & tan) & his Mother Julia (dark brown & white). Julia was under one year of age and had already been impregnated when Michele and Chris rescued her from a “family farm”. Henry was born at Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary. Even though he is now almost 5 years old and much bigger than Julia, Henry is still a Mama’s Boy! The two of them are inseparable. Proving again that “Milk Comes from a Grieving Mother” when it’s stolen from its rightful owners – the mother and the child.

Michele & Beatrice – she was born at the sanctuary when her mother, who was full term pregnant with her, was going to be slaughtered on a neighboring farm. her mother had cancer and the people assumed her baby would be “worthless”. Charlotte escaped and found her way to the gates of the sanctuary where she was obviously welcomed and gave birth to Beatrice two weeks later.

I can think of no better way for Ethan and I to have spent our anniversary day than with Michele, Chris and the wonderful residents at Peaceful Prairie. We cannot wait to go back for another visit. Michele and Chris have created a wonderful haven in the heart of rancher country for these animals, but they need our help. Please consider making a donation to Peaceful Prairie. No amount is too small and every penny goes directly to care for the animals. And if you are going to be in the Denver area, plan a trip out there to meet Michele, Chris and all the residents of PPS.

Peaceful Prairie Sacntuary
81503 East Country Road 22
Deer Trail, Colorado 80105
303-769-4997