Resources For Non-Profits

Yes. While regular volunteering requires a commitment, we do occasionally host group volunteer days and special workdays that do not require a long-term commitment.

These opportunities are best suited for:
Company or team-building groups
Homeschool groups and classrooms
Universities and student organizations
Organized community groups

Groups interested in a one-time volunteer opportunity are encouraged to contact us directly to discuss availability. Sisurefuge@gmail.com

Yes. Sisu Refuge does periodically hire for part-time, contract, or project-based roles as funding allows.

Current openings, when available, are posted on Indeed or through our Get Involved section of the website. We encourage interested individuals to follow us or reach out through our contact form to express interest in future opportunities.

Yes — we do offer free group tours, but only on specific, pre-scheduled dates.

We host Spring Open Barn Days and Summer Tours when weather, staffing, and animal needs allow. Tour availability varies year to year, so the best way to stay informed is to:

Sign up for our newsletter
Follow us on social media, where tour dates are announced first

If you would like a private tour, please check out our Visit Us section on the website.

Sisu Refuge does not accept direct owner surrenders. However, we do maintain a waitlist to help us track need and better understand situations in our region, and we will occasionally have placement open up here or a potential adopter inquiry.

Submitting a request places an animal on our waitlist but does not guarantee intake. Due to limited space and the long-term care required for each resident, we are only able to accept new animals when capacity allows.

For emergency cases involving loose or injured animals (“jumpers”), we work directly with local law enforcement and animal control within our county and surrounding areas.

Yes – however, because we are a very small team and volunteer training is time-intensive, we can only invest in regular volunteers who are able to commit to two shifts per week for a minimum of six months.

Sisu Refuge is located in a rural area, and most of our regular volunteers travel approximately one hour each way, so we encourage prospective volunteers to consider the time commitment carefully before applying. If you are interested in becoming a regular volunteer, please click on volunteer with us in our GET INVOLVED section.

At this time, we do not allow individual drop-in or one-time volunteers. For the safety of both our animals and our team – orientation and signed waivers are required for all regular volunteers.

Sisu Refuge is a true lifetime sanctuary, and we do not operate as an adoption-based rescue. Animals who arrive here do so with the understanding that they are receiving permanent, lifelong care.

That said, we do maintain a separate waitlist of animals and owner surrenders for individuals who are seeking to adopt or rehome a large-breed pig. While we do not place animals directly from the sanctuary, this waitlist allows us to help connect knowledgeable, prepared homes with pigs in need when appropriate.

Anyone interested in adopting a large-breed pig should be aware that proper care requires:

Ownership of the property where the animal will live
A secure, species-appropriate setup with adequate space and shelter
An established farm or large-animal veterinarian
A willingness and ability to provide care for 10+ years, as pigs are long-lived animals

Large-breed pigs are complex, intelligent animals and are not suitable pets for most households. We also recommend adopting in pairs. Our priority is always ensuring their long-term safety, stability, and welfare.

Sisu Refuge is not open for drop-in visitors. For the safety of our animals and the privacy of our small team, all visits must be scheduled in advance through official events or tours. We will be hosting open barn barns and free tours all summer, so please make sure to sign up for our Newsletter and follow us on social media to be notified of the upcoming dates.

Unscheduled arrivals cannot be accommodated.

Yes. Sisu Refuge occasionally offers internships and work-study opportunities, depending on current capacity and project needs. These opportunities may involve animal care support, administration, communications, fundraising, or social media assistance.

Because our team is small, internship availability is limited and varies throughout the year. Interested applicants should complete our volunteer or contact form and note their interest in internships or work-study so we can follow up when opportunities align.

Yes. While much of our work is hands-on and on-site, we do offer remote or off-site volunteer opportunities when possible. These may include support with administrative tasks, outreach, fundraising assistance, research, or digital projects.

Remote opportunities depend on current needs and supervision capacity. Those interested should indicate remote volunteering when completing a volunteer inquiry form. We are looking at forming a fundraising committee – and are always in need of grant writers or administrative assistance! Please email us with how you can help the animals (and humans) here at Sisu! Sisurefuge@gmail.com

Animals who come to Sisu Refuge stay for the rest of their lives.

We are a true animal sanctuary, meaning:
We do not buy, breed, sell, trade, or use animals
We do not kill or exploit animals for any purpose
We do not allow animals to be used for food, labor, or profit

Once an animal is welcomed into sanctuary, they are given the time, space, and care needed to live out their lives with dignity and security. This lifelong commitment is central to our mission and is why we limit intakes carefully – every resident represents a promise we intend to keep.

We have offered this in the past but saw very little interest. At this time, we do not offer camping, overnight stays, or on-site accommodations.

Because Sisu is a working animal sanctuary and private residence, we are unable to host overnight guests or short-term stays. We will be launching an AirB&B opportunity soon for summer. Please sign up for our Newsletter to be kept up to date.