Sisu Refuge is nestled away on a 47+ acre property in the center of Hog Country: Duplin County, North Carolina, the most intensively factory-farmed region in the world and home to the largest pig slaughterhouse on the planet. In a county where pigs outnumber humans nearly 29 to 1, and most are hidden from public view inside factory farms, our refuge offers a rare and visible alternative.
Here, animals live freely and safely, surrounded by enrichment, medical oversight, and respect. In a landscape shaped by industrialized suffering, Sisu Refuge stands as living proof that dignity, care, and compassion are possible - even at the end of life... where exploitation has long been normalized.
Our sanctuary is intentionally designed to support natural behavior, autonomy, and maximum freedom, even for animals with complex medical needs. Here, care is not limited to survival - it is centered on dignity. As our residents age or enter hospice, we place special emphasis on pain management, ongoing veterinary oversight, comfort, safety, and the ability to make choices about how they live each day - ensuring their final chapters are lived with compassion and respect.
At Sisu, pigs are not confined or managed for efficiency. They freely explore woods, marshes, ponds, creeks, and open pasture - engaging daily in natural behaviors such as rooting, foraging, wallowing, and social bonding. This freedom is not incidental - it is a core component of our care philosophy: Pigs deserve more than survival; they deserve choice, stimulation, and joy.
At Sisu, quality of life is inseparable from environment. Medical care alone is not enough if animals are confined, overstimulated, or denied agency over their daily lives. Sanctuary must allow animals to move, choose, and exist as individuals.
Animals at Sisu Refuge are not kept in cages, crates, or permanent confined spaces or pens. Housing and shelter exist to provide protection, rest, and medical support - not restriction.
We do not force social groupings for convenience, display, or content. Animals are given the freedom to form their own relationships, bonds, and family units.
Some animals prefer close companionship; others value space and independence. Sanctuary honors both. Herd dynamics are observed carefully, and environments are adjusted to support compatibility, safety, and emotional well-being. Because choice is a form of care.
Our residents have access to nearly 25 acres, thoughtfully divided into multiple sections to support different species, social needs, medical considerations, and life stages.
This structure allows us to accommodate seniors and medically fragile animals and support herd dynamics and hierarchy without overcrowding.
Animals are not rotated for novelty or visibility. Space is managed to prioritize stability, comfort, and safety.
True sanctuary recognizes that animals are not passive recipients of care. They have preferences, boundaries, and personalities.
Whenever possible, animals are given agency over where they spend their time, who they socialize with, when they rest, how they engage, and how they move through their environment.
