At Sisu, we do not aim simply to save an animal’s life... we aim to give them a life.
When we first started Sisu, one of the greatest compliments we received during a tour was this: “If I were a pig, this is where I would want to live.”
That sentiment became our standard. It’s something we hear again and again, and it reflects how we believe all true sanctuary should be approached. Because survival is not the same thing as sanctuary and keeping an animal alive is not the same as caring for them well.
We believe pigs deserve more than survival. They deserve safety, yes - but they also deserve enrichment, medical advocacy and care, dignity, comfort, autonomy, and dignity at every stage of life - including illness, and end-of-life.
What Does Sanctuary Mean To Us?
Lifelong Commitment
We Do Not Breed or Purchase Animals
Breeding or buying animals sustains the very systems sanctuary exists to oppose. Purchasing animals, even with the intention of “saving” them, creates financial incentive for continued production, neglect, or exploitation.
We Do Not Sell Animals or Transfer Ownership
Animals at Sisu are never sold, traded, or adopted out. Rehoming shifts long-term responsibility away from the sanctuary and introduces uncertainty into an animal’s future care. We do network for placement to other organizations.
We Do Not Sell Eggs or Animal Products
Even when products could be collected without immediate harm, selling them reinforces the idea that animals exist to produce value for humans. We reject that model.
We Do Not Allow Unaccompanied Tours
The needs and well-being of the residents always come before visitor experiences. All visits to Sisu are guided to ensure animals are respected, protected from stress, and not treated as attractions. The sanctuary is their home, not a fun activity for humans.
We Do Not Eat the Animals in Our Care
No animal at Sisu is ever used for food. The animals who live here are not resources, commodities, or products. They are not valued for what they provide, but for who they are.
Veterinary & Medical Standards
At Sisu, medical care is foundational. We believe animals deserve the same thoughtful, medical advocacy that any loved family member would receive.
Guaranteed Access to Advanced Veterinary Care
Every animal in our care is guaranteed access to advanced diagnostics and medical treatment. This includes laboratory testing, imaging, specialist consultations, and ongoing treatment plans when indicated. Medical decisions are made based on quality of life - never convenience, cost, or visibility.
We do not euthanize animals to save money or to simplify care. When an animal’s condition becomes serious or complex, our responsibility increases - it does not end.
Named Veterinary Partners & Continuity of Care
We work closely with veterinary clinics, hospitals, and specialists who know our animals and understand our standards. Long-term relationships allow for continuity of care, informed decision-making, and proactive treatment rather than rushed crisis response.
Transparency matters to us. Our veterinary partnerships are part of our accountability to the animals and to the public who supports their care.
Proactive Care, Not Crisis-Only Intervention
Preventative and proactive care is essential. We prioritize routine exams, monitoring, early diagnostics, and medications to reduce suffering and prevent avoidable decline.
Waiting until an animal is in visible crisis is not compassionate - it is a failure of care. Our goal is to anticipate needs, manage chronic conditions, and intervene early whenever possible.
This approach requires significant resources. In 2023 alone, we spent over $100,000 on veterinary care, and in 2025, more than $40,000 on medications alone. These investments reflect our belief that medical advocacy is not an add-on - it is a core responsibility of sanctuary.
Hospice, Palliative Care & End-of-Life Advocacy
For our seniors, sanctuary means relief from suffering and support through the final chapters of life. We embrace a hospice and palliative care philosophy that prioritizes comfort, symptom management, and emotional well-being. When cure is not possible, care still is.
End-of-life decisions are made thoughtfully, in consultation with veterinary professionals, and with the animal’s quality of life as the guiding principle. Death is never rushed for convenience, capacity, or cost.
Quality-of-life assessments are ongoing, not one-time decisions... Our commitment is to ensure that each animal’s remaining time - whether months or years - is lived with as much comfort, dignity, and peace as possible.
Sanctuary does not end when treatment becomes expensive or outcomes uncertain. That is when our responsibility is greatest.
Environment, Space & Autonomy
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.
Freedom From Confinement
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.
Choice in Social Groups & Family Structures
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.
Space That Supports Natural Behavior
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.
Autonomy as a Standard of Care
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.
Property View
This map offers a high-level look at how our land is thoughtfully organized to give each animal space, choice, and a peaceful life. From open pasture and wooded enrichment areas to dedicated retirement and medical spaces, every zone is designed around comfort and dignity. For privacy and safety, the map shows general areas rather than exact boundaries.