Barn Cats & Farm Dogs
Goal: $5,000

Every farm needs its guardians. Ours just happen to be irresistible.

Barn cats and farm dogs are not pets in the traditional sense. They are working animals with real jobs, and those jobs are essential to the health and safety of the entire farm. Our barn cats control the rodent population that would otherwise compromise feed storage, damage infrastructure, and create health risks for our larger animals. Our farm dogs protect the property, alert us to predators, and serve as natural deterrents that keep the livestock safe around the clock.

They are also, without question, the most popular members of the farm for every student who walks through the gate. And that popularity is something we use intentionally. For many young people especially those from urban environments, an interaction with a farm dog or a barn cat is their very first comfortable encounter with an animal. That comfort becomes curiosity. That curiosity becomes engagement. And that engagement opens the door to everything else we teach.

We also bring the animals on the Cool Bus when it makes sense. A friendly farm dog at a block party does more for community engagement than almost any other element of the event. People stop. People smile. People stay longer and learn more.

How your donation will be used:
Funds go toward adoption or rescue fees for barn cats and farm dogs, initial veterinary care including spay and neuter, vaccinations, and wellness exams, food and ongoing veterinary costs for the first year of operation, bedding and shelter appropriate for working farm animals, and leashes, harnesses, and transport equipment for Cool Bus events.

How it will be tracked and reported:
Animal health and care is documented monthly and reported quarterly. Donors receive updates with photos, health summaries, and stories of the animals in action both on the farm and at Cool Bus events. All adoption, veterinary, and supply costs are tracked with receipts and reported in our quarterly financial summary.

Why this matters:
A farm without animals is just land. A farm with the right animals is a living community. Our barn cats and farm dogs are part of that community and they earn their place in it every single day.