Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary
I am incredibly touched that Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary included this dedication to Greg in their spring 2017 newsletter.
Poplar Spring, in Poolesville, MD, played a special role in my life with Greg. I still vividly recall our first visit to this 400-acre sanctuary with its 200+ rescued pigs, cows, goats, sheep, chickens and other animals. On that day, we were particularly captivated by a hen named Alina (pictured here with a young human friend of Greg’s and mine) who came to greet us at her coop entrance and followed us off as we departed. I vividly recall our participation in a weekend volunteer team, where as a mostly urban couple preparing to move to the country, we learned general barn management techniques that soon helped us with our own horse stable. And then there was our final visit together, just 20 days before Greg died, when he snapped this photo of me meeting an adorable piglet named Irwin who had just arrived at the sanctuary.
In the past year, I have spent more time at Poplar Spring than anywhere else except my own little horse farm. One morning each week, I volunteer to help clean barns and outdoor space for the sanctuary pigs, cows, sheep, and goats; and also help to groom six rescued equines who reside at the sanctuary. During the most difficult time of my life, it has been immensely therapeutic to spend this time surrounded by the sanctuary animals, and by humans who share my core values.
Poplar Spring has some big 2017 annual events coming up in the months ahead, and I heartily encourage my friends to participate:
- Sunday, May 21 – 8:30 am – Wheaton Regional Park, Wheaton, MD: Run for the Animals
- Saturday, July 22 – 10 am – 4 pm – Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, Poolesville, MD: Montgomery County Farm Tour
- Sunday, October 1 – 1 – 5 pm – Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, Poolesville, MD: Nineteenth Annual Open House and Fundraiser
- Saturday, November 18 – 12 noon – 4 pm – Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, Poolesville, MD: Thanksgiving with the Turkeys
Prepare to be inspired, as Greg and I were!
~Alysoun