Heartwood Haven Tour
It all started with a rooster. Kate and Hope of Heartwood Haven adopted Porter, a young rooster among several others who had been rescued from a cockfighting bust. Both Kate and Hope knew that these animals needed people who could step up and give them a safe home, and they humbly decided to take on the challenge. One rescued rooster quickly turned into two, and then three and four. In 2017, Kate and Hope founded Heartwood Haven to officially offer these animals an amazing forever home. Today, they have rescued over 200 farm animals, either giving them permanent quarters at their sanctuary or adopting them out to other loving families.
Nestled off a quiet, wooded road in Gig Harbor, Heartwood Haven is a 4-acre 501(c)(3) non-profit sanctuary for abandoned and abused farm animals. Pigs roam about the property while a couple of farm dogs prance up to us, eager to greet Elizabeth and me as we meet Kate at the entrance. Heartwood Haven is currently home to 59 animals, though that number is constantly changing. Here you can find rescued pigs of all sizes, goats, hens, roosters, ducks, dogs and cats – it’s an animal lover’s paradise.
Though the sanctuary is overflowing with happy animals, these sweet beings’ beginnings were predominantly sad, lonely and painful. Roosters, known to have feisty reputations, are frequently dumped, abandoned or euthanized when they no longer serve illegal cockfighting operations. The sanctuary’s rescued hens were once abused and used to only breed the strongest roosters for fighting or forced into poor living conditions to continually pump out eggs. But now, both roosters and hens flock freely through the woods without a care in the world.
Heartwood’s pigs are beaming with intelligence and unique personalities that are hard to ignore, oinking and digging to their hearts’ desire. They have either been surrendered by farmers who can’t care for such large creatures or rescued off of the streets of Puerto Rico after the hurricane displaced so many. The sanctuary’s two resident goats are such characters, as well. Either extremely timid or overly friendly, it’s clear that the duo is comfortable and content.
After taking a stroll through the sanctuary with Elizabeth and Kate, our hearts were overflowing with compassion for everything the animals have been through. Kate and Hope give voices to the animals that have never had a choice. Their goal is to share the benefits of going vegan and shed light on the animal cruelty that happens every single day. Heartwood Haven’s residents are the lucky few that have been given a second chance at life – imagine how many others still need our help!
Want to know how you can be part of the solution?
- Eat more plant-based meals
- Look for organic, cruelty-free options
- Tour Heartwood Haven and volunteer or donate (or both!)
Marlene’s is proud to donate our food scraps from smoothies and juices, unappealing produce, trimmings and more to help Heartwood Haven provide nutritious meals to their growing family. To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit HeartwoodHaven.org!






