A Safe Haven for Rescued Animals in Lancaster County
Support rescued goats, chickens, turkeys, cats, dogs, and more through donations, farm goods, and community support
Proudly a No-Cull Animal Sanctuary
Every life matters. Every animal deserves a second chance.
We're excited to share that The Grateful Stead has officially been recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity.
This milestone allows eligible donations to be tax-deductible and helps us expand our mission of providing lifelong care, rescue, rehabilitation, and compassionate homes for animals in need. Thank you for believing in our mission. This achievement belongs to every volunteer, supporter, and donor who has helped us get here.
A Safe Haven for Rescued Animals in Lancaster County
Support rescued goats, chickens, turkeys, cats, dogs, and more through donations, farm goods, and community support
We're excited to share that The Grateful Stead has officially been recognized by the IRS as a
501(c)(3) public charity.
This milestone allows eligible donations to be tax-deductible and helps us expand our mission of providing lifelong care, rescue, rehabilitation, and compassionate homes for animals in need. Thank you for believing in our mission. This achievement belongs to every volunteer, supporter, and donor who has helped us get here.
Shish
Don't let that sweet face fool you—Shish is full of sass and personality! This playful girl loves soaking up neck scratches and relaxing massages, and she's never one to turn down a little extra attention. When she's not charming visitors, you'll usually find her running around and playing with her sister, Dolly. Shish is also famous for her unusual taste in snacks—especially when it comes to leftover Christmas trees. If there's a discarded tree around, she's convinced it was left there just for her. And when feeding time rolls around, get ready for the show! Shish often breaks out into a full case of the zoomies, racing around with excitement as she eagerly awaits her meal. Whether she's looking for treats, affection, or a little mischief, Shish always knows how to make her presence known and keep everyone smiling.
Dunkin
Dunkin may look tough, but underneath that muscular frame is one of the biggest love bugs you'll ever meet. His favorite pastime is flopping down right in your path, hoping you'll stop for a belly rub, a scratch, or even better—a snuggle session on the ground. Rescued many years ago, Dunkin's journey wasn't always easy. In fact, the very first time he met the owner of The Grateful Stead, he tried to bite him! Thankfully, patience, trust, and lots of love helped him discover that people aren't so scary after all. Today, he's a loyal companion with a heart as big as his personality, proving that sometimes the most rewarding friendships come from second chances.
Cheeto
Cheeto wasn't exactly invited to The Grateful Stead—he simply showed up one day shortly after we moved in and decided this was his home. Since then, he's taken over the entire property and proudly serves as its self-appointed supervisor. Most days you'll find him perched on the shed roof, keeping a watchful eye on everything below, teaching any new feline friends who show up about the property, or sneaking through the grass and bushes on an important cat mission. When he's not patrolling his kingdom, Cheeto enjoys soaking up the sunshine and demanding attention. In fact, he's usually the first one on the porch every morning, pawing at the door to remind everyone that breakfast—and affection—should never be late. As far as he's concerned, The Grateful Stead is his farm—we just happen to live here.
ABOUT THE FARM
It all started with a few stray cats and a desire to help. What began as rescuing animals in need quickly became a way of life. Along the way came many different foster animals, career changes, a pizza shop, growing dreams, and most importantly, our beautifully blended family. Today, Kris and I are raising five amazing children who share our love for animals and compassion for those who need a second chance. The Grateful Stead is where our passion for helping others comes to life—a place where animals are loved, hope is restored, and every day is filled with something to be grateful for.
Meet the chickens!
Our flock is as diverse as it is entertaining! Here at The Grateful Stead, we're home to a variety of chicken breeds, including Silkies, Jersey Giants, Ayam Cemani, Sapphire Gems, Old English Silver Duckwings, and many more. Each one brings their own unique personality, quirks, and charm to the farm. Leading the flock is Sargent Pepper, our proud rooster and self-appointed head of security. Whether he's keeping watch over his hens, announcing the start of a new day, or making sure everyone knows who's in charge, Sargent Pepper takes his job very seriously—and the rest of the flock wouldn't have it any other way.
Turkeys too!
We never planned on having turkeys—it just kind of happened. When we were asked to take one in, we said yes, not realizing we'd completely fall in love with these quirky, lovable birds. It didn't take long for their personalities to win us over, especially when we started hearing their excited gobbles every time we pulled into the driveway. Now, greeting the turkeys has become part of our daily routine. You'll often hear us "speaking turkey" as we come and go, carrying on conversations that probably make perfect sense to them. What started as one unexpected rescue turned into a flock full of character, laughter, and some of the friendliest welcomes you'll find anywhere on the farm.
Cat Sancuary
When it comes to stray cats, we've learned that some animals choose their people—and there's not much you can do about it. Our original goal was simply to help through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), making sure local cats were spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and given a chance at a healthier life. The problem? Many of them decided they liked it here a little too much and refused to leave. Over time, our TNR efforts turned into a growing family of farm cats who now call The Grateful Stead home. Pictured here is our newest addition, Stormy. She managed to get herself pregnant before we could get her trapped and spayed, making her not only the newest member of the cat crew but also a brand-new mama! She's currently raising an adorable litter of kittens, and while we keep telling ourselves we can't possibly keep them all... we're not making any promises.
You have goats?
Looking for a little joy, laughter, and goat-powered therapy? Come spend some time with our resident goats, Shish and Dolly! These girls absolutely love attention and never miss an opportunity to make new friends. Whether they're climbing on things they probably shouldn't be, showing off their goofy personalities, or competing for who gets the most scratches, there's never a dull moment when they're around.
And if you bring snacks? You'll be their favorite person instantly. Our goats are always happy to accept treats, attention, neck scratches, and compliments. Come relax, make some furry friends, and experience firsthand why hanging out with goats is one of the best ways to brighten your day.
The Farm Next Door
One of the best parts of life at The Grateful Stead is sharing a fence line with our Amish neighbors and their incredible farm. Horses, cows, sheep—you never quite know what you'll see when you look across the field. It's like having front-row seats to farm life every single day. Recently, the excitement reached a whole new level with the arrival of a beautiful baby horse, pictured here. Watching this little one discover the world, race around the pasture, and stick close to its mama has become a daily highlight for our family. In fact, we've found ourselves spending less time watching streaming services and more time looking out the window. Honestly, the baby horse is far more entertaining. There's something special about slowing down and watching life unfold naturally, and this little foal has been a wonderful reminder to enjoy the simple things.
ABOUT THE FARM
It all started with a few stray cats and a desire to help. What began as rescuing animals in need quickly became a way of life. Along the way came many different foster animals, career changes, a pizza shop, growing dreams, and most importantly, our beautifully blended family. Today, Kris and I are raising five amazing children who share our love for animals and compassion for those who need a second chance. The Grateful Stead is where our passion for helping others comes to life—a place where animals are loved, hope is restored, and every day is filled with something to be grateful for.
Meet the chickens!
Our flock is as diverse as it is entertaining! Here at The Grateful Stead, we're home to a variety of chicken breeds, including Silkies, Jersey Giants, Ayam Cemani, Sapphire Gems, Old English Silver Duckwings, and many more. Each one brings their own unique personality, quirks, and charm to the farm. Leading the flock is Sargent Pepper, our proud rooster and self-appointed head of security. Whether he's keeping watch over his hens, announcing the start of a new day, or making sure everyone knows who's in charge, Sargent Pepper takes his job very seriously—and the rest of the flock wouldn't have it any other way.
Turkeys too!
We never planned on having turkeys—it just kind of happened. When we were asked to take one in, we said yes, not realizing we'd completely fall in love with these quirky, lovable birds. It didn't take long for their personalities to win us over, especially when we started hearing their excited gobbles every time we pulled into the driveway. Now, greeting the turkeys has become part of our daily routine. You'll often hear us "speaking turkey" as we come and go, carrying on conversations that probably make perfect sense to them. What started as one unexpected rescue turned into a flock full of character, laughter, and some of the friendliest welcomes you'll find anywhere on the farm.
Cat Sancuary
When it comes to stray cats, we've learned that some animals choose their people—and there's not much you can do about it. Our original goal was simply to help through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), making sure local cats were spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and given a chance at a healthier life. The problem? Many of them decided they liked it here a little too much and refused to leave. Over time, our TNR efforts turned into a growing family of farm cats who now call The Grateful Stead home. Pictured here is our newest addition, Stormy. She managed to get herself pregnant before we could get her trapped and spayed, making her not only the newest member of the cat crew but also a brand-new mama! She's currently raising an adorable litter of kittens, and while we keep telling ourselves we can't possibly keep them all... we're not making any promises.
You have goats?
Looking for a little joy, laughter, and goat-powered therapy? Come spend some time with our resident goats, Shish and Dolly! These girls absolutely love attention and never miss an opportunity to make new friends. Whether they're climbing on things they probably shouldn't be, showing off their goofy personalities, or competing for who gets the most scratches, there's never a dull moment when they're around.
And if you bring snacks? You'll be their favorite person instantly. Our goats are always happy to accept treats, attention, neck scratches, and compliments. Come relax, make some furry friends, and experience firsthand why hanging out with goats is one of the best ways to brighten your day.
The Farm Next Door
One of the best parts of life at The Grateful Stead is sharing a fence line with our Amish neighbors and their incredible farm. Horses, cows, sheep—you never quite know what you'll see when you look across the field. It's like having front-row seats to farm life every single day. Recently, the excitement reached a whole new level with the arrival of a beautiful baby horse, pictured here. Watching this little one discover the world, race around the pasture, and stick close to its mama has become a daily highlight for our family. In fact, we've found ourselves spending less time watching streaming services and more time looking out the window. Honestly, the baby horse is far more entertaining. There's something special about slowing down and watching life unfold naturally, and this little foal has been a wonderful reminder to enjoy the simple things.
Join The Grateful Stead Family
The Grateful Stead is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity.
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