Once upon a time there was a working cattle farm with a barn full of cats. There for the purpose of hunting mice, they did their best to survive, foraging for food from the dumpster and burrowing in hay bales to keep warm in the winter. Then one day in …
We are always grateful for our donors, sponsors and volunteers at the sanctuary. Their support is critical to our work in helping rescued animals in need. In 2023, we witnessed a new trend of support coming from… children! Following are some examples of the incredible compassion shown to our animals by people under the age of ten. When we worry about the state of the world during these troubled times, we find comfort knowing that the future of the planet is in good hands.
Meet Joey Neet (4 years old), Malea Alberts (10 years old), and Elianna Campese-Korman (9 years old).
If you’ve been following the work of The Lily Pond in recent years, you know that we’ve focused on providing a safe landing for ex-racehorses rescued from the kill pen. Once again, we were given the opportunity to help a horse who escaped the slaughter pipeline. But this horse had …
by Susan Bandy We recently had to say goodbye to three beloved members of The Lily Pond family. These transitions are never easy… in fact they are devastating. One of the most difficult aspects of animal rescue is grieving the loss of their passing – a challenge we face regularly …
WHISKEY was a tiny little Pomeranian with an outsized dynamo personality. Arriving in 2021 as a blind, diabetic senior, he quickly appointed himself King of the Castle and stole our hearts… especially mine. Whiskey followed me everywhere and had the most endearing habit of jumping into my arms and snuggling …
OTIS was a stately gentleman. A gray and white cat of quiet demeanor, he was diagnosed with diabetes at the same time his owner began a battle with cancer and could not longer care for him. Thus he arrived at The Lily Pond in 2019 after we were contacted by …
ELSA was a unique mix with the coloring and protective instinct of a Shepherd but the diminutive size and short legs of a Corgi. And she had the most adorable ears! They stuck out sideways like a canine Yoda. Elsa was saved by a rescue organization from a kill shelter …
What happens when you’re a harness racing Standardbred trotter who is afraid of pulling a jockey in a sulky? Roll To Thunder had 25 starts but never won a race. He was quickly retired from the track, sold into farm labor and pulling a buggy. Fast forward many years, Thunder …
In addition to the cats and kittens who arrived from a neighboring farm as part of our feral barn cat rescue, we welcomed three special kitties to the sanctuary. MALCOLM is a handsome young fellow of orange and white. He was adopted out as a kitten to a family by …
July 7, 2023 | WAMC Listen to Ralph Gardner’s touching commentary about his dog Wallie and the family’s experience at Sienna Sky and The Lily Pond Sanctuary. Listen to the story.
The snows of fierce March weather have finally melted and signs of spring are appearing in bright sunshine daffodils beginning to bloom at the sanctuary. This winter was relatively mild by Northeast standards, with the exception of a few knock-out-the-power, snow-up-to-your-eyebrows storms. We survived the Great Arctic Freeze in February …
It was a mild autumn day when we got a call from the Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF), a non-profit organization that raises funds to save horses from shipping to slaughter by bailing them from kill pens and rehoming them. We were notified because a 17-year-old ex-race horse named Super Tuesday …
Reporter Lisa Green attended the homecoming celebration for Super Tuesday and Hogues Best Sunday at The Lily Pond Sanctuary. She wrote a wonderful article about their rescue! Read it here: Rural Intelligence Article
There’s a new game in town… and it’s not the electronic contraption from the 1980s that this writer spent hours trying to outsmart as a child. Meet Simon, an adorable tabby of tawny fur and eyes of green! Simon is relatively young at six years, but he’s traveled a difficult …
by Susan Bandy We recently had to say goodbye to three beloved members of The Lily Pond family. These transitions are never easy… in fact they are devastating. One of the most difficult aspects of animal rescue is grieving the loss of their passing – a challenge we face regularly …
For those who’ve ever been invaded by kittens, you will know that this typically occurs in the spring. We folks in animal rescue actually refer to the season following winter as “Kitten Season.” This year the invaders planned a surprise attack, arriving in the cold months at year end. We …
Join us for an Earth Day Celebration to benefit the rescued animals at The Lily Pond Sanctuary Saturday June 3, 202365 Downing Road, Ghent NY 12075 Main Event (All Ages): 4:00-8:00pm Optional Nature-Based Program (Ages 18+): 2:00-4:00pm
Do you remember that 80’s hit single “Bring On The Dancing Horses” by Echo and the Bunnymen? The song is about people gazing at three stone statues of horses. Well, we are pleased to announce the arrival of three trotting horses to The Lily Pond! In the spring, The Standardbred …
Sometimes when life is at a low point (and we mean head-in-a-mud-puddle low) miracles happen. The story of Binx begins with a woman who regularly feeds a feral colony of cats. One day, she arrived with food and spotted a black ball of fur laying lifeless in a puddle. Recognizing …
by Susan Bandy We recently had to say goodbye to two beloved members of The Lily Pond family. These transitions are never easy… in fact they are devastating. One of the most difficult aspects of animal rescue is grieving the loss of their passing – a challenge we face regularly …