Goats and their Mobility Aids. credit: Jessie McNew

Winnie Penny Farm

At a small sanctuary in North Georgia, Jessie McNew and her family help disabled and disadvantaged animals including dogs, pigs, goats, and horses! Read about the inspiring story behind Winnie Penny Farm and Sanctuary along with an exclusive interview with Jessie McNew.

by second year Ava Gruszczinski

Although Athens is like a second home to me, I’m originally from Habersham–a small county in Northeast Georgia surrounded by the Blue Ridge mountains. A lot of people think of my town as nothing special, nothing much, but it holds so much more than just pastures and fields.

Recently, I stumbled across an Instagram post by my local news publication, Now Habersham, about an animal sanctuary and farm– Winnie Penny Farm. In the article, Nora Almazan (the author) details the beginnings of the farm and the stories behind some of the animal residents. The animals the farm takes in are either disabled or disadvantaged, with many having wheelchairs for mobility. The sanctuary is primarily led by Jessie McNew and her family, and is a fairly recent endeavor for them, starting only three years prior. However, I somehow hadn’t heard of it until now!

Jessie, Nic, and Watson with Delta the dog. credit: Daniel Purcell/NowHambersham.com

The first animal the sanctuary took in was a lamb, Lambie. Almazan explains that the family took Lambie in after he “was being cared for by a nurse, but his care became too extensive.” They’ve also taken in horses, dogs, cats, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and geese. Despite the numerous animals they’ve taken in, most of their supplies are self-provided. However, Almazan provides a wonderful way to support the family through their Facebook page. One of the most heartwarming quotes Almazan provides is this: “Spending the afternoon with Jessie and her family broke my heart, but in a way, our hearts should be broken in a way that comes from realizing the pain and struggles of others and the incredible feeling of finding a solution.”

Joey and his mobility aid. credit: Daniel Purcell/NowHabersham.com

I reached out to Jessie directly to glean some personal insight about the farm and what makes this journey worthwhile for her despite the unavoidable hardships tied to this endeavor. Firstly, I asked about her visions for the future of the sanctuary. After expressing her desire to allow visitors to come to the property, Jessie explained, “The end goal is to provide the best possible facility for the animals, including a rehabilitation and physical therapy center on property.” With one of her animals, Joey the sheep, he would have to frequently be transported to Marrieta, the closest hydrotherapy facility. I also inquired specifically about the farm’s availability to visitors, and while it is not a possibility for them currently, one of the facilities goals is “...to be open to the public and provide tours and outings for the area foster children.”

The Cutest Fella! *credit: Jessie McNew*

One of the main aspects that intrigued me was the impact of the sanctuary on the community and treatment/perception of animals with struggles and severe disabilities. Jessie relayed to me that she hopes people will see farm animals as “more than production,” as many of her animals know their names and act similarly to a household pet! One of the most beautiful things she relayed to me is this: “I also hope that it will help people see that just because an animal doesn’t function the way it normally does, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a quality of life.” Despite their differences, all of these animals seem to be provided with the facilities to enjoy and function equally or better than their “normal” relatives!

A few tips I’d like to share with everyone is some advice Jessie gave me about helping animals in need. She advised finding a great veterinarian that understands each and every animal deeply. While a good vet will consider euthanasia, that will always be the last and final option after all treatment is considered. She recommends seeking animal specific FaceBook/social media groups to “decipher the facts from the fiction” and find information about diet, allergies, grooming, etc. She also encourages working with your local shelter, as they can provide great resources to them, and you can provide resources in return.

Lastly, I asked Jessie about community involvement. Overall, she expressed immense gratitude for those supporting the farm by donating through FaceBook and givebutter.com or purchasing from their Amazon wishlist. One way to support the sanctuary easily is to follow on FaceBook (Winnie Penny Farm & Sanctuary), Instagram (@winniepennyfarmsanctuary), and Tiktok (Winnie Penny Farm & Sanctuary)! I’d like to end this story with a wonderful line from Jessie: “...it’s okay to be different or need a little extra help…” You are valuable, loveable, and wonderful no matter what.