This New Jersey Sanctuary Was Founded To Honor A Mother’s Dream And Now Shelters Over 600 Animals

There is a place in New Jersey where second chances are the rule and kindness is the only expectation.

Over six hundred animals call this sanctuary home, from rescued horses and pigs to chickens, rabbits, and everything in between.

The story behind it is deeply moving, but the vibe here is pure warmth and joy, with animals roaming freely and visitors leaving with full hearts.

It is the kind of place where you come to meet some unforgettable creatures and end up feeling like you have been part of the family all along.

The energy is contagious, the residents are full of personality, and every visit reminds you just how much love a place can hold.

New Jersey has a heart, and it beats loudest right here.

The Heartfelt Story Behind the Founding

Some places carry a story so powerful that you feel it the moment you walk through the gate.

Funny Farm Rescue and Sanctuary was born from a promise a daughter made to her mother, a woman named Annie McNulty who spent her life quietly saving animals that nobody else wanted.

Annie would bring home animals headed for euthanasia, filling her home with creatures that needed a second chance. She called her home her Funny Farm, and the name stuck with so much warmth it could melt you.

Tragically, Annie passed away from cancer at just 52 years old, only two weeks before the 15-acre property in Mays Landing was officially purchased. Her daughter, Laurie Zaleski, went ahead anyway, turning grief into purpose and establishing the sanctuary in 2001.

What started as a promise became one of the most recognized animal rescues in the entire northeastern United States. That kind of origin story does not just inspire you, it stays with you long after you leave the farm.

Over 600 Animals Calling This Place Home

Walking onto the property and realizing just how many animals actually live here is genuinely surprising. The number exceeds 600 residents, and some recent counts suggest it may be closer to 750, each one rescued from situations involving abuse, neglect, injury, or abandonment.

The variety alone is staggering. Horses, pigs, alpacas, goats, dogs, cats, chickens, skunks, and even a 2,500-pound Red Angus Steer all share this land together.

Many of these animals roam completely freely across the property, which means you might turn a corner and find yourself face-to-face with a very confident goose who has absolutely no interest in moving out of your way.

Each animal here was given a second chance when most of the world had already moved on from them.

The sheer scale of what this sanctuary cares for daily, without any state or federal funding, is something that genuinely takes a moment to fully sink in. It is remarkable, full stop.

Free Admission That Makes It Accessible for Everyone

One of the first things that catches people off guard is that admission here is completely free. Parking is free too, which in New Jersey feels like its own small miracle worth celebrating out loud.

The sanctuary operates entirely on donations and receives zero state or federal funding, which makes the generosity of this open-door policy even more meaningful. Visitors are welcome on Sundays and Tuesdays between 8 AM and 4 PM.

Before entering, every guest, including children, completes a waiver acknowledging the free-roaming nature of the animals and the natural risks that come with that. It is a reasonable step that keeps everyone, both human and animal, safe and comfortable.

The fact that a family with young kids can spend hours here without worrying about a big admission fee makes this sanctuary genuinely accessible in a way that many attractions simply are not.

Dropping a donation in the box on the way out feels less like an obligation and more like a reflex after everything you experience inside.

Feeding the Animals from the General Store

There is something deeply satisfying about buying a little feed bucket and watching a horse gently lip carrots right out of your hand.

The General Store on-site sells approved animal feed buckets that let visitors interact with the residents in a safe and healthy way.

Outside food is not permitted for feeding the animals, and that rule exists for very good reasons. Every animal here has specific dietary needs, and the staff works hard to make sure those needs are consistently met.

Buckets filled with appropriate snacks like apple slices and carrots are available for just a few dollars, and visitors can also donate apples, carrots, or other approved animal foods at the General Store in exchange for a feed bucket.

Beyond the feed, the store also carries gifts, T-shirts, and other items that make for meaningful souvenirs.

Baked goods have also been known to appear, and based on visitor enthusiasm, they disappear just as fast. The snack bar keeps visitors fueled while the animals do their best to charm every last treat out of you.

A Sanctuary Built for Healing, Not Just Shelter

People who visit Funny Farm often describe it as a healing place, and that description makes complete sense once you are actually standing there.

There is a beautiful garden on the property featuring a waterfall, and the overall atmosphere carries a quietness that feels almost deliberate.

The sanctuary does not just house animals. It gives them a permanent home where they can live out their natural lives with dignity, medical care, and daily affection from volunteers who genuinely love them.

For visitors, that energy transfers in ways that are hard to explain but easy to feel. Spending time surrounded by animals that have survived hardship and landed somewhere safe has a way of resetting something in your chest.

Families bring their kids here on weekends and come back again and again, not just for the novelty but because the place genuinely delivers something meaningful each time.

It is the kind of spot that puts things in perspective without making any grand announcements about doing so.

You just feel it.

Voted One of the Top 10 Family Destinations in New Jersey

Getting voted one of the top ten places for families to visit in New Jersey is no small achievement, especially when you are competing with beaches, boardwalks, and amusement parks.

Funny Farm earned that recognition the honest way, by simply being extraordinary at what it does.

Kids absolutely light up here. The combination of free-roaming animals, hands-on feeding opportunities, and the sheer variety of species creates an experience that holds attention spans far longer than most outings manage.

Even the old tractors positioned around the grounds become a source of excitement for younger visitors who want to climb and explore everything in sight.

Adults tend to slow down here in a way they rarely do elsewhere, pausing to actually watch a horse eat or a pair of cats wrestle in a sunny patch of grass.

The sanctuary has also hosted festivals with food trucks and vendors, adding another layer of community energy to an already vibrant place. For a family day out in Jersey, this is genuinely hard to beat.

The Animals with the Most Unforgettable Personalities

Every animal at Funny Farm has a personality that could fill a chapter of its own.

The 2,500-pound Red Angus Steer is perhaps the most dramatic example of the sanctuary’s range, an enormous creature that somehow manages to feel like a gentle neighbor rather than something out of a nature documentary.

Then there are the alpacas with their permanently skeptical expressions, the pigs who treat the entire property as their personal kingdom, and the cats who have claimed a dedicated Catio where they lounge with maximum confidence.

Some of the cats are even available for adoption, which means a visit here could genuinely change your household forever. The donkeys are known for being particularly persistent when food is involved, earning themselves a reputation as the sanctuary’s most enthusiastic greeters.

Skunks, roosters, geese, and turkeys round out a cast of characters that keeps every visit feeling fresh and surprising. No two trips through these grounds are ever quite the same, because the animals themselves make sure of that.

Volunteering and Donating Keep the Mission Alive

Running a sanctuary that houses hundreds of animals without any government funding requires a level of community support that is genuinely inspiring to see in action.

Funny Farm relies entirely on donations and the steady dedication of volunteers who show up regularly to help with feeding, care, and daily operations.

Volunteering is open to anyone who wants to contribute, and the sanctuary welcomes that help without complicated requirements or long waiting lists. Showing up and pitching in is encouraged in the most straightforward way possible.

For those who prefer to contribute financially, donations go directly toward food, medical care, and shelter for every resident on the property.

Visitors can also pick up a copy of the book Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals, written by founder Laurie Zaleski, which tells the story of the sanctuary in full and makes for a meaningful way to support the mission from home.

Every dollar donated and every hour volunteered keeps this remarkable place running exactly as it should. That feels worth showing up for.

Planning Your Visit to Funny Farm Rescue and Sanctuary

Getting the most out of a trip here starts with a little planning, and the logistics are simpler than you might expect.

The sanctuary is open on Sundays and Tuesdays from 8 AM to 4 PM, and arriving earlier in the day tends to mean more time with the animals before the crowds build up.

Wear shoes you do not mind getting dirty, and long pants are a solid idea since the animals roam freely and personal space is a concept they find mostly irrelevant. A waiver is required for all guests upon arrival, children included.

The on-site snack bar and General Store keep visitors comfortable and stocked with both snacks for themselves and approved feed for the animals. Fresh eggs have also been available for purchase, a small bonus that feels perfectly in tune with the farm setting.

Driving on the farm roads requires a crawling speed of around 1 mph due to the animals wandering everywhere. It is the kind of place that rewards patience and a willingness to simply be present.

Address: 6908 Railroad Blvd, Mays Landing, NJ.