This Serene New Hampshire Farm Acts As A Compassionate Haven For Hundreds Of Rescued Animals

I spent an afternoon surrounded by cows that wanted nothing more than a chin scratch. Goats followed me around like puppies.

A pig named something ridiculous snored in the sun. This place in New Hampshire isn’t a zoo or a petting farm in the touristy sense.

It is a full time rescue operation where hundreds of animals get a second chance. Some came from neglect.

Some from places that gave up on them. Now they just live.

No tricks, no performances. Just peace, hay, and people who actually care.

I left covered in fur and completely wrecked in the best way.

The Inspiring Origin Story Behind the Farm

Some of the most powerful places in the world start with one person who simply refused to look away. Live & Let Live Farm Inc. in Chichester, New Hampshire was born from exactly that kind of quiet, unshakeable determination.

Founder Teresa Paradis carried a lifelong passion for animal care that eventually grew into something far bigger than anyone might have imagined.

Established in 1996 and officially incorporated as a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit in 2002, the farm has transformed from a personal dream into New Hampshire’s largest animal rescue and sanctuary. The growth has been remarkable, driven entirely by compassion rather than profit.

What makes the origin story so compelling is how deeply personal it remains. Teresa did not stumble into rescue work by accident.

She built it with intention, purpose, and a clear vision of what animals in crisis truly deserve. The farm now extends its rescue reach beyond New England, operating in other states and even internationally.

That kind of expansion from a single founder’s childhood dream is genuinely extraordinary and speaks volumes about the power of staying committed to a cause that truly matters.

A Sanctuary Built on More Than Just Good Intentions

Walking onto the grounds of Live & Let Live Farm, you immediately sense that this is no ordinary property. The infrastructure here has been thoughtfully developed to meet the real, daily needs of hundreds of animals at any given time.

Three barns, an indoor rehabilitation center, multiple round pens, corrals with run-in shelters, and an outdoor riding ring make up the physical heart of the operation.

Each structure serves a specific purpose in the rescue, rehabilitation, and retraining process. Animals do not simply arrive and wait.

They receive active care, structured programs, and the kind of patient attention that helps them heal both physically and emotionally.

The farm sits on generous acreage in Chichester, New Hampshire, giving animals room to move, graze, and simply exist without the stress of confinement. For animals that have known cramped or dangerous conditions, this open space is genuinely therapeutic.

The facilities reflect years of careful planning and community investment. Volunteers and donors have poured enormous energy into maintaining and expanding these spaces, ensuring that every corner of the property supports the farm’s core mission of compassionate, long-term animal care.

Horses at the Heart of the Rescue Mission

Horses hold a special place at Live & Let Live Farm Inc., and the numbers tell a story all on their own. The farm began its equine rescue work with just four horses and now cares for somewhere between sixty and eighty at any given time.

That is a staggering commitment, both financially and in terms of daily labor.

Each horse arrives with its own complicated history. Some come from owners who lost their jobs or homes.

Others arrive from situations of outright neglect or abuse, carrying physical and emotional scars that take months or even years to address. The farm’s rehabilitation and retraining programs are designed to meet each horse exactly where it is in its recovery journey.

New Hampshire’s landscape provides an ideal backdrop for equine healing. Wide open pastures, fresh air, and consistent, knowledgeable care create the conditions horses need to rebuild trust in humans.

The farm’s horsemanship programs go even further, using the bond between horses and people as a tool for mutual healing. Watching a once-terrified horse accept a gentle touch from a volunteer is the kind of moment that reminds you why this work matters so profoundly.

Small Animals, Big Impact: Cats, Dogs, and Beyond

Beyond the horses, Live & Let Live Farm has built one of the most diverse small animal rescue programs in New England. The farm specializes in rescuing at-risk pregnant dogs and cats, motherless puppies and kittens, and a wide variety of other species including rabbits, parrots, guinea pigs, and ducks.

The range of animals that find their way to Chichester, New Hampshire is genuinely impressive. Some arrive because their owners faced sudden hardship like illness, job loss, or housing instability.

Others come from situations of deliberate neglect or abuse. The farm meets every case with the same level of care and urgency, regardless of species or size.

One particularly meaningful part of the program involves collaboration with high-kill shelters in Southern states. By partnering with these facilities, the farm actively pulls at-risk canines from situations where they would otherwise face euthanasia.

Animals that might have run out of time find a second chance in the green hills of New Hampshire. For adopters, this means bringing home a pet with a real story, a resilient spirit, and a whole lot of love to give back in return.

The Volunteer Community That Keeps It All Running

No paid staff army is keeping this operation afloat. Live & Let Live Farm Inc. runs almost entirely on the energy, dedication, and love of its volunteer community, and that fact makes everything the farm accomplishes feel even more extraordinary.

Without these unpaid hands showing up day after day, hundreds of animals would simply have nowhere to go.

Volunteers come from all walks of life, drawn together by a shared belief that animals in crisis deserve better. The farm creates a community atmosphere that many describe as genuinely family-like, where people support not just the animals but each other through the emotional demands of rescue work.

Donations fuel the physical side of operations, covering feed, veterinary care, and facility maintenance. The farm has a creative way for supporters to contribute directly to animal welfare: donating through Clark’s Grain Store in Chichester, where funds go straight toward the farm’s substantial feed bills.

Knowing exactly where your money goes makes supporting this New Hampshire treasure feel deeply satisfying. Volunteering here is not just about scooping feed or cleaning stalls.

It is about joining a movement that believes every living creature deserves safety, dignity, and care.

Humane Education Programs That Change Young Lives

Live & Let Live Farm does something that sets it apart from most rescue operations: it actively invests in people, not just animals. The farm’s humane education programs bring young people into direct, meaningful contact with rescued animals, creating experiences that shape empathy and responsibility in lasting ways.

Partnerships with local New Hampshire school districts bring students to the farm for hands-on learning that no classroom can replicate. Standing next to a horse that once knew only fear and watching it respond to calm, respectful handling teaches lessons about patience, trust, and compassion that stick with kids long after the visit ends.

Youth groups also benefit from these programs, gaining exposure to animal care and the realities of rescue work in an age-appropriate, engaging environment. The farm treats education as a core part of its mission rather than an afterthought.

Building a generation of young people in New Hampshire who understand the value of animal welfare creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the farm’s fences. Every child who leaves with a new appreciation for animals becomes a future advocate, donor, or volunteer.

That investment in young hearts is one of the farm’s most quietly powerful contributions to the community.

Prison Rehabilitation Partnerships That Heal on Both Sides

One of the most quietly transformative programs at Live & Let Live Farm involves a partnership that might surprise you. The farm works with non-violent prison rehabilitation programs, bringing incarcerated individuals into contact with rescued horses as part of structured, supervised horsemanship sessions.

The logic behind this partnership is both practical and deeply human. Horses are extraordinarily sensitive animals that respond to emotional states in real time.

Working with them requires a person to slow down, regulate their energy, and approach with genuine calm and respect. For individuals in rehabilitation programs, that process mirrors exactly the kind of emotional work that supports lasting personal change.

Animals that have experienced trauma and humans navigating their own difficult chapters find something meaningful in each other’s company. The farm becomes a space where healing happens on both sides of the lead rope.

This kind of program reflects the broader philosophy at Live & Let Live Farm Inc., which has always understood that the relationship between people and animals is genuinely reciprocal. Chichester, New Hampshire might seem like a quiet corner of New England, but within this farm’s fences, some remarkably profound transformations take place every single week.

Lifetime Care for Animals Who Cannot Be Adopted

Not every animal that arrives at Live & Let Live Farm will find a forever home elsewhere, and the farm accepts that reality with grace. Animals deemed unadoptable for any reason receive a lifetime commitment of care right there on the Chichester property.

That promise is not a small thing. It represents an enormous financial and logistical responsibility that the farm carries without hesitation.

For animals that have known abandonment and uncertainty, permanent sanctuary provides something priceless: stability. Knowing that they will never be moved on again, never face uncertainty about their next meal or their safety, allows these animals to finally settle into a kind of contentment that is genuinely moving to witness.

The farm’s approach here reflects a philosophy that rescue is not just about finding adopters. True rescue means accepting full responsibility for an animal’s wellbeing regardless of outcome.

Some animals are simply too old, too traumatized, or too complex in their needs to thrive in a typical home setting. Live & Let Live Farm Inc. provides these individuals with exactly the environment they need: patient, knowledgeable, consistent care in a place where their quirks and challenges are met with understanding rather than frustration.

Open House Sundays: Your Chance to Visit and Connect

Sunday afternoons take on a special quality at Live & Let Live Farm Inc. The farm opens its gates to the public on Sunday afternoons, giving animal lovers the opportunity to tour the property, meet the residents, and connect with the mission in a personal, tangible way. It is the kind of visit that tends to leave a lasting impression.

Planning ahead makes the experience much smoother. The farm processes adoption inquiries one family at a time, and having your application ready before you arrive helps the process move efficiently.

The property is large and somewhat spread out, so arriving with a little patience and an adventurous spirit serves you well.

The animals themselves are the real draw. Horses, cows, goats, pigs, geese, ducks, chickens, cats, dogs, and more all call this New Hampshire sanctuary home.

Each one has a story, and the dedicated volunteers who know those stories are genuinely happy to share them. Visiting the farm is not a passive experience.

It pulls you in, makes you care, and often sends you home thinking seriously about how you might contribute, whether through adoption, volunteering, or a donation to Clark’s Grain Store in Chichester.

How to Support the Farm and Find It for Yourself

Supporting Live & Let Live Farm Inc. is easier than you might think, and every contribution makes a real difference to animals that have already been through so much. The farm accepts direct donations, and one of the most satisfying ways to give is through Clark’s Grain Store in Chichester, New Hampshire, where your money goes straight toward feeding the animals in the farm’s care.

Volunteering is another powerful option. The farm relies on community support to function, and new volunteers are always welcome to bring their energy and compassion to the work.

Adoption events, which occasionally take place at off-site locations, are another way to connect with the mission and potentially bring a new family member home.

The farm is located at 20 Paradice Lane, Chichester, NH 03258, and can be reached by phone at 603-798-5615 or through the website at liveandletlivefarm.org. Public visiting hours are Sunday afternoons, so plan your trip accordingly.

For anyone who loves animals, values compassion, and wants to see what a truly community-powered rescue operation looks like in practice, this New Hampshire sanctuary is absolutely worth the drive. Pack your patience, open your heart, and prepare to leave genuinely inspired.