KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Welcome to C.J. Acres Animal Rescue Farm: a non-profit, all-volunteer farm that exists to reduce animal suffering by rescuing, rehabilitating, and reintroducing animals while also promoting compassionate consumption and responsible animal stewardship.

The nonprofit serves as a haven for approximately 100 total part-time and full-time residents, and all creatures have an inspiring story to tell.

Animal species include anything from horses to cows, goats, feral cats, sheep, chickens, pigs and ducks, many ranging from areas well outside the state lines of Florida, including Georgia, North Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Canada.

Residents escape the harshest of circumstances, which can include natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires, and floods or worse, and unfortunate human-created circumstances, such as abuse, neglect, abandonment, and other mistreatments.

Despite a dark past for many residents of the farm, an ultimate saving grace is established within the fences. The fact that the animals now have a haven. Both part-time and full-time animals take up residency at the farm. If other arrangements cannot be made, those who enter the property are more than welcome to stay for life.

“That’s the thing. The animals that are here kind of won the lottery because there are literally billions of animals that don’t have that golden ticket,” founder Lee Sackett said.

It’s a fact that should especially be considered important when one reviews the life expectancy of three species on the property.

Donkeys can range up to 45 years old, with other long-lasting creatures including horses (which can live 30 years) and cows (20).

Every visitor is generally greeted by several friendly faces upon arrival.

George is an American Quarter Horse that has lived his entire life at C.J. Acres. Formerly abandoned in North Carolina, he has now lived the vast majority of his 23-year life at the farm. He’s part of the cast of several real-life characters depicted in the nonprofit’s logo, which are illustrated to mirror actual animals at the rescue. Now, the stallion is ever-engraved into the farm’s legacy.

Then, there’s Moo-Dini, a cow that used Houdini-like instincts to escape a slaughterhouse in Orlando.

Volunteers can capture the warm, fuzzy feeling of connecting with the creatures and find value in the hard work that is required to keep the animals fully fed and as happy as possible as they continue to recover from harsh prior circumstances.

Here’s how it works:

The volunteer organizational structure is divided into four categories, with each name selected in a salute to the wild world of horses.

Sackett is known as the lead mare, heading the nonprofit’s operation.

It’s a term that can be misleading at times, with the word’s definition denoting a female horse leading a herd of horses.

“In the horse world, everyone thinks it’s the stallions that are in charge, but it’s actually a lead mare. It’s a girl who is considered the top boss,” he said.

Those closely following Sackett’s lead at the top of the chain of command, such as the vice president, is known as lead mares.

But there’s more.

Adult male volunteers are called “stallions,” while adult females are known as “mares.” Then, for those that are 21 or younger years of age or younger, males are “colts” and females are “fillies.”

Regardless of status, there are plenty of duties that must be fulfilled for those serving the best interests of a myriad of creatures living on the “animal farm.”

This includes several fun-yet-essential items such as feeding, grooming, healthcare, training, maintenance and socialization.

To maintain its mission, C.J. Acres instills proper education about animal intelligence and feelings.

“It’s about people understanding that all of these animals, whether that be a cow, cat, dog or hog, who want to live, seek joy, fear death and want to be loved and treated well. They do like getting their bellies rubbed. So, getting people to interact with the animals and see that firsthand teaches that compassion,” Sackett said.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit was founded in 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina where Sackett soon moved the organization to Clay County in 2003 at 5728 Jones Creek Road.

With several jobs to satisfy the animals on the farm, new volunteers at the organization are always in need. Tours are also available. To get in touch with C.J. Acres, please reach out via telephone at (904) 600-7676, email at info@cjacres.org, or visit the farm’s website at CJAcres.org or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CJAcresAnimalRescueFarm.