Saving lives. Caring for people and animals together.

 

Surrey Hills Sanctuary (SHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit micro-farm sanctuary and education center located in New York’s Hudson Valley. Founded in 2013 by Dr. Katherine Compitus, a clinical social worker and expert in applied anthrozoology, SHS brings together lifelong animal sanctuary care, veterinary social work, and education. Our mission is to save human and animal lives by responding to crisis with compassionate care, refuge, and connection. We recognize that human and animal welfare are inextricably linked, and that both people and animals deserve safety, support, and care when they have nowhere else to turn.

 

For animals, SHS provides a permanent home for seniors and those with special medical needs who might otherwise face euthanasia or have few options for ongoing care. We are not an open-intake rescue organization or animal shelter; animals come to us through referrals from veterinarians, shelters, and wildlife rehabilitators. Our residents receive individualized care, attention, and enrichment that support their comfort and quality of life throughout their remaining years. They are permanent members of our sanctuary community and are not available for adoption.

 

For people, our veterinary social work services provide compassionate support through grief, crisis, and the emotional demands of caring for animals. We support veterinary professionals, animal rescuers, shelter and sanctuary staff, volunteers, and caregivers facing compassion fatigue, burnout, isolation, or emotional distress. When someone is experiencing thoughts of suicide or needs additional care, we help connect them with appropriate mental health services, suicide prevention resources, and other essential support. Their well-being matters—not only because animals depend on them, but because their lives matter in their own right.

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Education connects every part of our work. Through our programs and resources, we deepen understanding of the human–animal bond, explore the connections between human and animal welfare, and encourage compassionate responses to people and animals in need. SHS is a place to learn about these relationships and put that compassion into practice.

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Visits to SHS are available by appointment only. Educational resources are available on our website.

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Surrey Hills does not accept animals from the public.

Please contact your local animal rescue group if you have an animal that needs to find a home.

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All donations are tax-deductible as a charitable contribution!