Franklin Park Sanctuary For Rescued Farm Animals To Be Featured In Documentary

FRANKLIN PARK (KDKA) -- Hope Haven Farm lives up to its name.

Karen Phillips has rescued 125 farm animals on her sanctuary in Franklin Park.

"I work as a shelter veterinarian," she says. "I work at the Humane Society and Animal Rescue League and some of the other shelters, and I was seeing farm animals come into the shelter. And you wouldn't think that in the middle of Downtown Pittsburgh that there'd be these animals. But they came in, and they didn't have a place."

She started the farm sanctuary some three years ago.

"We have about 40 ducks here. Most of them are, very sadly, from Easter. Lots of people will get ducks for Easter, and not have the facilities to take care of them long term," she says.

The farm owner says she works with farm agents and police to take in animals who have nowhere else to go.

"I love being able to educate people, and have them come out and visit and meet these animals," Phillips said.

Hope Haven is one of 15 farm sanctuaries across the country included in a documentary, "Called to Rescue," which will be shown during a fundraising event at the farm Oct. 30.

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A former "carousel pony" was confiscated in a humane case, and an inquisitive emu also escaped a bad situation.

"Ruckus was getting beaten up by the other animals, so for his safety he came to us. We have four farm hogs and 12 potbellied pigs here," Phillips says.

For the animals, Hope Haven Farm, is hog heaven.

"I can't save them all," she laments. "But the ones I do, I can make their lives incredible."

For information on next month's farm festival and screening of the new documentary, visit: www.hopehavenfarm.org