Sponsor an Animal

Animal of the Month

Logo for SAS Animal of the Month featuring silhouettes of farm animals including a pig, chicken, rabbit, and ducks inside a barn with a heart shape at the top, and text promoting making an impact through storytelling.

Every animal at Sammamish Animal Sanctuary has a story—and every month, we’re giving one of them the spotlight.

Our Animal of the Month program introduces you to one member of our BarnYard Crew: who they are, how they came to SAS, what makes them special, and what it really takes to care for them throughout their lifetime.

As a Last Stop Sanctuary, the animals who come into our care stay with us for life. That means growing older with them, adapting to their changing needs, and being there when routine care suddenly becomes surgery, medication, specialized diets, mobility support—or simply a little extra help navigating their world.

Animal of the Month is also a way for you to be part of that care.

Each month, we’ll share what our featured animal currently needs and how your support can help. Donations made in their honor help provide veterinary care, medications, feed, bedding, enrichment, and the ongoing daily care that allows us to make one promise to every animal who comes through our gates:

You’re home. We’ve got you. For life.

Whether you give $5, $25, $100—or simply share their story—you’re helping us keep that promise. Sometimes Animal of the Month will be a celebration. Sometimes it will take you behind the scenes of aging, medical care, or an unexpected challenge.

And sometimes, it’s both.  We hope you visit often, to learn more about our rescued animals, their stories- and our "WHY"- which is simple really:  every animal deserves a second chance.

Keep scrolling to see our Animal of the Month for October

~ Meet Amelia

~ Meet Amelia

TV Celebrity. Professional Cow Cuddler.

TV appearances? ✓
Book deal? ✓
Personal assistant? ✓
(Camelia, obviously.)
Mysterious older gentleman recently moved in? ✓
(Rico. It’s complicated.)
Best Cow Cuddler? ✓
20/20 vision? Absolutely not.

But before the fame, Amelia was a tiny calf who came to Sammamish Animal Sanctuary after being rejected by her mother. She was found alone in a pasture with a severe infection throughout her body—and saving her took the unwavering commitment of our founder, Diane, along with around-the-clock care from an entire entourage of dedicated volunteers.

Amelia survived. But the damage caused by the infection left her with permanent mobility challenges and very limited vision. What she needed was a little extra help navigating the world. And somehow, two goats decided that was their job.

Dahlia and Camelia became Amelia’s “seeing-eye goats,” staying close and helping guide her through life at the Sanctuary. Last month, we said goodbye to her beloved Dahlia. Camelia remains faithfully by her side, and now there’s sweet old Rico—our recently rescued 16-year-old goat—slowly finding his place in their wonderfully unconventional little family.

Along the way, Amelia became one of our most beloved residents. She appeared on Wizard of Paws, inspired the book Amelia the Brave, written by Diane, and has met thousands of visitors. And despite barely being able to see any of them, she has accumulated quite the fan club.

Amelia may be the celebrity, but she’s never done life alone. Now, we’d like to make her entourage a little bigger.

JOIN AMELIA’S HERD 

Animals like Amelia are why Sammamish Animal Sanctuary exists.

Your Animal of the Month donation helps make lifelong sanctuary care possible—from exceptional veterinary care and medications to specialized equipment, nutritious food, safe shelter, and everything our animals need as they grow older and their needs change.

When you donate in Amelia’s honor, you aren’t just supporting one very famous cow. You’re helping us keep our promise to every animal who comes through our gates: Once they are here, they are home.

join amelia's herd

sponsor one of our residents

  • A brown calf with white markings on its legs and face lying on a bed of hay inside a barn, with a metal feeding rack behind it.

    Cows

    The cost of feeding and caring for a cow can get pretty extreme. Help care for Amelia and her friends by making a monthly donation of $75.

  • A brown horse with a black mane grazing in a grassy field with a wooden fence and green foliage in the background.

    Horses

    If you love horses as much as we do, you know they can be expensive to maintain. Help us defray our costs by setting up a monthly donation of $75.

  • A fluffy white alpaca standing on grass in front of a wooden fence and wall.

    Llamas/Alpacas

    How can you resist these cuties! If you would like to sponsor Al, Francis or Wally, please consider setting up a monthly donation of $65.

  • A pig with light gray and black spots standing on dirt ground behind a wire fence.

    Pigs

    Willy, Olivia, Milly and Oscar love their fresh veggies and their belly rubs! If you’d like to sponsor one of these gentle souls, please set up a monthly donation of $75.

  • Close-up of a young goat with brown ears and white body, standing in a grassy field with a wire fence in the background.

    Goats

    For anyone who has visited the farm, they know our goats are some of the friendliest animals you’ll meet! Help these loving GOATS with a monthly donation of $50.

  • A young black and white lamb standing in green grass near a chain-link fence, with a small wooden shelter in the background.

    Sheep

    These beautiful wooly creatures are sweet and soft! Help Fleece, Rambo, Freckles and our new little Star by setting up a monthly sponsorship of $50.

  • A rabbit with white fur and gray markings, sitting on green grass near a wooden fence.

    Rabbits

    As the old saying goes, they multiply like…well, rabbits! How can we say no to any of these cuties! You can help with a monthly sponsorship of $50

  • A white duck sitting on grass near a concrete structure and dried plant matter.

    Ducks

    We’re quackers for our ducks! Our feathered friends just go upgraded to a new enclosure to keep them safe and happy! Sponsor one of our ducks with a $20 month donation.

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