Our Story

Through our land EP#1, we obtained multiple small shelters that look like run down chicken coops or small bird enclosures. We plan to turn them into outposts for homeless animals looks for refuge, but not be socialized enough to approach our main sanctuary. Outposts would give them the opportunity to become more domesticated as they slowly engage more & more.

Through our land expansion project #1 last month, we obtained a few small outbuildings, fenced in pastures, and 5 run-down dog kennels inside an old barn. We will repurpose the barn and kennels to increase capacity at our sanctuary for specialty containments and more.

When a neighboring property of Golden Gardens went up for sale, our founders worked tirelessly to ensure we could secure it for a land expansion project. This purchase added an additional 10 acres to our sanctuary, now totaling 18 acres. This opens up an abundance of opportunity to help more friends in need!

This project focused on creating an expanded home for our 19 chicken residents. Majority of our chicken population was surrendered through our neighbors who had moved away. The rest (roughly 5-6) were found nearby throughout our local woods and have now been re-domesticated. We currently have two sections fenced off for rotational, free-range grazing and now open access to a warm, dry, and clean coop!

This project focused on the ecological improvements of a native watering channel that had been disturbed/clogged. In order to restore balance and make this water accessible for local wildlife once again, we took a hands-on approach and dug out the creek once again. We now see more local deer and wildlife populations in the area as well as the expansion of native plant species.

Our 2nd Specialty Cat Resident officially joined us when a local stray we call "Butters" came to us with a broken paw.. We rushed him to the vet (for a $700 bill) and was then told that he had Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and should now be put down immediately for a $100 fee. We declined, and instead built Butter's his own half indoor/half outdoor catio enclosure to live out his best life in comfort (and safety). He gets daily wet food, enjoys birdwatching, & loves head scratches!

Outbuilding on the property named "Cat Castle." It is a wooden framed structure we built expanded off of our small well. It is fully insulated, weather-proof, complete with electricity & heat, it can house roughly 10 cats (if they all got along). It is currently used by 8 local cat residents.

Our founders and board members established several native-edible plantings throughout the sanctuary to provide enrichment to the land and animals. Many of these plants are used to make food & supplements for our animals, such as blueberries, pawpaws, wild strawberries, clover, elderberries, wild mint variations, and many more! Complete list of plants coming soon.  

Golden Gardens Sanctuary was officially established as a 501(c)3 non-profit in the state of Indiana. Dedicated to the conservation of 8 acres; 5 being Eastern White Pine Forest, and 3 being Federally Protected Native Wetlands. We started to Trap-Spay/Neuter-Release local stray and feral cats within our neighborhood, town, and county.