The Rocky Ridge Refuge is an animal asylum that accepts every and all species. By doing so, it makes up quite the mishmash of wards from zebras and deer to dogs and turtles. Not one's average farm, it could easily be mistaken for a real-life children's book or cartoon comes to life. In fact, children might benefit greatly from a visit to the Rocky Ridge Refuge to not only learn about animals, but also about love, tolerance, activism and charity.
Founded by Janice Wolf, the Rocky Ridge Refuge is located in Midway, Arkansas. She writes, "Rocky Ridge Refuge is the result of a dream I’ve had since I was a small child; to share my life with animals, especially those needing special effort due to medical issues, or abuse and neglect."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Mixed-species Sanctuaries
- The concept of animal sanctuaries that accept all species is growing in popularity and presents opportunities for creating unique visitor experiences and educational programs.
- Socially Conscious Tourism
- Visiting animal sanctuaries like the Rocky Ridge Refuge is becoming a popular way for travelers to combine tourism with activism and charity, creating opportunities for businesses to partner with these sanctuaries and offer package deals.
- Pet Therapy Programs
- The success of Rocky Ridge Refuge's animal therapy program highlights opportunities for more animal sanctuaries and businesses to offer similar programs to help people of all ages and backgrounds improve their mental and emotional well-being.
Where This Applies
- Animal Sanctuaries
- Animal sanctuaries have the opportunity to differentiate themselves by adopting an open-door policy towards all species and creating unique programming to attract visitors.
- Tourism
- Tourism companies can partner with animal sanctuaries to offer 'volunteer tourism' packages, where travelers can lend their support to animal care and conservation while traveling.
- Healthcare
- Hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities can explore the potential of partnering with animal sanctuaries for pet therapy programs to improve patient well-being and mental health.
