More Animal Farm news!

Construction crews are finishing up paved-brick walkways this week at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Animal Farm.

Farmer Jeanne Selander has been collecting donations for many years for this project, which will make the Animal Farm more comfortable for those with strollers and those in wheelchairs. The first half of the project was completed last year.

Gone are of the black rubber mats and gravel paths as crews should have the pavers installed in time for this Sunday’s (May 12) open house from 1 — 3 p.m.

The farm is free of charge; donations are welcome. It will be a very special open house this week as we’ll be joined by Peter Parente, Marine, entrepreneur, author of children’s books and previous owner of Mo the Sloth! Peter will tell us about his life with Mo and read some of his stories to the kids. We’ll also have a big announcement about some new ways you can support and interact with the Animal Farm!

The Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm has over 150 animals, most of which were abandoned, abused or otherwise surrendered by their owners. The animals at the farm include farm animals like pigs, goats, a steer, horses, a donkey, turkeys and rabbits. The farm also has a number of more exotic animals including a lemur, kinkajous, sloths, alpacas, an Emu, pythons, a bearded dragon, prairie dogs and a skunk!

The farm is a great place where kids and adults alike can get up close and personal with many animals they would not normally encounter here in the Florida Keys. It is located underneath the Monroe County Detention Center, at 5501 College Road on Stock Island. It is open on the second and fourth Sundays of every month from 1 – 3 p.m.

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