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Sponsor an Animal,
Change a Life

When you sponsor an animal, you become part of a family of people who have the satisfaction of giving special support to the inhabitants of the Sam and Myra Ross Farm & Wildlife Center. The costs for daily care and maintenance (including food, veterinary care, shelter, grooming, etc.) consume a large part of the farm’s annual budget. Your animal sponsorship helps with expenses incurred by the more than 300 animals, birds of prey and injured wildlife residing at the farm.

Click on an image and learn more about animal sponsorship.

Sponsor Goats

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Pumpkin and Patch are Nigerian Dwarf goats, a breed originating in West Africa. They came to reside at Green Chimneys from a local farm in the winter of 2019. Their names were chosen from over 100 submissions from both staff and students. Nigerian Dwarf goats are considered very docile and are often bred as companion animals, which means Pumpkin and Patch have a great temperament for the students at Green Chimneys! The Farm & Wildlife Center at Green Chimneys is home to many goats like Pumpkin and Patch, and your sponsorship gift helps provide them all with safety, stability, and care.
Sponsor Goats

Sponsor a Ferret

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Minka the ferret was donated to the students at Green Chimneys’ Clearpool campus by a family that wanted her to have an outlet for her boundless energy. She gives students the opportunity to learn about animal enrichment as they construct obstacle courses out of collapsible tubes and cardboard boxes for her to play in and show off her agility. This active girl never tires of playing, and sta. and students must be on their toes when she’s exploring the Nature Room because she has a reputation for snatching dry-erase markers and stashing them away in her blankets!
Sponsor a Ferret

Sponsor a Chinchilla

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Chinchillas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America, and live in herds at high elevations. Historically, chinchillas occupied a large area that included Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina, but now only exist in the wild in Chile. Chinchillas are excellent jumpers, have the densest fur of any land mammal, and can live up to 20 years! Green Chimneys is home to many exotic animals, and your generosity equates to safety and security for them all.
Sponsor a Chinchilla

Sponsor a Cow

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This creamy-colored Brown Swiss is Benji, who arrived to Green Chimneys as a brand new calf. He quickly became the star of the farm as students had the opportunity to participate in bottle-feedings and acclimation activities alongside our team of farm animal experts. Benji was named by popular vote; the students and staff submitted a list of possible names from which top contenders were selected, and the name was ultimately chosen by Green Chimneys' active online community.
Sponsor a Cow

Sponsor an Owl

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The barn owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of owl and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as the common barn owl, to distinguish it from other species in its family, Tytonidae, which forms one of the two main lineages of living owls. Tyto alba literally means "white owl". The barn owl is found almost everywhere in the world except polar and desert regions. In most regions, the barn owl is nocturnal, but in Britain and some Pacific islands, it also hunts by day. Barn owls specialize in hunting animals on the ground and nearly all of their food consists of small mammals which they locate by sound. They mate for life, which is rare in the animal kingdom.
Sponsor an Owl

Sponsor a Bird

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Peacocks were the royal birds of Maharajas in India for centuries. Their beauty and impressive tail feathers make them an eye-catching addition to any landscape. At Green Chimneys, peacocks have roamed the campus freely for many years and the birds are a familiar and calming sight to students, staff and visitors. In late summer, the males shed their long  tail feathers, an event eagerly anticipated by students who collect the feathers to decorate their dormitory rooms.
Sponsor a Bird

Sponsor a Pig

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Georgia and Peaches are two of the biggest personalities on the farm. These Kunekune pigs are a notably smart pair and benefit from new enrichment every week; objects of interest, such as carpet samples, cones and basketballs are brought to their enclosure regularly. Kunekunes are a hardy breed that handle cold weather well so Georgia and Peaches live quite comfortably through the New York winter. In warm weather, one of their favorite activities is bobbing for apples in their pond!
Sponsor a Pig

Sponsor a Miniature Horse

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Say hello to Cricket! Born May 15, 2019 to mama Maya, this mini horse foal was the apple of our eye before she even arrived. For students who may struggle with human relationships, communicating or regulating emotions, preparing for Cricket’s birth provided learning opportunities and life lessons. “Watching a new life begin and seeing the foal’s connection to its mother – these experiences are not only priceless, but they can also be therapeutic”, says Michael Kaufmann, Director of Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Director and Head of The Sam and Myra Ross Institute. With every new addition to our family comes additional responsibilities, and your gift ensures the continued safety and care of our animals.
Sponsor a Miniature Horse

Sponsor a Donkey

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Donkeys are amazing animals that provide important lessons for our students. Mother-daughter pair Hera and Hebe are miniature donkeys who arrived at Green Chimneys in 2018 when Hebe was just two years old. Donkeys typically have a docile personality and form close attachments to their owners and other donkeys. These ladies—known as jennets—are small, quiet and gentle, making them ideal partners for students. Hera and Hebe also have a very strong bond, and love doing everything together. Green Chimneys is home to several equines like Hera and Hebe, and your support means a happy and purposeful life for all of them.
Sponsor a Donkey

Sponsor a Llama

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Llamas, like Alexa, are intelligent, inquisitive, and can learn simple tasks after just a few repetitions. The wool produced by a llama is very soft, versatile, and lanolin-free and, each Spring, Green Chimneys students help sheer our sheep and llamas and the wool is made into yarn which is for sale at our country store! Llamas eat grass, hay, corn silage, alfalfa, and grass roots, and adults can drink 3 gallons of water a day. Your Sponsor-an-Animal gift will help keep Alexa and all the Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Center animals happy & healthy.
Sponsor a Llama

Sponsor a Horse

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Gandalf is an Appaloosa gelding, an American horse breed best known for its colorful spotted coat pattern. Gandalf received his magical name from the children of Green Chimneys. A naming contest was held, and students submitted their ideas. Gandalf was the most popular and was the perfect choice for this magical spotted horse! Gandalf enjoys rolling in the mud, eating his grain, and taking long naps in his stall. As part of the horse herd, Gandalf is an important part of equine education, activities, and therapies for our students. Your gift of sponsorship helps to keep all of the equines happy and healthy.
Sponsor a Horse

Sponsor the Bald Eagle

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In March of 2019, Green Chimneys received a call from the Department of Environmental Conservation regarding an injured Bald Eagle. Examination revealed that the eagle’s elbow joint was shattered, and Green Chimneys vowed to rehabilitate the bird. While once hopeful that the eagle could be released, further assessment has indicated that the damage to its wing means that it can no longer live safely in the wild. Green Chimneys is proud to be one of the few places in New York State that has the proper licenses and permits required to rehabilitate and care for Bald Eagles. Your gift to Green Chimneys goes to maintaining safe and secure care for this eagle, and other birds of prey who reside here.
Sponsor the Bald Eagle

A Gift for Yourself or for Someone Special

Sponsor an Animal is a unique gift for the holidays, birthdays, graduations, etc. 

Your animal sponsorship will benefit the life of an animal for one full year, or you may choose ongoing sponsorship to support an animal’s continuous care. We will send you or your gift recipient a special letter with a photo of the animal and his or her story.

Sponsorship Details

• All animal sponsorships are valid for one year
• No ownership rights are conferred by this transaction.

For assistance, please contact Samantha Newmark via

[email protected]

On behalf of our farm and wildlife residents, and the children of Green Chimneys, thank you for your support!