Terry Cummings and her husband Dave Hoerauf, run one of the country’s only farm animal rescues.  Called Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, it sits on 400 acres in Maryland, and houses animals rescued from farms, factories, and occasionally, anonymously dropped off on the doorstep.

With over 60 chickens, about half a dozen turkeys, 40 pigs, 3 horses, a couple of donkeys, 19 sheep, 22 goats, and 11 cows, this is far from your run-of-the-mill animal shelter. Heat lamps, stuffed animals, and treats are all used to make the animals feel comfortable and at home.

The sanctuary was opened in 1996, after Cummings and Hoerauf, who lived next to a cattle farmer, realized that the animals they’d come to love would soon go to slaughter. After becoming vegetarians and talking to the landlord, the sanctuary was born, treating the neglected animals with love and kindness. If that doesn’t warm your heart for the holidays, we don’t know what will.

H/T + PicThx Huffington Post