Contact Us

As a small and busy team, we are only able to accommodate visitors who have made reservations in advance. Please see our upcoming events to learn more about how you can get involved, or send us a message to set up a tour! To ensure the safety of our guests and the wellbeing of our animal residents, all visits to the sanctuary must be accompanied by a staff member.

We determine animal intakes on a case by case basis. Please contact us at info@capeanimals.org for assistance and advice on rehoming or rescuing animals.

We are a working farmed animal sanctuary, so please expect to do some walking, potentially get dirty, and be exposed to the natural weather elements (rain, heat, wind). Also expect to meet some adorable animals and hear their incredible stories.

We ask that you let animals approach you first. If they do not want to be touched or be social, we leave them be and respect their space. Let them smell your hand first. Pigs don’t love their faces being touched, but their backs and bellies are fair game! Watch your fingers near the animals’ mouths, they don’t want to hurt you but might think your finger looks like food. Don’t disturb animals while they are eating. We will give you species-specific safety instructions so please listen to your tour guide and stay with the group at all times.

What should I wear?

If you would like to go into the animal pastures, please wear closed-toed shoes. Boots are preferable, but any closed toe shoe will do. If you are wearing clothing that we do not think is safe to be with the animals, we may ask you to wait outside the pastures.

What should I bring?

Please bring a water bottle in the summer months as it gets hot! Please do NOT bring any food or really yummy smelling items on your body or in your purse during the tour as our animals love to eat! Feel free to bring your camera and take pictures. Tag us on Facebook/capeanimals and Instagram @capeanimals.

What should I leave behind?

Please leave behind any non-vegan food items (dairy, egg and meat products). You are welcome to bring any plant-based food with you and we do have some picnic space available after the tour.
Please leave your companion animals (dogs, cats, etc.) at home. We do not have a space for them to be left safely during the tour and temperatures heat up tremendously in cars in Grass Valley. 
The only exception will be made for service dogs required to assist with a medical condition. If you have a service animals, please contact us at info@capeanimals.org in advance so we can arrange accommodations.

Are children welcome?

Children are encouraged to attend and interact with the animals but are expected to follow the same safety rules as adults. Please be mindful that CAPE is a sanctuary for rescued animals, not a petting zoo. Parents are responsible for ensuring that children do not harass or interact unsafely with animals. Children under 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult and all minors must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

Please note:

We have a lot of hay and alfalfa on site, if you suspect this may trigger your allergies please plan accordingly.

As a non-profit animal sanctuary, we serve as a forever home to our animal residents where they will always be protected and cared for. All of our animal residents have been rescued from various situations, including abuse, neglect, abandonment, and our food system. Their only job is to relax and be free without providing anything in return. By sharing the names, unique personalities, and stories of our rescued residents, they are able to serve as animal ambassadors to help visitors learn more about the challenges faced by farmed animals and see a new side to these often misunderstood beings.

Our priority is the physical and emotional well being of the rescued animals who call CAPE home. Our animal residents always have a choice as to whether or not they want to interact with visitors and will reside at the sanctuary for the rest of their lives. In contrast, the goal of a petting zoo is profit and entertainment, meaning that animals may be forced to be handled regardless of what they want and are often discarded when they are no longer profitable.

Your donations go directly to our life-saving work at CAPE. We take care of our rescued animals for the entirety of their lives, ensuring they have proper veterinary care, housing, medicine, and food. CAPE is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.