More than 100 animal residents of the Washougal-based Odd Man Inn sanctuary will take a 2,700-mile journey to their new home in Tennessee.
Washougal, WA – Today, Odd Man Inn Animal Refuge and Wildlife Rehab announced its immediate relocation to a 93-acre property in Jamestown, TN and the adoption of an additional 160 large pigs formerly of the Pig Preserve. This move establishes Odd Man Inn as one of the largest animal sanctuaries in the country dedicated primarily to larger breeds of farmed pigs.
Since its founding in 2016, Odd Man Inn has helped nearly 400 vulnerable animals of 15 different species–including pigs, sheep, goats, llamas, donkeys, and turtles–get adopted into forever homes. The sanctuary has specialized in rescuing pigs of all kinds and personalities, from the special-needs three-legged Eppah to the 600lb curly-haired Sid the Swamp Pig. “We love helping the underdogs. Pigs are the bottom of the barnyard hierarchy and very rarely have safe options. It feels great to run an organization that helps them find safe passage into a home that treats them as family,” said Co-Founder Wendy Smith.
In their nearly five years rescuing farm animals from neglect and abuse in Southwest Washington, Odd Man Inn filled a critical local need and became part of the community. They have worked alongside animal control agencies throughout Washington and Oregon, providing shelter and medical care for farm animals that the agencies aren’t as well equipped to handle. Local farms and farmsteads like Blue Door Farm (https://www.bluedoorfarmwa.com/) in Brush Prairie donated excess produce to help feed the refuge’s residents. Cedar Street Bagels in Camas (https://www.cedarstreetbagelco.com/) named one of their bagel sandwiches in honor of Odd Man Inn’s photo-contest winning resident Melvin, a lovable potbelly pig that lost a leg and both his ears in a dog attack.
“We’re grateful for all the relationships we’ve created, and the support we have received from local businesses, community members, farmers, animal control agencies, humane societies, fellow sanctuaries, and the State Department of Fish and Wildlife. It’s bittersweet; while we are excited about the prospect of saving more animals from harm, we feel sad about leaving such a wonderful community. It will be hard, but we hope to take all that we’ve learned here and work to duplicate those exact partnerships in Tennessee,” said Wendy.
The transition poses huge logistical challenges. Over 100 current residents of Odd Man Inn – including two 1500lb steers and 38 pigs up to 650lbs – will be carefully transported the 2700 miles to Tennessee. Aging and special needs residents will require extra accommodation to ensure their safety and comfort during this multi-day journey. “We will make as many trips as needed to ensure the animals are comfortable while we transport them to their new sanctuary. Their comfort and security is always our primary concern,” said Josh Smith, Co-Founder and Farm Manager. While transporting the current residents, Odd Man Inn will also simultaneously care for the 160 new pigs and provide them with needed veterinary assessments, vaccines, and hoof care.
Odd Man Inn is raising money through a GoFundMe campaign (gofundme.com/oddmaninn) to help with the safe transportation of its current residents and the restoration of their new Tennessee home.
ABOUT ODD MAN INN
Odd Man Inn (www.oddmaninn.org) is a farm animal sanctuary and permitted Washington State wildlife rehabilitation facility formerly based in Washougal, WA. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit’s mission is to help as many animals as possible find safety, rehabilitation, socialization, and a forever home while giving them a voice as ambassadors for their own kind against imprisonment, abuse, and consumption.
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