Hey! We need hay, and lots of it, to keep our animals' tummies full this winter! Can you help

$9 for a Square Bale

$90 for a Round Bale

$13 for Peanut Hay

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  • 20th Anniversary Event! 04/13

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  • Visit and Enjoy Watching the Animals at Feeding Time

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    Visit Us
  • A Visit to Rooterville is Fun for the Whole Family!


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  • Experience an AMAZING place where kindness is emulated and animals are Friends, NOT Food!

    Y'all come visit and see for yourself!

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  • Experience Cuteness Overload at Rooterville!


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  • Visit the honey bees and magnificent butterfly garden!


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Our Animal Sanctuary Is Located
Between Gainesville & Jacksonville, Florida

See Our Full Selection in our Online Store, The Pink Pigs, here

ALL proceeds help the animals get the love and care they need, thank you for shopping with us!

What Visitors Have to Say:

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"My absolutely favorite place in this world. I loved the former location and the new location is wonderful as well. A little slice of heaven with amazing staff that truly care for the animals of the sanctuary. Visiting this place will never ever get old!"

★★★★★
— Kirsty Martin

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"Love love love this place. The animals and grounds are so well loved and cared for. So many sweet and loving animals, from baby guineas to mini horses and even cats that snuggle with turkeys. You can even pick up native plants."

★★★★★
— Double D Golf Carts

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"This was a really cute place to take the kids. Had a trolley ride around the farm. Gift shop. They're starting a camp ground with really nice covered wagons to rent. Playground for the kids. Had a nice visit!"

★★★★★
— Mark Pearson

Where Animals Are Friends and They All Live Happily Ever After!

See What Our Sanctuary-Style Animal Shelter in Melrose, FL Is All About

Rooterville Animal Sanctuary is more than just a great, loving home for animals in need, it's a forever home for rescued farm animals in Melrose, FL. Experience an Amazing REFUGE for FARM ANIMALS

A visit to Rooterville is fun for the whole family.  At our small farm, you'll get the chance to cuddle, pet, feed, and take pictures with our friendly farm animals. After just a few minutes, you'll fall in love with the animals just like we did!

Contact us today to learn more about:


Help Us Help Animals and Share Them with Others To Encourage Kindness Through One-on-One Connections

Rooterville A Sanctuary is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, your donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services Registration #CH18715
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-345-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

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Come Stay With Us!

Enjoy an one of a kind vacation experience in peaceful Melrose, FL

Wagon Rentals

Wagon Rentals

Whether you're a couple or friends looking to get away from the city life and unwind, a weekend on our beautiful sanctuary for farm animals might be exactly what you need. Enjoy a getaway for two in our unique, LUXURY covered wagon at Rooterville Animal Sanctuary.

Farmhouse

Farmhouse

Welcome to paradise! 20 gorgeous, peaceful acres with lots of happy, friendly farm animals for you to get to know. It will be an experience you will treasure for a lifetime. Leave the hustle and bustle of city life behind and soak in the peace, tranquility and beauty of Rooterville Animal Sanctuary in your private, furnished 2 bedroom, 2 full bath home.

Tent Camping

Tent Camping

Going off the beaten path is part of the joy of RV and tent camping. If you're looking for somewhere new and unique to set up camp, check out Rooterville Animal Sanctuary in Melrose, FL. We have a tent and RV campground located right here on our beautiful property that is home to over 100 rescued animals.

RV Camping

RV Camping

Bring your RV and enjoy staying with the animals in our magnificent home with beautiful landscaping and views. Stay a night or for the winter! We love snowbirds & you'll love it here in such a beautiful, tranquil and private space. We can't wait to meet you!

The Pink Pigs

Help us Feed the Animals-

Shop at the Pink Pigs!

The Pink Pigs Banner

Our History

Rooterville Animal Sanctuary was founded by Elaine West in 2004 in order to care for the many unwanted, abandoned and abused pot-bellied pigs around north FL. Unfortunately, most animal shelters and Humane Societies will not take in unwanted pet pigs, so many of these former pets end up meeting a gruesome fate simply because no one is there to help.

Everything changed for Rooterville when Stella was accepted into our herd. Stella was a breeding sow who lived her life in cages not much bigger than her body. She fell from a transport truck on the way to slaughter. No one would help Stella but us.

Stella was amazing, gentle and sweet. We enjoyed her company so much that we opened our gates to the public so folks like you could see that farm animals are no different than our pet dogs and cats and  they deserve to be treated with kindness and mercy.

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​Since our humble beginnings, our family farm has grown from just five acres to over 20 acres. We've provided care and a permanent home to over 1000 rescued farm animals of all types, spayed and neutered hundreds and helped people keep their pet pigs in their homes.


Experience an Amazing Farm Animal Sanctuary

At Rooterville Animal Sanctuary, animals are friends, not food.  We love sharing our beautiful home with you and love watching your faces as you interact with our friendly animal ambassadors!  Visit us in Melrose, FL today to see the difference we're making at our family farm!

You're welcome to bring snacks for the animals or buy them here. The best snacks are baby carrots, sliced apples, grapes, strawberries... anything you can hand feed easily.

DAILY SCHEDULE:

Pig feeding: 10:30-ish a.m.

Trolley tours are not available until further notice,

you'll still have lots of fun!


PRIVATE TOURS:

Cow cuddling: 15 or 30 minutes

Goat cuddling: 15 minutes

Private Visit:  as long as you like!

Private Tour: 1 hour

Stay and visit the animals as long as you like before or after your private experience.

PARTIES:

Birthday parties: 2 hours w/ animal visits

Pignics: 1-2 hours

(BYO basket & bottle)

Fire Pit Available!

OVERNIGHT STAYS:

Rentals:

Couple's Wagon sleeps 2 guests

Family Wagon sleeps 4 guests

Farmhouse sleeps up to 6 guests

RV spaces with or w/o hookups-

up to 6 guests

Tent camping: BYO tent up to 4 guests

You can check out the gift shop at your convenience. Plus, we have a playground available for the kids to enjoy all day with bounce houses on the weekends. You can also visit the butterfly garden at any time to see the gorgeous butterflies and bees hard at work in their hive.


​All proceeds from your visit help us care for the animals here at Rooterville. Thank you for being generous!


By entering Rooterville Animal Sanctuary's Property, each guest agrees to accept all risks and grants permission to use their image for promotional purposes. Management reserves the right to refuse admission and is not responsible for accidents, losses, or damages to property.  Rooterville is a registered Agritourism business and we love sharing our magnificent farm sanctuary with you!


Rooterville is open by appointment (weather permitting).  Experience bookings can be re-scheduled or refunded if the weather is bad.  Wagon or Farmhouse rentals: refunds or reschedules only in the event of a hurricane or major weather event within 7 days of booked date.   

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