Tracey & Jon Stewart’s Animal Sanctuary Receives Key Approval

This is the welcoming message on Tracey Stewart’s blog, The Daily Squeal. This seemingly simple sentiment is filled with a deeper meaning. The “love” is love for animals and now Monmouth County residents will be able to be “part of the ride”. Tracey and Jon Stewart recently received the Colts Neck Planning Board’s unanimous approval of the proposed Farm Sanctuary at their historic Hockhockson Farm in Colts Neck. The new venture is planned for 2018 and will fulfill the Stewarts’ vision for rescuing animals, farming the land, and educating the public. To the outside world, it may seem like this progressed quickly. But Tracey’s journey from a veterinary technician to owning a 45-acre sanctuary is a tale of devotion and persistence. She recounts her journey with a joyous spirit in her interviews and in her New York Times bestselling book, Do Unto Animals, an entertaining guide to helping pets, backyard wildlife and farm animals. Readers will understand the depth of her commitment through her writing. The book is filled with stories and practical advice, beautifully illustrated by Lisel Ashlock. In her chapter on cats, Tracey, who happens to be allergic, tells about a cat attack that happened when she and Jon were dating.

While Jon was in another room, his pet cat resisted her attempt to cuddle him and jumped on her face and neck,leaving her bloody, full of hives and hiding in the bathroom. This wasn’t exactly the type of “mysterious woman” she hoped to project. Of course, her relationships with the cat and Jon blossomed and Tracey credits Jon for encouraging her to make a total career change when he noticed she was uninspired in her previous jobs. As she said in her NPR Fresh Air interview*, Jon knew she needed a job that “would make her cry.” She went back to school and embraced her new career as a vet tech. Her obvious empathy for the animals and their human companions made her the person to assist in the euthanasia cases.

It was meeting two very terrified pigs that really helped set the Stewarts on the journey now continuing in Colts Neck. When the Stewarts toured a Farm Sanctuary facility in New York in 2015, they came face to face with rescued pigs, now known as Anna and Maybelle,that had been discovered roaming the streets. They suspect the pair most likely toppled from a crowded transport truck. There and then they decided to give the pigs a home in New Jersey, where today they are as playful as the rescued dogs. That same year, Tracey surprised everyone at a Farm Sanctuary gala, proclaiming, “We’re getting married! Farm Sanctuary and us…” and announced that their farm will become the New Jersey branch of Farm Sanctuary. “We’re going to build new advocates, new curious learners, and new leaders for this very important movement.” She shared her feelings that Farm Sanctuary does “rescue and sanctuary for animals, and then without realizing it, they also do rescue and sanctuary for people.” **

The kindness continued when Tracey and Jon adopted an older abandoned horse who was in terrible condition, sore and covered in paint from being used as a paintball target. The cruelty was staggering, but Lily the horse did find comfort at the farm before she died. Not all the stories are as tragic. Tracey told Terry Gross, the host of NPR’s Fresh Air, about a time she had a different animal around her neck. During a photo shoot for the New York Times, Tracy stood with her back to a young bull for longer than the bull was accustomed. The bull misread her body language. Without any warning, Tracey soon had one hoof on one shoulder and another hoof on the other shoulder, and felt the bull’s breath on her neck. She was quickly whisked away unhurt, although it took about two weeks to be fully recovered from supporting a 1500-pound animal. Tracey happily told the story whenever asked why her back hurt.

More stories should be created soon as the red tape nears an end, and while there are still further approvals from other agencies needed before final approval may be obtained, Tracey and Jon seem optimistic. They are certainly making the effort to be good neighbors, sensitive to, and addressing the issues of lighting, traffic, noise, odors, and buffers. There will be a visiting center and lecture room, a sustainable farm operation and of course, rescued animals. However, the farm will not be a drop off for injured or unwanted animals and the number and type of animals will be limited. Generally, Farm Sanctuary and other similar animal organizations are asked by animal control and care agencies to take animals that are deemed appropriate for their facility.

Animals at Farm Sanctuary typically come from road sides, “kill piles”, slaughter houses, or live markets. Visits to the sanctuary will be scheduled and events will be limited in number.

Jon summed it up at the planning board meeting, when he said, “Our intention all along was to be cooperative, to try to make this a project that Colts Neck would be proud of and that they would get the type of benefit out of it that we have wanted.”

Once preliminary approval was a given, Jon kept the mood light adding, “I wonder how much this is going to cost me.”***

There is a lot of excitement and anticipation for the project to begin and Monmouth County residents are fortunate to be along for this most worthy ride.