We are creating a new chapter in CHFS mission for displaced dogs to give them a new purpose in search and rescue. WHAT IS CHEYENNE’S HOPE FARM SANCTUARY Cheyenne’s Hope Farm Sanctuary was founded on November 20, 2009 and is a rescue for special needs and/or abused or neglected animals. It was founded solely because of “Cage 3". You see, in 1999, Stacey McCord Crooks, founder of Cheyenne’s Hope Farm Sanctuary, visited the local Humane Society in hopes of adopting a miniature Collie that had just arrived at the shelter. As Stacey made her way down the long concrete hallway, she turned her head away from the cages to avoid seeing all pain and sadness on the faces of the dogs leading up to the Collie. However, as she passed cage two, she felt an overwhelming urge to look. There, amidst all the barking and chaos, was a very scared and shaking six-month-old German Shepherd / Siberian Husky mix named Lady. Stacey, still focused on seeing the miniature Collie who was housed in cage eight, continued past the other cages but simply could not get the dog in cage two out of her mind. On the way out, she found herself standing in front of cage two, petting the scared dog through the fence. She was told that the dog had been surrendered because “it shed” and that sadly, it was scheduled to be euthanized the next day due to remodeling and overcrowding at the shelter. Without hesitation, Stacey spoke up and said she wanted to adopt the dog in cage two, renaming her Cheyenne. Through Stacey’s rescues, Cheyenne greeted and happily welcomed an array of animals into their family, even rescuing one of her own; a purebred Cocker Spaniel they later named Noah. Uncertain at how Cheyenne would react to Noah, who was found wandering Stacey’s neighborhood, she decided to keep him at a neighbor’s house while searching for his owner. Noah barked constantly while at the neighbors so Stacey, still uncertain of how Cheyenne would feel about this stranger at her house, made a temporary home for him in her garage. He continued to bark like crazy and, by this time, Cheyenne had started digging under the fence to get to him. It was late and Stacey did not know what else to do so, she bit the bullet and placed Noah in the fenced in yard with Cheyenne. Noah immediately quit barking and Cheyenne quit digging. Stacey awoke the next morning to find the two cuddled together, sleeping, and happy. It was official, Cheyenne was keeping Noah. Just shy of eleven years old, Cheyenne began limping. At first, Stacey passed it off as a minor injury and gave her some anti-inflammatory medicine. Two weeks later, she was still limping and had begun to cry out in pain when her knee was touched, so Stacey rushed her to the vet. It was discovered, through x-rays, that Cheyenne had developed bone cancer. The options were limited, and she was given three months or less to live. Cheyenne underwent several rounds of chemotherapy after having her leg amputated. However, one of the risks of amputation was that it could spread to her lungs during surgery. 6 months after the surgery/chemo, Cheyenne began coughing and refused to eat and Stacey’s worst fears were confirmed. It had, in fact, spread to her lungs and it was not treatable. The night before Cheyenne passed away, Stacey had told a longtime friend that she was done rescuing because the heartache that she felt at that very moment was just too much to experience again. As she and Cheyenne stared at one another that night, tears streaming down her face, she felt an overwhelming feeling that Cheyenne was telling her that she simply could not stop rescuing, that she had provided Cheyenne with a great life and that there were others out there that needed her help, just as she had. Cheyenne had gotten worse through the night. The next morning, they were at the vet’s office where it was confirmed that she was, in fact, nearing the end. There, with her best buddy Noah by her side and her family surrounding her, Cheyenne passed, tail wagging until the very end. The day was November 20, 2009. It was decided, at that very moment in time, that Cheyenne’s spirit was to live on and with that, Cheyenne’s Hope Farm Sanctuary was born. Side note: Noah passed away seventeen months after Cheyenne. seventeen years old. Today, Cheyenne’s Hope Farm Sanctuary is a 501c3 (non-profit) organization and home to approximately 30 to 40 special needs animals at any given time, including but not limited to, Dogs, Cat, Rabbits, Horses, Chickens, and a Parrot, each with their own personal story. CHFS has rescued over 200+ special needs animals since it was opened. The Founder has rescued approximately the same amount, on her own, before starting CHFS.
