Marley Meadows Animal Sanctuary

Hi I’m Heather Ailie, a founder and executive director of Marley Meadows Animal Sanctuary located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. Since 2017 we have provided sanctuary to farmed animals saved from slaughter and homeless cats with nowhere else to go. It’s never been easy but it’s been totally worth it.

In 2024 we were forced to move our animals from their home in Leesburg, NJ and relocate to Egg Harbor Township. The new property hadn’t been touched in over a decade and needed extensive repairs and new infrastructure. We worked with volunteers and local companies to build suitable enclosures for everyone. Our biggest challenge was the conditions of the ground. We were on wetlands (wetlands adjacent) and fighting a never ending battle to solidify the ground our 1000lb animals were walking on.

In the winter of 2026 we had a devastating loss of our namesake, Marley Grey. The area where he was moved to to receive hoof treatment that day wasn’t thoroughly cleared and resulted in Marley slipping on thick ice and falling. The fall was too much for our huge arthritic boy and he was never able to stand up again.

The last thing we want is for another one of our cattle to slip and fall this coming winter. The ground is still dangerous to navigate and, as an organization, we decided to rehome the cattle to a better suitable sanctuary. Along with the cattle we decided it’s best that the goats go too. Just like the cattle area, the goat area is wet and mucky and we simply don’t have the financial or physical means to provide them with the best care that they deserve.

Besides the unfavorable ground conditions we also struggle with affording to feed and provide medical care to the cows and goats over any other animal on our care. Our current medical debt is close to $7,000, infrastructure debt is $11,000, property tax debt is $8,000, utilities debt $1500, equipment debt is $300, and we must raise funds to provide transport to the animals we need to rehome.

Our hope is that with restructuring we can stay open. We still have over 40 birds, 5 alpacas, and over 50 cats to provide sanctuary to. Without the funds needed we will have to find homes for everyone here and dissolve the business. Sanctuaries all over are struggling like ours so we understand that this is a big ask. But we ask this for the animals. We need this for the animals. And we cannot do this without YOU.

Hello, I’m Heather Cooper Reay, founder of Marley Meadows Animal Sanctuary, a haven for farm animals and cats rescued from neglect, homelessness, and abuse. This amazing organization gives innocent lives a chance at peace and happiness, providing them with a forever home where they can thrive. Through educational outreach and one-on-one interactions, Marley Meadows helps others understand the vital role these animals play in our world.

Your generous donations will directly contribute to the creation of an amazing cow castle. This consist of:

Two 40ft long shipping containers

One 20x40 container canopy

These materials will create a huge cow enclosure to provide shelter to 8 cattle residents. The first step is to clear the land where their shelter will go. This is being accomplished by the generosity of American Demolition and our cofounder, Steven.

Next, we have to fill in the land a bit with stone and gravel. American Demolition is also helping us with all of that! Once the land is ready we can have the shipping containers shipped!

After they arrive we will position them just right to fit a 20ftx40ft container canopy in between the two containers. This will create one huge shelter area! After the canopy is in place we then have to fence in a small section around one container. This will allow us to then cut a section of the 40ft container to allow the cattle to use that as a shelter as well! We will attach a lean to roof to provide extra coverage, too.

The second container will be used as our feed and equipment storage facility and will provide us with space we desperately need for the farm.

All this is a huge project and it will take a few steps to complete. This is just the beginning and I hope you will be with us all the way through to the end. The cattle deserve this amazing home. Please help us give it to them.