For as long as anyone can remember, Shawn Bishop has been surrounded by animals.
Her mum’s favourite story is when she found Shawn as a toddler curled up happily and safely asleep with a friend’s “dangerous, chained dog in the backyard”.
It was a sign of things to come as Shawn grew up rescuing any animal she could. Then, at age 43, she and husband Michael Dixon took the plunge, gave up successful corporate careers and their urban Auckland lifestyle to start their own refuge, The Animal Sanctuary.
Miniature ponies get big love from the caring couple.
It’s been 20 years since they moved to the 32-acre Matakana property and Shawn is more devoted than ever to the 100-odd animals in her care.
“I knew I was born to work with animals,” says Shawn, who’s current menagerie includes cows, horses, sheep, goats, birds, pigs and chickens.
When the long hours of feeding, cleaning, medicating and loving are done, the US-born Kiwi sits down at night and plans how she can generate enough money to keep the Sanctuary running, and help even more creatures in need, including the pets affected by war-torn Ukraine.
Shawn kids around with one of her rescued goats.
“Whenever I feel despair, my antidote is action,” shares Shawn, who is organising online auctions to fund animal rescue efforts for Ukrainian pets left behind.
“We had a direct connection because Sebastian and Ada, the last volunteers who lived with us before Covid, were from Poland. They are like family and as soon as the war started, they dropped everything to help animals in Ukraine.
“The rescue group they’re with goes to abandoned villages where people left in the middle of the night, heartbreakingly without their pets. The animals have no food, water or attention, and are running up to soldiers and journalists in shocking states. I get really emotional when they send me photos, like there’s a dead person, shot in the back and their German shepherd is just sitting beside them for days.
“Our rescue partners arrive to these places, feed everything they can and fill the car with animals to evacuate. Then they move as many animals as possible into new homes in places like Poland. It’s expensive, but every animal we can get across the border means there’s an opening for another animal to be saved.”
One success story is dog Forrest, who with Kiwis’ generous help is safely in Poland, receiving prosthetic back feet to treat severe injuries most likely caused by land mines, bombs or fires from missiles. Sadly, Forrest is not alone and it’s one of the most common issues they’re treating.
Kiwis helped give Ukraine dog Forrest a new life – and two back feet.
It’s a never-ending cycle as both internationally and back home in Aotearoa, the number of animals needing help far outweighs the resources and personnel available. But Shawn and Michael, who left their respective careers as a leadership consultant and an advertising agency financial director, refuse to give up.
Rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming hundreds of battery hens due for slaughter, sick or injured native birds, or a starving calf is all in a day’s work for the dedicated couple, who volunteer 100 percent of their time and take no money for their efforts.
While it’s her calling, Shawn admits it does take a toll.
“We are in our mid-sixties. I just unloaded 10 20kg bags of feed. That’s 200kg and there will be a time when that’s not physically possible,” admits Shawn, who is always plotting new ways to help.
One of these initiatives is animalmemorials.org.nz, where for a fee that goes directly to The Animal Sanctuary, people can create a digital memorial to mourn and celebrate their beloved past pets.
Another project is Cow Care, a new business concept where Shawn is helping a beef farmer convert her property into a financially sustainable cow sanctuary.
“Sometimes people move to the country, buy big properties with huge mortgages and need money, so they get into farming and find out it hurts their heart to send their animals to slaughter. What if you could make your living from caring for cows instead of killing them?” asks Shawn, who is inundated daily with requests for her to rescue animals.
This hen’s not ready to fly the coop.
While she desperately wants to take them all, it’s just not possible and she hopes Cow Care will provide a way for others to take a more active role in rescuing cows in need.
For $13.80 per week – “the price of two fancy lattes” – sponsors who don’t have the time or space can secure the happy future of a rescued cow to live out its life with comprehensive care and love. They can also name their cow, visit them and receive regular updates.
It’s early stages, but Shawn is optimistic this model could take off, providing an alternative to traditional farming for those interested.
Back home in Matakana, the work is never done, and Shawn relies on her husband Michael’s unwavering emotional and practical support, but she insists it’s all worth it.
Michael examines a heron in their care.
“Someone once said to Michael at a party, ‘This is Shawn’s dream, what’s yours?’ and he replied, ‘My dream is making her dream come true’ – and he meant it. He has dedicated his life to this as much as I have.”
To find out more, to donate or support The Animal Sanctuary and its initiatives, visit, animalsanctuary.co.nz
