Sweet Paws Rescue Announces Pivotal Shift and New Farm Home for Capital Campaign

September 04, 2025 at 09:00 AM EDT

From Obstacle to Opportunity: Beloved Massachusetts Rescue Secures Permanent 20-Acre Sanctuary in Boxford

Sweet Paws Rescue is thrilled to announce a new and exciting chapter in its journey: the official purchase of a 20-acre farm in Boxford, MA which will now serve as the permanent home for its rescue operations. This unexpected but fortunate pivot marks a significant milestone in the “A Forever Home for Sweet Paws Rescue” capital campaign.

Originally, Sweet Paws Rescue had been under agreement to purchase a 69-acre property in Bradford, a space envisioned as a sanctuary for animals, community hub, and preserved natural haven. Despite proper due diligence, the sudden passing of the Bradford property’s owner led to complications with the estate and an unforeseen pricing shift, making the acquisition financially unfeasible.

“In many ways, it felt like a challenging turning point,” said Cynthia Sweet, Sweet Paws Rescue founder. “Though what we’ve gained instead is something equally special and even more aligned with our next steps.”

That change in plans has turned into a dream realized with the purchase of Spring Tide Farm, a beloved landmark in the New England horse community. The property has inspired generations of equestrians and holds many memories with deep meaning for many. While its chapter as a horse farm will be missed, Sweet Paws Rescue is honored to carry its legacy forward by preserving the land for a new purpose. Centered on rescue, sanctuary, and humane education, Sweet Paws Rescue will honor Spring Tide’s spirit of animal care while beginning an exciting new chapter. The farm’s existing barn infrastructure and miles of trails offer a layout that not only accelerates Sweet Paws Rescue’s timeline but also strengthens its long-term vision.

“It is a perfect fit for our rescue and sanctuary work, community programs, and public engagement,” said Sweet. “While Sweet Paws Rescue will remain a foster-based organization, the farm will serve as an essential hub for animal care, education, and connection.”

Capital Campaign: A Strong Start, and a Critical Need

The successful purchase of the Boxford property marks the completion of Phase 1 of the capital campaign: Securing land that will serve as the organization’s “forever home”. While this is a significant achievement, the work has just begun. To carry out the vision of the next two phases, continued fundraising is essential.

“We have laid the foundation, though we still have a long way to go to make this dream a reality for the animals and the community,” said Campaign Chair Gina Weishaupt. “These next phases will transform the farm into a fully-equipped rescue facility and education hub, and we need the community’s continued support to get there.”

Next Up: Phase 2 and Phase 3

Phase 2: Renovation and Rescue-Readiness

Renovating and repurposing an existing area of the main barn for dog and cat quarantine after transport from southern partners
Renovating existing space to strengthen partnerships with Animal Control Officers from local cities and towns, providing secure intake areas for animals in need
Developing a large, fenced-in play yard
Creating Casa de Cats, a sanctuary space for adoptable and special-needs felines within the barn
Establishing community walking trails throughout the land

Phase 3: Education, Engagement, and Expansion

Launching youth camps and educational programming focused on compassion and animal welfare
Building community-based humane education initiatives
Creating a dedicated veterinary suite for supplemental care
Rescuing and providing lifelong sanctuary for farm animals in need

A Call to Action

With the land secured, Sweet Paws Rescue now turns to its community to help fund the renovations, build-out, and programming that will define this new chapter.

Donations, sponsorships, and volunteer efforts are all needed to carry the mission forward.

To learn more about the capital campaign, to contribute or learn more about volunteer opportunities, please visit: www.sweetpawsrescue.org/farm.

About Sweet Paws Rescue

Sweet Paws Rescue (SPR) is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to saving animals in crisis and finding them loving, permanent homes. Since its founding in 2011, SPR has rescued over 22,000 dogs and cats and built a passionate community of volunteers and adopters throughout New England. The Boxford farm will serve as the organization’s forever home—a place for healing, learning, and lasting impact—while Sweet Paws Rescue continues to operate as a foster-based rescue.