10/15/2026
Kanda Family, I have something important to share with you.
Andrew and I are now divorced. Andrew has left Kanda Farm Sanctuary.
I know this may come as a surprise to many of you. While our personal lives are deeply personal, I also believe our Kanda Family deserves honesty & transparency. I'm sharing this because I want you to hear it from me. But I’m also asking that you respect my privacy as I navigate healing from what has been an incredibly difficult chapter of my life.
My marriage was abusive. And I reached a point where I could no longer remain in a situation that was consistently jeopardizing my well-being. I was not okay. For a long time, I convinced myself that I had to stay, that I had to hold everything together, even at the expense of myself, because Kanda and the animals depended on me.
But I cannot save this sanctuary by losing myself in the process. And the truth is, if I lose myself, the animals lose their sanctuary, too.
Leaving the marriage was not an easy feat. It was terrifying, and in many ways, it still is. But choosing to leave was necessary for me to survive, to reclaim my life, and to continue doing the work I love. This leap of faith is, quite literally, what is keeping me earthside.
Now, what does this mean for Kanda?
The day to day operations of Kanda have not changed. The animals are receiving the same level of care they always have, and their routines, needs, & well being remain my priority. His involvement in daily sanctuary operations was already minimal at best, so his departure in July has not created a sudden increase in my workload. This has been my work, my responsibility, and my everyday life for years.
In fact, having more of myself to devote to the sanctuary, rather than spending every ounce of my energy trying to survive, has allowed me to be even more present for the animals.
Kanda is still here. The animals are still here. And so am I.
What has changed is our financial situation. Although obviously our personal finances have always been separate from the sanctuary’s, I can no longer personally cover most of the operations alone. His income contributed to keeping the proprerty running on my volunteered labor. And that income is now gone. We have to adjust to this new reality and find a way forward.
As we move into this next chapter, I desperately need your increased support for Kanda. If you are able to contribute financially, your support will help us navigate this transition for the sanctuary. However, support does not only mean financial contributions. Sharing our mission, telling others about our work, and continuing to show up for these animals makes a huge difference, too. And we appreciate your help in all of those ways.
I know this is a lot to share. And I understand that you may have questions. I may not be able to answer everything & I ask for grace as I work through things that are still very raw & painful. I want to be honest with you while also protecting my privacy and giving myself the space I need to heal.
For nine years, I have fought for these animals to survive and thrive. I have fought to give them safety, dignity, healing, and the chance to live the lives they deserve. I have poured everything I had into making sure that they had a sanctuary.
But the truth is, while I have spent my life fighting for them to live and thrive, they are also the reason I survived.
They gave me purpose on days when I could barely find it in myself to keep going. They gave me a reason to get out of bed, to keep showing up, to keep fighting, and to believe that there is still so much beauty in this world worth protecting. In ways I will never fully be able to explain, they have helped save me, too.
And now, for the first time, I am allowing myself to imagine something more than just surviving.
I want to thrive alongside them.
I am excited to build a life where I can give these animals everything they deserve without having to sacrifice myself in the process. I want to experience the peace, safety, and freedom that I have fought so hard to give them. I finally know what it feels like to wake up and not simply endure my life, but to actually live it.
The sanctuary is finally becoming a sanctuary for me, too.
If you have supported Kanda through donations, sponsorships, sharing our posts, volunteering, or simply believing in what we do, please know how much that support has meant to me & the animals who call Kanda home. It has made this sanctuary possible, and we are so grateful for each & every one of you 💜
Thank you for being part of the Kanda family. Thank you for believing in this work. Thank you for loving these animals alongside me. And thank you for you being a part of this bright and beautiful future.
Here's to the next chapter. Here's to survival, to healing, and finally, to thriving 💜
With love and gratitude,
Kate Johnson
