The Gud Ark Animal Sanctuary

08/31/2026

🚨Major Storm Update
Last night’s storm was absolutely devastating. We experienced hail, thunder and lightning, flash flooding, heavy rain, power outage and incredibly strong winds.

We were able to check on the animals after the storm had subsided somewhat, but we didn’t realize the full extent of the damage until this morning. We have lost so many enclosures and structures, and there is a tremendous amount of cleanup and rebuilding ahead of us.

Thankfully, most of the animals made it through safely. We did lose five due to an enclosure completely flipping over, and our hearts are absolutely broken.

We will need help in the coming days and weeks, and we will be updating this page as we evaluate the damage, determine what is needed, and figure out the best ways for people to support us.

Ways You Can Help ❤️
There are several ways you can support our work and help us:
Volunteer: Please sign up through our website using the link below.

https://www.thegudark.com/support/volunteer/

Donate: Your financial support helps us purchase the materials and supplies needed to complete repairs. We can’t do this work without materials or funding. Please donate using the link below.

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DLW8X8ES9SVJ8

Zelle: 520.510.3555
Venmo:

Share: Share our donation link and help spread the word by posting it on your social media.

Donate Materials or Skilled Labor: If you’re able to donate building materials, supplies, or have a special trade you’d like to contribute, we’d love to hear from you.
Email us: [email protected]

Every donation, share, volunteer hour, and skilled contribution helps us. Thank you for the support.

Sidenote: Unfortunately, another storm is moving in today. Right now, our top priority is getting every animal moved to a safe location and making sure they are cared for before it arrives.

A huge thank you to our incredibly dedicated volunteers who showed up this morning, even in the extreme weather, ready to help however they could. We truly could not do this without you.

08/03/2026

‼️We need your help‼️

Two of our faithful volunteers recently experienced a devastating house fire, and their family lost everything. They have been volunteering with us for over two years and have always stepped up to the plate, helping in whatever capacity was needed. Now it's our turn to come together and support them.

We are asking every supporter and follower to please consider donating, sharing this post, or offering words of encouragement. Every act of kindness, no matter the size, makes a difference.

Thank you for helping us show this family that they are not alone.

Help a Mother & Her Two Children Rebuild After a Devastating Hou… Brittany Riggs needs your support for Help a family rebuild after a devastating house fire

06/18/2026

Session 2 of Horse Camp is winding down! Today we switched things up and introduced everyone to riding in English saddles, visited a tack store, battled through some very competitive Uno games, and wrapped up with Horse Bingo. Another fun-filled day at camp!

06/18/2026

Esperanza “Espie” greeted all the campers and parents at drop-off this morning. Before anyone could sign in, they had to make sure to pay the horse treat toll first! 😂🐴

06/15/2026

Final camp of the summer kicked off today, and Session 2 of Horse Camp is already off to a great start! Looking forward to an amazing week and all the memories still to come.

06/13/2026

Today was Ferret Day and also the last day of Critter Camp Summer 2026!
The kiddos spent the day learning all about ferrets and, by the end of camp, many had become besties with George the ferret (one of our several ferret residents!).
We also had a special surprise visitor: our sheep shearer stopped by to shear our sheep and teach the campers about sheep care, wool, and the shearing process. The kids were fascinated and even chose to spend extra time with the sheep instead of finishing our movie! Each camper got to take home a small sample of the wool we collected today.
To wrap up camp, we made parrot toys and enjoyed time with all of our animal friends. It was a fantastic final day filled with hands-on learning, animals, ice cream and lots of fun memories.
Thank you to all of our campers and families for making Critter Camp Summer 2026 such a great experience! We can’t wait to see everyone in Fall.

06/13/2026

Last day of critter camp, we had a wonderful surprise generously donated by one of our amazing supporters. An ice cream truck arrived right on time, and everyone enjoyed the treat very much. It was the perfect way to celebrate the end of camp and brought lots of smiles to our campers and counselors.
A special thank you to Cosmic Ascent Ice Cream for coming out today, and to Shanetha for coordinating and donating this special treat for our campers and counselors. Your generosity helped make our last day of camp even more memorable!

06/11/2026

🌟 Camp Counselor Appreciation Post 🌟
As many of you know, we are a 100% donation- and volunteer-based nonprofit organization. Outreach is one of our core values, and we are passionate about creating programs where youth can learn, interact with animals, and make lasting memories.
None of this would be possible without our incredible volunteer camp counselors!
Our counselors start their days between 5:00–6:00 AM and often stay until nearly 1:00 PM—about an hour after camp ends—to clean up and prepare for the next day. They plan crafts and games, help facilitate activities, and work tirelessly to ensure every camper has an amazing, safe, and memorable experience.
Today we’d like to recognize a few of our counselors. We also have five more amazing counselors who aren’t pictured here because they primarily help with Horse Camp.
Please join us in thanking all of our camp counselors for their hard work, dedication, and positive impact on our campers. 💚
Drop a thank-you message in the comments and give this post a like to show them how much they’re appreciated!

06/10/2026

Today was Parrot & Water Day, and our campers had a blast! 🦜💦
They enjoyed painting, learning all about parrots, and meeting Mango, our beautiful Moluccan cockatoo. The fun continued with exciting water relays and, of course, cooling off with popsicles. It was a day full of learning, laughter, and summer fun!
🦜☀️🍧