Petting zoo needs help

Photo: Contributed

For Andrea Buyan, running a petting zoo is a labour of love.

But, she has recently realized that to continue to operate Andy's Animal Acres in the same way, she needs to turn to the community for financial aid. 

"For me, for Andy's, this is most difficult to ask for the public's help, as I wanted to be able to accomplish this vision and dream on my own," she said. "But I am realizing that is not possible."

Buyan says the straw that broke the camel's back was a massive curly willow tree falling in the rabbit rescue area during Sunday night's storm.

The petting zoo has become more than a farm.

"We have also become an animal rescue, education centre for our community," she said. "Just yesterday, I got a call from someone wanting to bring another pig. Even the SPCA refers people to us.

"That's an added difficulty because we don't receive any outside funding," she said.

She's quick to add that saving animals is where her passion lies. As well as keeping the farm open to the public, she wants to continue the rescues.

Buyan is also seeking sponsorship from local businesses and partnering on fundraising events.

"We want to keep this alive," she said. "We have families who visit every week here and we have return tourists every summer now, but we can't keep running on general admissions – we need help from the community."

The farm's hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

The farm is home to goats, pigs, llamas, miniature horses, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks and sheep.

It's located at 1154 Three Mile Rd. in Penticton.

To support Andy's Animal Acres, go here.