Sanctuary Owner Faces Uncertainty Over Future of Rescued Animals in Kennebunk

A Kennebunk animal sanctuary owner says she has received conflicting messages from the town about whether her rescued pigs and goats can remain at her property, leaving the future of more than two dozen animals in limbo.

Heather Lombard, who operates Scapegoats and Mousam Misfits Sanctuary, said she was informed earlier this month that her pigs and goats would need to be relocated to new homes. Since that initial notification, however, she says communications from the town have been inconsistent, making it difficult to plan for the animals' care.

"They told me the pigs and goats had to go, and then I hear different things from different people," Lombard said, describing the whiplash of trying to navigate unclear guidance from municipal officials.

Lombard founded the sanctuary to provide a safe home for animals that have been abandoned, neglected, or otherwise fallen through the cracks of traditional rescue networks. The pigs and goats currently in her care are among the more than two dozen animals she shelters, many of which have complicated medical or behavioral needs that make them difficult to place elsewhere.

The uncertainty comes as sanctuary operators across Maine have increasingly taken on animals that larger rescue organizations are unable to accommodate. Small, privately run sanctuaries like Lombard's often fill a critical gap, but they can face regulatory and zoning challenges as they grow, particularly in municipalities where livestock ordinances were not designed with rescue operations in mind.

Lombard declined to specify which town officials she had been in contact with or to detail the exact nature of the concerns raised about her animals. She said she remains hopeful that a resolution can be reached that allows her to continue caring for the pigs and goats without interruption.

"My priority is making sure these animals are safe and cared for," she said. "That's what I've been doing, and that's what I want to keep doing."

Representatives from the town had not responded to requests for comment by the time this story was published. It remains unclear whether the town has formally taken any action against the sanctuary or whether the initial notification was part of an informal review process.

Lombard said members of the community have reached out with offers of help and support since news of the potential displacement spread. Some have asked about fostering animals temporarily, while others have made donations to help cover the cost of expanded care if the animals must be moved to a new location.

For now, the pigs and goats remain at the sanctuary, and Lombard continues her daily routine of feeding, cleaning, and providing medical care to the animals in her charge. But the question of how long they will stay is one she cannot yet answer.

"I'm just taking it day by day," she said. "These animals didn't ask to be in this situation, and neither did I. We're all just trying to do our best."

Anyone interested in supporting the sanctuary or learning more about the animals in its care is encouraged to contact Scapegoats and Mousam Misfits Sanctuary directly.