Real-life Dr Dolittle! Woman who takes in neglected animals now has 200 pets - including cows, pigs, ferrets and alpacas - and spends $50,000 making sure they 'thrive and not just survive'

  • Adri Rachelle, 33, from Athens, Georgia, rescues everything from cows to ferrets
  • She spends tens of thousands of dollars to keep them well-cared for every year
  • Pet lover says she doesn't want to meet 'basic needs' but wants them to thrive 
  • Her farm in the Deep South is now home to more than 200 animals - doubling the amount of pets she's rescued in just two years An animal lover who's a real-life Dr Dolittle says she's saved nearly 200 animals - including cows, pigs, ferrets and alpacas - from being abandoned or mistreated. 

    Adri Rachelle, 33, from Athens, Georgia, rescues any animal that needs her help and runs the Wild Things Sanctuary from her farm in the Deep South.   

    Every year, she says she spends around $50,000 ensuring the animals that she looks after 'thrive, not just survive' and that her home has turned into a menagerie for animals. Adri Rachelle, 33, from Athens, Georgia, rescues everything from cows to ferrets and now has 200 rescue pets on her farm in the Deep South

    Adri Rachelle, 33, from Athens, Georgia, rescues everything from cows to ferrets and now has 200 rescue pets on her farm in the Deep South 

    Adri has rescued many species, from ferrets to cows and from piglets to alpacas, there's a place for everyone in her sanctuary

    Adri has rescued many species, from ferrets to cows and from piglets to alpacas, there's a place for everyone in her sanctuary 

    Every year, she spends tens of thousands of dollars to keep the animals well-cared for with an average feed bill of $1,300 a month

    Every year, she spends tens of thousands of dollars to keep the animals well-cared for with an average feed bill of $1,300 a month

    Bored Panda reports that Campbell founded the rescue company after spending years rescuing animals and realising it was no longer a hobby but a calling. Adri credits her parents Larry Jacobs, a retired natural resources specialist, and Cynthia Selby, a retired nurse, for her animal-loving nature.She told the publication: 'Animals that are broken and in danger have always seemed to cross my path.The J.R.R. Tolkien fan, who names most of her animals after characters in the author's Lord Of The Rings trilogy added: 'Knowing that I'm offering them a safe place to heal gives my life a purpose and that reward far outweighs all of the time, money, and sadness running an animal sanctuary can bring.' 

    Adri cares for the animals every day, not taking vacations and working from morning until night, but says that she 'loves every minute of it'. 

    Adri cares for the animals every day, not taking vacations and working from morning until night, but says that she 'loves every minute of it'

    Adri cares for the animals every day, not taking vacations and working from morning until night, but says that she 'loves every minute of it'

    She said that when animals come to the sanctuary, they may at first be terrified of her but they learn from the others that the home is safe

    She said that when animals come to the sanctuary, they may at first be terrified of her but they learn from the others that the home is safe

    She said that when animals come to the sanctuary, they may at first be terrified of her but they learn from the others that the home is safe. 

    Adri said: 'A dog may be terrified of me at first, but it learns form the others here that this home is safe, and takes comfort and joy from the other dogs. A feral pig doesn't have to face its fear of humans, it gets its social needs completely fulfilled by the other pigs.

    'The parrots can spend an entire day conversing and interacting with other parrots, which is really more fulfilling of their natural needs.'  

    She said she doesn't want to just meet their basic needs, but said she always exceeds their basic requirements for living, wanting them to be spoiled and 'thrive instead of just survive'

    She said she doesn't want to just meet their basic needs, but said she always exceeds their basic requirements for living, wanting them to be spoiled and 'thrive instead of just survive'

    She said she doesn't want to just meet their basic needs, but said she always exceeds their basic requirements for living, wanting them to be spoiled and 'thrive instead of just survive'. 

    Adri added: 'It's my heaven on Earth... but it is technically very demanding. This is especially true because the residents are generally either neglected, seniors, unhealthy or unhandled.'  

    She has spent around $50,000 in materials over the last year for the sanctuary, with an average feed bill of $1,300 a month and vet care around $10,000 on a yearly basis. 

    But she said that she will not be opening her sanctuary to the public, despite it being a source of income, because she believes it is stressful for the animals. 

    Adri hopes to share them on social media enough that they will receive donations from people who fall in love with them.  

    Must be dinner time! Adri shared an adorable photo as the dogs waited outside the door for their food

    Must be dinner time! Adri shared an adorable photo as the dogs waited outside the door for their food 

    Adri said that she will not be opening her sanctuary to the public, despite it being a source of income, because she believes it is stressful for the animals

    Adri said that she will not be opening her sanctuary to the public, despite it being a source of income, because she believes it is stressful for the animals

    She shared a picture of the cows walking around the sanctuary in single file and said: 'Ducks are not in a row, but my cows are. Does that count?'

    She shared a picture of the cows walking around the sanctuary in single file and said: 'Ducks are not in a row, but my cows are. Does that count?'

    Adri also cares for pigs and piglets, as she shared an adorable snap of two piglets, which she said were around four months old, snuggled up under a blanket

    Adri also cares for pigs and piglets, as she shared an adorable snap of two piglets, which she said were around four months old, snuggled up under a blanket

    Her cats were curled up in a basket together when Adri said the 'pigs kept trying to figure out a way in'

    Her cats were curled up in a basket together when Adri said the 'pigs kept trying to figure out a way in'

    Adri shared a picture of her highland cows and said: 'It's chilly out today so I took my coffee and a blanket outside and sat with them... I'm not able to pet them but Mom accepts the animal cookies I throw in her direction'

    Adri shared a picture of her highland cows and said: 'It's chilly out today so I took my coffee and a blanket outside and sat with them... I'm not able to pet them but Mom accepts the animal cookies I throw in her direction' 

    Adri said the piglets can't wait to climb on the dog Hodor for their daily nap, sharing an adorable pic on Instagram she said: 'The piglets can't climb on top of him for their daily nap fast enough! As soon as he's finished his meal and I open the door it's a race to start the cuddling'

    Adri said the piglets can't wait to climb on the dog Hodor for their daily nap, sharing an adorable pic on Instagram she said: 'The piglets can't climb on top of him for their daily nap fast enough! As soon as he's finished his meal and I open the door it's a race to start the cuddling'

    Three dogs called Arwen, Frodo and Sam are pictured leaving the house to 'patrol their new farm'

    Three dogs called Arwen, Frodo and Sam are pictured leaving the house to 'patrol their new farm' 

    Adri said she couldn't believe how much her tegu grew in the few months she'd had her and added: 'At two years old she was less than half this current size'

    Adri said she couldn't believe how much her tegu grew in the few months she'd had her and added: 'At two years old she was less than half this current size' 

    She gave two horses a home last August, and is pictured stroking one's nose as she introduced them on her Instagram

    She gave two horses a home last August, and is pictured stroking one's nose as she introduced them on her Instagram

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