D.E.W. Animal Kingdom & Sanctuary is closed during the week except by appointment and open only on Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 5PM.
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D.E.W. Animal Kingdom & Sanctuary is closed during the week except by appointment and open only on Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 5PM.
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_______________________________________________________________________________________ WELCOME TO D.E.W. ANIMAL KINGDOM & SANCTUARY
D.E.W. Animal Kingdom has a new addition to the tiger population. Makeena, born 4/11/11, is a female Bengal white tiger cub. Makeena is one of several hundred white tigers worldwide and a special addition to the D.E.W. Animal Kingdom resident population.
Opening day photos:
*** We are now in the process of building a new mountain lion exhibit for Gunne and Chena. We are accepting donations towards this project and thank you in advance for your gifts. If you wish to contribute please follow the link above for donations using Paypal. Thank you again for all of your help. ***By gifting $25.00 or more you will be adding your name to a structure created to honor your generosity. All gifts are appreciated. D.E.W. Animal Kingdom is a 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Non-profit Organization D.E.W. Animal Kingdom is very excited to announce that we have obtained 501(c)3 tax-exempt status from the IRS. The IRS grants this coveted status upon organizations that meet specific legal requirements and operate under strict conditions with the goal of providing a public benefit. 501(c)3 status makes D.E.W. Animal Kingdom exempt from paying federal taxes and allows any donations to be a tax deduction for the donor. This status is also a requirement by all foundations and government agencies when applying for grants. We started the process 2007 when D.E.W. Animal Kingdom was formally organized as a family owned business. After many forms, paperwork, legal fees, government fees, and a lot of effort we were able to surpass this milestone and be granted exempt status. This opens many doors for D.E.W. Animal Kingdom, allowing us to seek and apply for grants and accept public donations. We look forward to the challenges and opportunities of this designation and the good it will bring to the animals residing at D.E.W. Animal Kingdom in Mt. Vernon Maine. DEW Animal Kingdom is located on 42 acres in beautiful Mt. Vernon, Maine, in western Kennebec County. With a wide variety of animals from all over the world, DEW Animal Kingdom has something for everyone young and old. Be prepared to be exhilarated and educated as you walk the trails alone or if you're lucky enough to catch a tour. Unlike "zoos" which allow you to see animals from a distance, DEW Animal Kingdom lets you get up close and intimate with some of the most exotic animals walking the planet. DEW Animal Kingdom is solely owned and operated by Julie and Bob Miner. D.E.W. Animal Kingdom is a smoke-free environment. There are no tobacco products allowed anywhere on the farm property. The animals and management appreciates compliance with this rule. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Remember D.E.W. Animal Kingdom & Sanctuary is not only a Sanctuary but also a working farm. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Some new residents:
D.E.W. also rehabilitates injured animals that will be returned to the wild when they are ready to survive on their own. Luckily, there are no current rehabers. Some current and former rehab residents:
Be sure to look for videos of various residents of D.E.W. on www.YouTube.com search for "DEW Animal Kingdom". Proud and loving caretakers Julie and Bob Miner
Julie, Bob, Gunne and Mufasa Obama _______________________________________________________________________________________
Our Mission:To inspire people to respect, protect and sustain the natural world.To provide sanctuary for misplaced, unwanted and abused animals with high quality husbandry and housing.To educate and entertain the public in hopes of encouraging everyone to protect our environment now and in the future. To enjoy and respect the diversity of all animals while continuing innovative farming with alternative livestock. DEW Animal Kingdom Profile & HistoryCaretakers: Bob and Julie Miner Animal Residents: 200+ Brief History: After suffering debilitating strokes due to his service in Vietnam, Bob Miner returned to Maine to the D.E.W. Animal Kingdom farm in 1980. He started with traditional farm animals such as cows, pigs, goats, llamas etc. He soon discovered he had a knack for helping Maine wildlife and became permitted by the State to rehabilitate and return these animals to the wild. He then became involved with more non-traditional (exotic) livestock - lemurs, coatimundi, wallaby, etc.......Thus the name D.omestic E.xotic W.ild for the farm. In 1994 Julie and her two daughters, Hannah and Heidi, came as volunteers to the farm. Bob and Julie became fast friends and a hard working pair. Within 6 months they decided to marry. Up to this point the farm had run on odd hours and donations. They decided to set hours and a fee to better maintain the growing farm. In 1999 we decided to move our farm to 43 acres 1 mile up the road. After 3 years of blood, sweat, tears and laughter - with help and support from
friends and volunteers - we were ready to move. That was September of 2001. We
now live with our animals on the new property. We continue to improve
their habitats and strive to meet their needs 24/7. Our newest big project
is a new primate barn. After three years of saving, donations, volunteers
and hard work this barn will be finished this spring of 2007. Our animals come
from many different backgrounds. Some are from zoos, from individuals who
got in over their heads, people moving, people dying, rescues and some we
wanted. We strive to educate every person who visits our farm. Schools
visit for fun, educational, interactive tours as well as scouts, nursing homes,
challenged individuals, etc. We try to do tours throughout the day, on no
set schedule, but as we can. Sometimes tours are cut short by births or
injuries. The animals' needs always come first. Remember we are a
working farm, not a commercial zoo. We are family owned and operated--so we
do the majority of the work. We do have wonderful volunteers who we truly
appreciate. We also have the occasional intern that comes to work
and learn. We have a relationship with each and every animal on our farm. They all
have their own name and personality with their own moods and needs. We love our lives with them and enjoy sharing them with the public.
Remember.........Their future is our responsibility. Visitor Photos: Bob teaching visitors. DEW makes you smile!!! Testimonials: The residents of D.E.W. share a community with their Mt. Vernon neighbors. They quietly offer an opportunity for unique experiences with so many animals. Visitors have spent a day here and walked away feeling as if their lives have been changed because of a special moment or interaction. As one visitor says, “I have visited the farm many times and there hasn’t been once when I haven’t thought at some point, ‘I am so blessed to share time with these creatures’.” " When we moved to Maine we had no idea that we could see animals from all over the world right here in Mt. Vernon." "Bob and Julie are so informative about the animals and you know they care for them deeply. I learned so much in such a short period of time. It was amazing!" "I got so close to Madenna, the hyena, I could smell her breath; boy is it foul!!" (volunteer quote) "DEW Animal Kingdom is another example of Maine's hidden treasures."
Comment from caretaker Bob Miner : " When I returned to Maine I was a recluse and couldn't stand people. I started the farm as my own animal therapy. I discovered that I was really good at working with traditional farm animals, native Maine wildlife, and exotics. One day a local school asked if they could come and see my farm; for some unknown reason I said yes. I found this to be my connection back to people through the animals" About caretaker Julie Miner: Beside every great man is a great woman. Bob and Julie Miner run D.E.W. as a team. They first met each other in 1994 when Julie started volunteering at the farm. Julie’s first pet as a child was a bird—now she finds herself caring for and surrounded by wolves, monkeys, kangaroos, tigers, peacocks and miniature horses. Of course, this is just a small sampling of the D.E.W. Gang. In the spirit of “there’s always room for one more”, Julie would be happy to have a pair of snow leopards join the family. Chores come first each day. The most valued reward for all the heavy (and sometimes smelly) labor, is the opportunity to experience moments with animals that have a deep importance; Julie has bottle fed so many leopards, tigers, lions, kangaroos, raccoons and lambs that the specific number of times she has done this becomes insignificant. She truly feels it is a privilege to share her life with so many other beings. As Bob has said, “I have never met a man who can stay stride for stride and shovel to shovel with me; I met a woman who could, so I married her”. And Julie says, “I am always amazed at how much work Bob and I can accomplish together. What we have done together over the last fourteen years would be unbelievable if I hadn’t lived it. Raising two beautiful daughters, countless animal babies and maintaining our residences while constantly improving each of their habitats, keeping up with regulations and laws and trying to maintain human friendships—wow. Learning and growing with the animals on a daily basis keeps me on my toes. Dealing with paperwork helps me appreciate every other aspect of my life fully.”
All donations are appreciated !!!!!! Please see the D.E.W. Wish List page for items we are always in need of. Contact Information
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