Shannon had been operating in the greater animal rescue world for over a decade. Throughout she’s always had her pulse and eyes on the injustices happening on the larger farm animal side of things and was seeing far less human resources, energy, awareness, and legislation concentrated into this side of animal rescue and welfare. In 2016 she was able to purchase land with acreage and immediately moved to help fill the massive needs of the greater farm animal welfare world. In the years since, she has either re-homed or taken in over 150 animals. Her work continues to grow and evolve with Saoirse Pastures…

Nancy Cusumano has been involved with animal rescue in various forms for close to thirty years. She started with cats and dogs, fostering many of each for  local rescue groups including The American Cat Project, the Tompkins County SPCA and Cayuga Dog Rescue, which is where she first met Shannon.

Nancy has been involved with Saorise Pastures since its inception. In her spare time she volunteers for Finger Lakes Raptor Center in Lodi, NY. She and her husband travel in their their camper in New York State and beyond. 

Eleanor Henderson is a writer, professor, and vegan of 25 years. She began volunteering at Saoirse Pastures in February 2024 after her son, Henry, introduced her to it as a student at Lehman Alternative Community School. She is the author of the memoir Everything I Have Is Yours and the novels The Twelve-Mile Straight and Ten Thousand Saints, and her writing has appeared in publications including Salon, The New York Times Book Review, and The Best American Short Stories. A professor of fiction, nonfiction, and Vegan Studies at Ithaca College, she encourages students to explore the relationships between human and nonhuman animals through research and writing, and to study veganism as a site of social change. She has also supervised writing interns from Ithaca College to produce content for Saoirse Pastures. Her novelThe Galaxy, which imagines a post-dairy world, is forthcoming from Flatiron Books. 

I am a mother, wife, nurse and animal lover. One day, I hope to do more. Whether through volunteering, fostering, or starting a pet-centered business. In the meantime, working with Shannon at Saoirse Pastures fulfills this wish.

Our volunteers are the heart of our operation! As a volunteer run organization the dedication that each person brings is remarkable and inspiring. We have volunteers who have been with us for years and some just for a summer or semester. We love you all and thank you for your hard work, reliability and compassion!

Savannah Pig Rescue, Chicago Pigland Rescue, Rossmill Farm, Begin Again Horse Rescue, Garnseys Feral Acres, Lollypop Farm Sanctuary

Katie Keery, Kathy Zoner, Mitch Kline