Scatter Joy Acres

SCATTER JOY ACRES IS A 26-ACRE URBAN ANIMAL THERAPY/RESCUE RANCH IN OMAHA, NE. OUR CERTIFIED AAT PROGRAM PROVIDES HELP FOR THOSE IN GREATEST NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY: AT-RISK CHILDREN, THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, SENIORS, HOMELESS, THE MENTALLY ILL, VETERANS, AND THOSE RE-ENTERING SOCIETY. WE RESCUE AND FOSTER ABUSED, NEGLECTED AND ABANDONED ANIMALS. THOSE THAT DON'T FIND LOVING FOREVER HOME ARE TRAINED TO BECOME THERAPISTS IN OUR ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY (AAT) PROGRAM. WE OFTEN PROVIDE OUR SERVICES AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO THOSE IN NEED.

ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY - WE USE THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH AN ARRAY OF ISSUES (I.E., LONELINESS, ISOLATION, DEALING WITH CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES) THROUGH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS (I.E., GOATS, PORCUPINES, BLIND COWS). WE VISIT NURSING HOMES, VETERANS' CENTERS, HOSPICE, ALZHEIMER'S FACILITIES, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER SETTINGS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT ANIMALS CAN INFLUENCE NOT JUST OUR HAPPINESS, BUT ALSO OUR HEALTH. ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE PROGRAMS IS THE "BE SOMEBODY PROGRAM" - GEARED TOWARD HELPING AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS. THE PROGRAM TEACHES THE COWBOY ETHICS OF ATTITUDE, GRIT, AND PURPOSE. IN 2021 - WE LOGGED MORE THAN 1,300 BEHAVIOR AND ENRICHMENT HOURS AND 13,800 SENIOR HOME VISIT HOURS.

ANIMAL EDUCATION AND LIVE INTERACTION - WITH THE PANDEMIC, WE INCREASED OUR TRAFFIC FLOW AT THE RANCH DUE TO BEING A SAFE OUTDOOR FACILITY TO HELP RELIEVE STRESS FROM ISOLATION TO SOME, AND TO OTHERS TO BE A SAFE GETAWAY. IN 2021 WE HAD OVER 19,300 VISITORS TO VIEW AND INTERACT WITH OUR 200+ RESCUED ANIMALS. WE ALSO LOGGED OVER 2000 SPECIAL EVENT HOURS. WE CONTINUED OUR MOBILE PETTING ZOO EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: CONDUCTING PROGRAMS AND DISSEMINATING LITERATURE AND INFORMATION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT FARM ANIMAL ISSUES. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE FARM TOURS, CONFERENCES, SPEAKING EVENTS, VOLUNTEER AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS FOR HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, REACHING OUT TO CONSUMERS, BUSINESSES, AND IN-CLASSROOM VIRTUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO INCREASED ITS USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND THE USE OF VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES TO ALLOW SUPPORTERS AND PROSPECTIVE SUPPORTERS TO EXPERIENCE THE RANCH, HEAR THE MESSAGE, AND HOPEFULLY BE INSPIRED TO ASSIST SCATTER JOY ACRES IN CARRYING OUT ITS MISSION