Seven or eight years ago I had a very great need to find a home for a pet that I had accepted as a rescue from some friends. That pet was a Border Collie named "Freckles" who was a "handful" because of his need to be "constantly engaged." I had five other rescue dogs at the time. Within a few months, "Freckles" became suddenly aggressive towards my other pets and attacked one of them by biting him in the face and destroying both of his eyes. My initial impulse was to have "Freckles" put down, I was so very upset, but the friends who placed "Freckles" with me told me about Erica and her soon-to-be husband and their work at Flat-Broke Farm Animal Rescue. I went to Erica, and she basically told me: "No problem. I have a lot of experience with Border Collies." Erica took Freckles, and within a very short time had him totally trained AND PLACED on a farm in Windsor, happy as a clam. Erica is now helping me out with family friends of mine with yet-another dog in need of some expert training. Erica, her husband, and her volunteers are an amazing gift to our county. Don't forget that they are a non-profit in need of all of our support.
Randy and I toured Flat Broke Farm earlier this year. The commitment and tireless efforts by its founder, Erica Rushing, is amazing. While there, we learned about many of the animal's histories, and witnessed the specialized care these animals receive. We saw the hand's on construction projects Erica is undertaking as resources permit, to provide better facilities for the care of these animals. In our opinion, Flat Broke Farm provides at risk animals a loving place for shelter and care.
Last year during the fire evacuations, we were out of town. I texted Erica to help with my potbelly pigs. It was 2 in the morning and she loaded up her trailer and came to my house! In the dark, located my pigs and took them to her farm for safety. I just am amazed at her dedication to our animals. Over and over again she rescues any animal in need.
I have lived next door to FBF for 3+ years. Erica Rushing is president and chief bottle washer. In other words she does it all with an incredible amount of knowledge and fortitude. From behind fire lines to a local rooster who took a knock on the head. She and her dedicated volunteers (including me) makes room for a healthy lifestyle for each creature and is thorough in the vetting of adopters. She will even help design enclosures for your adoptive home. An A++ rating from me. Plus I haven’t discussed the fire support provided such as temporary foster placement all inclusive, food and care where needed.
I can’t say enough about the love and dedication Flat Broke Farm has for animals. Erica works tirelessly and is always there to help. She’s fearless in her rescue of animals even during wildfires.
She selects the adoptive families with such care as well. When we adopted Stew she made sure that he welcomed us before just handing him over to us. She stayed in contact ready to help with any and all questions.
In 2017 we lost our family home and property to wildfire and she has been boarding and caring for Stew since. A few days before the fire, another piggie names Chloe was surrendered to the farm because of severe neglect. She was very uncomfortable with human contact. Within weeks Erica has her accepting scratches and love from us. Long story short, Chloe will be coming home with us when our home is rebuilt.
I love Erica and her dedication. I’ve seen her love and care for so many animals that many would probably just put to rest but Erica pours her heart and soul into them.
During my senior year of High School, we were required to volunteer at a nonprofit organization. This is when I came across Flat Broke Farm Animal Rescue and Erica Rushing, the amazing women who has worked very hard to build this organization in order to help the animals that have been abused, neglected, mistreated, and involved in natural disasters. I have always had a love for animals, and I knew from the first time I visited, that this was there I wanted to stay and volunteer. Erica has a positive work ethic and is a joy to be around. While working with Erica over the past year and into the summer, I have learned and gained so much knowledge. I better understand how to handle large farm animals, and the importance of taking proper care of them. At Flat Broke Farm Animal Rescue, I helped pack supplies for the animals that were involved in the Butte County Fires. I prepared stalls for the incoming injured and displaced animals (Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Tubb's Fire, and Campfire in Butte County) During my time there, I helped complete a horse arena, and learned the importance of basic farm animal care. I learned how to put a harness on a horse, dewormed, vaccinated, and trim the hooves of a herd of sheep, and so much more. I am so thankful to have met Erica Rushing, who gives everything to work with these animals, rehabilitate, and re-home them into a new loving family. It has been quite an amazing adventure, making my senior year unforgettable. Even though I have now graduated, I still plan to be of service and volunteer at this amazing farm. All donations are appreciated and very important for this Non-profit organization. Everything is put to good use and utilized for the care and upkeep of these amazing animals. Flat Broke Farm Animal Rescue is an important part of our community. Let's keep it that way!!
Flat Broke Farm is saving lives!
I've had the great opportunity to see first-hand how hard Erica, Flat Broke Farm and all the volunteers have worked rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals! They provide a sanctuary with medical and emotional support. This is truly an awesome rescue with hardworking, caring, selfless folks that are all about the animals!
Our pet pig decided he did not like his new human sister and had grown aggressive. Erica has reached out and said she might be able to help. The farm was full with animals she had fostered/saved after the Sonoma County fires of 2017 but she found a nice space for him. Countless people offered to adopt him but she waited until the perfect person came around. We are able to follow his life still and visit. We owe them a giant debt of gratitude for making a difficult situation better. Erica doesn’t just run a rescue farm. She is a bonafide first responder in service of animals of all types.
Located in the heart of the wine country, Flat Broke Farm stands out as a sanctuary for farm animals and the loving volunteers who work with them. Every animal that comes to the farm has a story filled with heartbreak. Every volunteer that works with the animals has so much to give in different ways. This is what makes Flat Broke Farm a perfect balance of healing and love. Erica has done an outstanding job of answering the call for hurt, injured, or animals in need, not only of this community, but others as well. The number one goal of Flat Broke Farm is the welfare (both physically and mentally) of each animal. There is a little farm in Sonoma county that represents hope and comfort for all animals it is called “Flat Broke Farm”.
Erika at Flat Broke Farm saved my family. We had some unfortunate and very sad circumstances happen where we had to re-home my pig (who was my baby) after the arrival of my first human baby. After 6 months of struggling to find anyone to help me Erika contacted me and took my baby in, she kept him warm, safe, fed and loved while she screened potential adopters for him, and during this time let us come visit him and spend time on the farm learning about all the animals and their stories. I was included in the adoption and have remained close to my baby and his new mommy. All the animals at the farm have their own story and each is individually cared for according to their needs and all equally treated like family. I don’t know what I would have done had it not been for Erika and her huge heart. This Farm and her work is a god send and so very needed in our community.
Wonderful rescue. Adopted my precious pot belly pig Stewie from here, he was paralyzed and they did such a wonderful job rehabilitating him. Then when I lost my house in a fire they took him in again as we rebuild our lives. Couldn’t have better people loving on my pig. Wonderful property and even more wonderful people!! Erica has done an amazing job!
Just wanted to honor Flat Broke Farm on this website...I became aware of this sanctuary last year, 2018, during the horrific California wildfires. As expected, those concerned about all animals, wild and domesticated, were frantic to protect them. I actually found learned about Flat Broke Farm from a wonderful sanctuary on the East Coast, who was posting on social media sanctuaries that were providing temporary homes for those animals that were displaced. And Flat Broke Farm was one of them. I've been donating as I can since then....and, hope to one day, visit them and see the animals that have been given a second chance at life. They also find loving homes for their animals, making it possible to rescue even more.
2 years ago the property next to where I live was purchased and lots of building noise was heard for months. I waited forever to introduce myself as there were 2 horses I was very concerned about that were still there. So, I introduced myself and was bold enough to asked to see them. They were in much better condition than they had been including a dry clean sweet smelling barn.
I was impressed by the changes. Learned about the mission and saw first hand that the verbiage and the reality were in line. Now I volunteer and roll out when needed. I have learned so much from Erica on so many species. She is smart and intuitive. Compassionate and practical. Hard working and fun. I support Flat Broke Farm Rescue 100%!