37-Year Animal Rescue Seeks Volunteers to Save Sanctuary

For 37 years, Lori Matta has kept a promise to every animal that arrives at Apache Way Farm Rescue: you'll never be abused again. Now, the 62-year-old founder is asking her Massachusetts community to help her keep that promise.

Apache Way provides a forever home for 24 animals, including 16 horses, five dogs, two goats, and one potbelly pig. Every resident has survived neglect or abuse. Lakota, a mini-horse, still bears the physical scars of severe beatings. Paisley, a full-sized horse, arrived so malnourished she now needs thermal covering to survive New England winters.

Matta started the rescue in Middleboro in 1989, moved it to Florida in 2005 for warmer weather, then returned to Massachusetts in 2019 to be near family. The sanctuary never charges admission and welcomes visitors seeking animal therapy, including veterans with PTSD, people facing serious illness, and special needs children.

The farm has always relied on donations and volunteer work to survive. During warmer months, birthday parties, summer camps, and fundraisers bring in revenue. Matta once supplemented costs by teaching dance at her family's academy and renting apartment space in her home.

But a series of challenges has pushed the rescue to its breaking point. In 2020, Matta was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that attacks her joints. The pain forced her to stop teaching dance, cutting a crucial income source. Last year, doctors diagnosed her with anemia caused by an internal bleed they can't locate.

"Sometimes, my body just crashes," Matta said. The animals that once depended on her for emotional healing have become her support system too.

Winter brings the toughest challenges. The rescue now has only five volunteers throughout the week, with just two available regularly. Cold weather doubles the workload for feeding, watering, stall cleaning, grooming, and medication schedules. Meanwhile, fewer donations are coming in as families tighten their budgets.

Sunny's Take

Nadia Campisano, a dedicated volunteer who visits Apache Way almost daily, sees the impact firsthand. "Many of them are old or have medical conditions," she said of the animals who call the farm home. Each one represents decades of Matta's unwavering commitment.

The rescue doesn't need much, just hands willing to help and hearts willing to give. For animals who survived the worst of humanity, Apache Way represents something precious: safety, love, and a second chance at life.

Matta describes her work simply: "I'm married to this rescue. It's my mission and my promise." With community support, that promise can continue for another 37 years.