While 97% of animal welfare funding goes to companion animals like dogs and cats, less than 3% is directed toward farm animal sanctuaries—leaving organizations like Sunset Farm Sanctuary scrambling to meet growing needs. In a recent episode of the Better Life for Animals Podcast, host Cheryl Moss spoke with Helen Demas, founder of Sunset Farm Sanctuary, about the harsh realities sanctuaries face, from underfunding to climate threats, and how changing public attitudes has become just as critical as saving individual animals.
From Intelligence Analyst to Sanctuary Founder
Helen Demas didn’t start her career in animal rescue. She spent years in the intelligence field and corporate world, but a growing unease with global political dynamics—and a deep passion for
animal welfare—pushed her to make a life-altering change. After collaborating with organizations like the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Helen decided to leave behind her corporate job and commit fully to saving animals.
In 2017, she founded Sunset Farm Sanctuary in Oregon. But the escalating wildfire threats in the Pacific Northwest—and the skyrocketing costs of land and animal feed—forced Helen and her husband Brian to reconsider their long-term plans.
Relocating for Survival: Why Arkansas?
When climate change made itself felt in the form of wildfires dangerously close to Sunset Farm’s original location, Helen knew it was time to act. After evacuating 141 animals multiple times, she made the difficult decision to relocate.
“We chose Arkansas because it’s the most water-rich state in the U.S.,” Helen explained. “As other regions face growing water shortages, we needed to ensure the animals would always have access to resources.”
The move wasn’t just about water. More affordable land allowed Sunset Farm to expand and provide better grazing and shelter for their growing family of rescued animals.
Shifting the Mission: From Rescue to Education
While animal rescue remains central to Sunset Farm’s work, Helen emphasized that creating systemic change means going further. “We realized that to truly save animals, we have to change the hearts and minds of people,” she said.
Sunset Farm now actively engages with rural communities, particularly youth, to highlight how human actions contribute to climate change and animal suffering. Helen believes that effective advocacy is about meeting people where they are. “In some communities, talking about animal sentience isn’t enough. But showing them how their choices could impact their children’s futures and the planet—that’s where we can find common ground.”
The Power of Connection: When Animals Do the Teaching
Helen shared emotional stories about the profound bonds animals form—and how those connections are often the catalyst for change. One memorable story is about Lacy, Sunset Farm’s first rescued goat, and Dolly, an elderly goat who taught Lacy how to truly “be a goat.”
“When Dolly passed away, Lacy grieved just like a human would,” Helen said. “She refused to eat or drink for days, sitting by Dolly’s grave. It was a heartbreaking reminder that these animals love and mourn like we do.”
Another example involved a former turkey farmer who visited Sunset Farm and formed a life-changing bond with a rescued turkey named Nigel. “After spending the weekend with Nigel, he promised never to eat turkey again,” Helen recalled. “It’s these moments—when people see farm animals as individuals—that transform perspectives.”
Financial Uncertainty: Navigating a Volunteer and Donor Crisis
While Sunset Farm’s work is deeply rewarding, Helen is candid about the sanctuary’s current challenges. “Inflation has hit everyone hard. Longtime donors are pulling back, and we’re seeing a volunteer drought, especially during the brutal winter months.”
Helen also noted that shifting political climates have made operations more precarious. “In our state, there are growing efforts to defund or deregulate nonprofits, which adds another layer of uncertainty to our future.”
For now, Sunset Farm is limiting new intakes to emergency cases while continuing to support local residents with services like spay/neuter assistance and medical aid for animals they wish to keep.
Currently, Sunset Farms Sanctuary is dealing with major financial issues. To help non-profit Sunset Farms Sanctuary in Cove, Arkansas recover from the consequences of extensive infrastructure damages, as well as severe injuries to sanctuary co-owner Brian Reeds, following a severe windstorm on March 19, 2025 please donate at: Fundraiser by John Vallimarescu : Save Sunset Farms Sanctuary and Its Animals
Another way Sunset Farms Sanctuary is raising funds is with the eBook:
Looking Ahead: Helen Stays Hopeful
Despite these challenges, Helen remains hopeful. “This work isn’t easy, but we believe compassion will ultimately win. Most people, when given the chance to meet these animals and hear their stories, begin to see the world differently.”
Sunset Farm Sanctuary stands as a vital bridge between the public and the hidden realities of factory farming. Through education, community outreach, and the day-to-day care of all their animals, Helen and her team continue to plant seeds of compassion that will ripple out for years to come.
Donate Today
You can support the sanctuary directly by visiting www.sunsetfarmssanctuary.org, where donations are welcome.
Episode Highlights
[00:00] Introduction
[03:40] Animal activist long before the sanctuary.
[07:10] Nothing will get better until humans change.
[10:15] Highlighting human/animal connections.
[11:45] A goat’s will to live.
[15:00] The uncertainty of how things will unfold for animals.
[17:45] It takes more than words to impact animal welfare.
About Helen Demes
Helen Demes is the visionary founder behind Sunset Farms Sanctuary, a haven established in 2017 to rescue and rehabilitate farm animals in need. Helen’s passion for animal welfare has been a driving force in her life since 1972 when she began rescuing animals and volunteering at shelters. After decades of balancing her corporate career with her devotion to animal rescue, Helen decided to make a bold leap, leaving the corporate world behind to pursue her dream of saving animals full-time.
The journey of Sunset Farms Sanctuary began in Oregon, where Helen initially started her mission. However, faced with the recurring threat of wildfires and the logistical challenges of evacuating a large number of animals, Helen made the courageous decision to seek a safer environment for her charges. In September 2021, she and her husband Brian embarked on a journey to Arkansas, purchasing a property in Cove, Arkansas, sight unseen, and initiating the sanctuary’s relocation.
Today, Sunset Farms Sanctuary stands as a testament to Helen’s unwavering commitment to animal welfare. The sanctuary provides a permanent home for 137 animals, including goats, cows, sheep, chickens, pigs, and more. These animals come from various backgrounds, including surrenders, veterinarian referrals, and rescue operations from situations of abuse, neglect, and hoarding.
Guided by a profound mission statement and core values, Helen invites others to join her in embracing a vegan lifestyle and promoting a world where all beings, human and animal alike, are treated with love and compassion. Through her sanctuary, Helen Demes is not only providing refuge for animals in need but also inspiring positive change and fostering a brighter, more ethical tomorrow for all.
Currently, Sunset Farms Sanctuary is dealing with major financial issues. To help non-profit Sunset Farms Sanctuary in Cove, Arkansas recover from the consequences of extensive infrastructure damages, as well as severe injuries to sanctuary co-owner Brian Reeds, following a severe windstorm on March 19, 2025 please donate at: Fundraiser by John Vallimarescu : Save Sunset Farms Sanctuary and Its Animals
About Cheryl Moss
Cheryl Moss is the host of the Better Life for Animals podcast, where she shares uplifting stories from sanctuaries and highlights the work of vegan activists, ethical consumers, and animal welfare leaders. A passionate advocate for animal welfare, she is dedicated to ending factory farming and is working to raise $100,000 for Mercy For Animals to support underrepresented sanctuaries.
Beyond podcasting, Cheryl is a banking professional and an accomplished children’s author. A graduate of Main Street Vegan Academy, she promotes plant-based living through her books—
Gabriel, Cluck, and Pickle the Pig—which inspire young readers to embrace kindness, sustainability, and compassion for animals.
When not advocating, she enjoys Pilates, show jumping, and spending time with her rescue dogs and grandchildren. Through her work, writing, and activism, Cheryl continues to inspire positive change for animals and the planet.
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