Bringing Conservation to Your Backyard

Our Story

Sleepy Tales began as a shared dream between founders Nicole and Eileen while pursuing their Master’s degrees in Conservation Biology. Though their journeys were different, they were united by a common belief: every living being deserves compassion, and meaningful conservation begins with the choices we make close to home.

Nicole has dreamed of rescuing animals for as long as she can remember. Her vision has always been to create a place where neglected, abandoned, and abused animals could find safety, healing, and lifelong care.

Eileen has dedicated her career to veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation, working with endangered species and witnessing firsthand both the importance of global conservation and the growing disconnect between people and the natural world around them. Through those experiences, she came to believe that protecting wildlife begins with fostering compassion; not only for endangered species across the globe, but also for the animals, plants, and ecosystems in our own communities.

Together, they imagined something more than a traditional farm sanctuary. Sleepy Tales is a place where rescued animals find a permanent home, native habitats are restored, and people of all ages discover that conservation doesn’t begin in distant forests or faraway countries, it begins in our own backyards.

By connecting people with rescued animals, restoring wildlife habitat, and sharing practical ways to support native plants and pollinators, we hope to inspire a lifelong appreciation for the natural world and empower others to become everyday stewards of the places they call home.

The name Sleepy Tales carries its own story. “Sleepy” honors Nicole’s beloved dog, Gizi, whose name means sleepy in Swahili, reflecting the peace every rescued animal deserves to find. “Tales” is inspired by Eileen’s first cat, Fable, and celebrates the stories that shape every life.

At Sleepy Tales, every rescued animal has a story. Together, we’re helping write happier endings and creating a future where compassion and conservation become part of everyone’s story.

Co-founders

Board of Directors

Our founding board is being formed. We are recruiting directors with backgrounds in animal welfare, conservation science, nonprofit finance, and community education. If that sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

Where we are

Sleepy Tales Farm Sanctuary is in the formation and land-acquisition stage. Our service area and physical address will be published once the property is secured and the first animals are in residence. In the meantime, all correspondence can be sent to [email protected].