Meet the Founder
Meet Renee
“I believe that empathy is a gift that can be found or nourished in everyone. It is a quality that connects us all, people and animals, and changes our lives for the better. ”
Hope & Serenity Farm Sanctuary’s founder, Renee Small, began her lifelong journey of animal advocacy and care in her childhood. Hailing from Reston, Virginia, her family's home was a haven for numerous rescued felines, an experience that imbued Renee with the understanding of the unconditional love that animals provide. The solace found in their companionship, even in the wake of nightmares or stormy nights, ignited Renee's passion for animal welfare.
In her teenage years, Renee expanded her rescue efforts to encompass a broader spectrum of animals, including cats, dogs, and several small pets. Over time, these animals required medical attention, leading Renee to research and discover the Great Falls Animal Hospital. This establishment served as a springboard for a fulfilling 27-year career, during which Renee evolved from a veterinary assistant to a Licensed Veterinary Technician. Her tenure at the hospital allowed her to amass invaluable medical knowledge and finesse her skills under the mentorship of Drs. Rick Henshaw and Bill Goldsmith, and fellow vet tech Dorothy.
Renee's veterinary career also brought opportunities to expand her rescue work to include dogs. Memorable instances include providing a loving home for a collie named Cassie and adopting King, a Great Dane, through the Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League.
Driven to aid more animals, Renee relocated to Nokesville in 2004, where she broadened her rescue sphere to encompass farm animals. Many of these animals, victims of neglect, abandonment, or abuse, found a new lease on life under her care.
In 2017, Renee established the Hope & Serenity Farm Sanctuary.
Renee's influence extends beyond the sanctuary's borders, forging partnerships with several community organizations. Her unwavering dedication to animal welfare and the healing power of human-animal interactions emanates from her childhood experiences and continues to inspire her work at Hope & Serenity Farm Sanctuary.
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During her teenage years, Renee began to nurture a growing passion for aiding the feral cats in her locality. She acquired skills in setting up humane traps, gradually earning the trust of these cats, and ultimately, finding them loving homes. When the popularity of ferrets as pets diminished, Renee stepped in, rescuing those that were no longer desired.
After school, a routine walk to a nearby pet store turned into a rescue mission as Renee would purchase the unsold ferrets, providing them a safe and nurturing space at her own home. The pet store also frequently sold her the unclaimed rabbits, mice, and rats. These newly adopted creatures would hitch a ride home snuggled in her jacket, a testament to Renee's inherent and unflinching dedication to animal welfare.