Pasado’s Safe Haven is an animal sanctuary located in Sultan, Washington, tucked away in the beautiful Pacific Northwest of the United States. The sanctuary provides a forever home for rescued animals in need.
Pasado’s Safe Haven first opened its doors in 2008 after founder Susan Michaels began rescuing abused and neglected animals in Snohomish County. What started as helping a few local animals in need grew into a full-fledged nonprofit sanctuary dedicated to helping animals from all over the region. The sanctuary started on a modest five acres but has since expanded to over 50 acres as more and more animals needed a place to call home.
Today, Pasado’s Safe Haven cares for over 600 animals across three locations in Washington state. The main sanctuary is located in Sultan, about 45 minutes northeast of Seattle. This lush, rural property is nestled against the edge of the Cascade Mountains and provides a tranquil, nurturing environment for the animals. In addition to the Sultan location, Pasado’s operates sanctuaries in Redmond and Kent.
The Sultan Sanctuary
The heart of Pasado’s operation is at the Sultan sanctuary property located at 20726 177th Ave SE, Sultan, WA 98294. This 50+ acre parcel of land provides the perfect amount of space for the animals to roam and get the individualized care they need. The property is sectioned off into different pastures for horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, llamas, and more. There are also specialized barns for chickens, rabbits, and exotic birds.
The property has several ponds and wooded areas where wildlife like ducks, geese, and deer can often be spotted. The sanctuary makes use of the natural environment as much as possible to create an enriching habitat for the residents. There are shaded groves, open pastures, enchanted forests, and tranquil ponds. Many of the farm animals that come to the sanctuary have never experienced the joy of being outdoors or feeling grass under their feet.
In addition to the outdoor habitats, the Sultan sanctuary has an indoor veterinary hospital for exams, treatment, surgeries, and more intensive medical care. There is also an indoor kitchen where meals are prepared daily for hundreds of hungry mouths. The property has isolation areas, quarantine barns, and recovery centers to properly care for animals with contagious illnesses or those needing protective custody.
The sanctuary campus feels like a rural countryside oasis, both serene and lively at the same time. Visitors often comment on the tangible feeling of peace that seems to emanate throughout the grounds. The animals appear content, well-cared for, and at ease in their forever home.
The Surrounding Sultan Area
The town of Sultan itself is a quaint, rural community in the Snohomish River Valley, surrounded by rugged Cascade peaks. The town has a population just over 5,000 residents and provides a quiet, family-friendly atmosphere just outside the hustle and bustle of the Seattle metro. The town’s Main Street has a community feel with casual restaurants, coffee shops, antique stores, and more.
The sanctuary is located right off State Route 2, a popular scenic highway that runs along the Skykomish River. This route takes visitors past historic small towns, roaring rivers, deep forests, and towering mountains. Some popular nearby recreation activities include:
- Hiking in Wallace Falls State Park
- Kayaking the Skykomish or Snohomish Rivers
- Mountain biking the extensive trail network
- Fishing for trout and salmon in the rivers
- Skiing at Stevens Pass in the winter
The sanctuary’s location allows it to feel remote and rural while still being readily accessible off a major highway. Visitors from near and far can easily access the sanctuary for tours, volunteer activities, events, and more.
The Sanctuary Layout and Facilities
The Sultan sanctuary campus is thoughtfully designed to provide specialized habitats and top-notch care for each rescued resident. The property is divided into multiple barns, pastures, facilities, and living spaces:
Large Animal Barns and Pastures
- Horse barn with over 100 stalls and adjacent paddocks
- Donkey and mule pastures
- Sheep and goat fields
- Cow and steer meadows
- Pig sties and open pasture areas
- Llama and alpaca fields
Small Mammal Facilities
- Specialized rabbit barn with indoor and outdoor hutches
- Custom chicken coops and chicken runs
- Cat cottage – a home for senior and special needs cats
- Small dog cottages for homeless pooches
Veterinary Hospital
- Surgical suite
- Medical exam rooms
- Diagnostic lab
- Radiology services
- ICU
- Recovery kennels
- Pharmacy
Other Notable Spaces
- Administrative offices
- Education center
- Event pavilion
- Gift shop
- Memorial garden
- Commercial kitchen
- Hay barn
- Equipment garage
- Composting area
The entire campus is thoughtfully designed to provide specialized habitats tailored to each rescued resident’s needs. There are quiet spaces for animals that need peace and community spaces for social creatures. The facilities allow for proper medical care, nutritional support, and overall excellent animal welfare.
The Animals at Pasado’s Sultan Sanctuary
Pasado’s Safe Haven provides lifelong sanctuary for a wide variety of rescued animals. Many of the residents come from situations of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or from overcrowded shelters. The animals come from diverse backgrounds and many arrive with medical conditions or special needs. The sanctuary’s qualified staff provide specialized rehabilitation when needed. Their ultimate goal is to provide a forever home where the animals can heal and live free from harm.
Some of the animals that call Pasado’s Sultan sanctuary home include:
Farm Animals
- Cows
- Pigs
- Goats
- Sheep
- Chickens
- Rabbits
- Ducks
- Geese
- Turkeys
- Donkeys
- Horses
- Llamas
- Alpacas
Companion Animals
- Dogs
- Cats
Exotic Animals
- Birds
- Reptiles
The sanctuary provides species-appropriate care, plenty of room to roam, nutritional food, and 24/7 medical support. The animals receive rehabilitation services and ongoing wellness care from the experienced veterinary staff. Each animal is treated as an individual with their own personality, background, and needs.
Visiting Pasado’s Sultan Sanctuary
Pasado’s Safe Haven welcomes visitors to its Sultan sanctuary campus through either self-guided or guided tours. Visitors have the opportunity to meet the incredible rescued residents and learn about their stories of triumph. 100% of public tour fees go directly toward caring for the animals.
Some key things to know about visiting:
- Public tour hours are Fridays-Sundays, 10am-3pm.
- Tours can be self-guided or you can request a staff-guided tour.
- Tickets are $10 for children 3-12, $15 for adults.
- Leashed dogs are welcome.
- Special kids’ camps and field trips are available.
- Private group tours can be booked in advance.
- The gift shop and café are open during tour hours.
- Photography is allowed but no flash photography please.
- Special events like barn parties and volunteer days occur periodically.
Exploring the sanctuary is a heartwarming experience that is truly interesting, educational, and inspiring for animal lovers of all ages. Visitors consistently share how moving it is to see these animals living their best lives after coming from difficult circumstances.
How to Support Pasado’s Safe Haven
Caring for over 600 rescued animals is no small endeavor. Pasado’s depends on public support to be able to continue their life-saving work. Here are some ways you can help:
Adopt an Animal
While the Sultan sanctuary is home to over 600 animals, Pasado’s rescues even more animals each year that end up at their other sanctuaries or partner shelters. By opening your home to adopt one of Pasado’s rescued animals, you free up space for them to save even more animals in need.
Sponsor an Animal
Become a monthly sponsor for one of the animals at the Sultan sanctuary. Your ongoing gift ensures the sanctuary can continue to provide for that animal’s care for life. You’ll receive a photo and story about your sponsored animal.
Volunteer
Pasado’s depends on volunteers to help care for the animals by doing chores like feeding, cleaning barns, grooming, assisting with vet care, and more. Volunteers must complete orientation and commit to a regular schedule.
Donate
One-time or recurring monetary donations help cover medical expenses, habitat upkeep, feed and supplies, staff payroll, and other operating costs to run the sanctuary.
Wish List Donations
Donate items the sanctuary needs like pet food, linens, office supplies, cleaning materials, toys, medical equipment. View their full wish list on their website.
Attend Events
Special events like the annual gala, barn parties, yoga with the goats, and more help raise necessary funds for operations. Buying tickets and participating in events supports the sanctuary.
Follow on Social Media
Following Pasado’s on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube is a great way to stay connected and help spread the word about their rescue work. Social media has become an important tool for nonprofit fundraising and outreach.
Pasado’s Safe Haven does amazing work giving abused, neglected, and abandoned animals a chance at a new life. The Sultan, WA sanctuary location provides a serene forever home for over 600 lucky rescued residents. Visitors say the experience is profoundly moving. By supporting Pasado’s through donations, sponsorships, volunteering, or even adoption, you help give even more animals the second chance they deserve. The world needs more places like Pasado’s Safe Haven.
Conclusion
Pasado’s Safe Haven in Sultan, Washington is a hidden gem nestled in the pristine Pacific Northwest. This idyllic animal sanctuary provides a forever home for over 600 rescued farm animals, companion animals, and exotic creatures. The 50+ acre property allows the animals to roam freely in natural habitats tailored to their needs. Visitors are welcome to tour the sanctuary and meet the incredible rescued residents, many of whom have triumphed over difficult circumstances. Supporting Pasado’s through donations, sponsorships, volunteering, and events helps them continue their mission of rehabilitation and lifelong care. Pasado’s gives animals an invaluable second chance, and visiting the Sultan sanctuary is a profoundly heartwarming experience for any animal lover.