Big Ears Animal Sanctuary is a sanctuary in the true sense of the word. We provide a safe haven for approximately 500 animals including pigs, cows, donkeys, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits and cockatoos.

The lucky animals that come to Big Ears after being abandoned, mistreated or from other circumstances become the ambassadors for their species allowing Big Ears to provide education in an inclusive environment that caters for people with disabilities and minority groups. Big Ears aims to challenge the way humans view and treat non-human animals.

Big Ears Animal Sanctuary is a registered deductible gift recipient charity and is founded and operated by vegan couple Brett and Jacqui Steele. Animals that call Big Ears their home live their lives here as do the co-founders. It is a place of peace for the animals. The animals are treated equally and each animal is free to engage in its natural behaviours.

Big Ears Animal Sanctuary is not open to the public like a ‘zoo’, but has open days, tours and many educational programs available. Big Ears also runs vegan cooking classes.

The Sanctuary is reliant on the goodwill of others including donations of food, blankets and money. All money raised goes directly to the animals as no humans are paid at Big Ears.

The cost of caring for over 500 animals soon adds up to approx. sixty thousand dollars per year. Each week Big Ears goes through an average of 84 cans of cat food, 21 cans of dog food, 18 bales of hay, 12 sacks of wheat, 12 sacks of pellets, 8 sacks of rabbit food, 2 sacks of bird seed, 1 sack of goat meal and 1 sack of chaff. Big Ears is luckily provided with 14 wheelie bins of fresh fruit and veg and 6 wheelie bins of bread free from the local Woolworths store.