Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals

Laurie Zaleski

Feb 2022 · Sold by St. Martin's Press

About this ebook

An inspiring and moving memoir of the author's turbulent life with 600 rescue animals.

Laurie Zaleski never aspired to run an animal rescue; that was her mother Annie’s dream. But from girlhood, Laurie was determined to make the dream come true. Thirty years later as a successful businesswoman, she did it, buying a 15-acre farm deep in the Pinelands of South Jersey. She was planning to relocate Annie and her caravan of ragtag rescues—horses and goats, dogs and cats, chickens and pigs—when Annie died, just two weeks before moving day. In her heartbreak, Laurie resolved to make her mother's dream her own. In 2001, she established the Funny Farm Animal Rescue outside Mays Landing, New Jersey. Today, she carries on Annie’s mission to save abused and neglected animals.

Funny Farm is Laurie’s story: of promises kept, dreams fulfilled, and animals lost and found. It’s the story of Annie McNulty, who fled a nightmarish marriage with few skills, no money and no resources, dragging three kids behind her, and accumulating hundreds of cast-off animals on the way. And lastly, it's the story of the brave, incredible, and adorable animals that were rescued. Although there are some sad parts (as life always is), there are lots of laughs.

Ratings and reviews

domestic-violence, escape, primitive-living, rescue-animals, adaptation, abusive-spouse, adversity, animal-welfare, bravery, calling, cancer, criminal-acts, biography, love, situational-humor***** There is a lot to laugh with in this book. In spite of the hardships caused by a wealthy abusive father and her mother's solution of taking three children under ten with her poorly employable self with her to live in a primitive setting (when the kids were not at school), this biography is a story of love. Her mother loved all animals and began the rescues within their home even though they had little enough. Laurie has the same calling. Alternating between stories of each early adoptee into the home they called The Funny Farm because of all of the farm animals, and the trials and tribulations of the humans this compelling story has no room for self pity but is of strength and perseverance and accomplishments against all odds for the good of animals. All of the children grew to obtain the education each wanted and found success in their own way. For Laurie that was to expand the Funny Farm and make it a shared place that she did not have to finance alone even though that last bit came after her mother's untimely death. In spite of many bad things, the overall feeling after finishing is very, very good. I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley, Thank you!

About the author

LAURIE ZALESKI is the owner and founder of the Funny Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization located in Mays Landing, New Jersey. Since 2000, the farm has welcomed all kinds of rescue animals. Laurie is also the founder, and CEO of Art-Z Graphics. She has been named a New Jersey Heartland Hero, and is listed in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Who’s Who of Professional Women publication and has received numerous awards and acknowledgments for her work to save animals and educate the public about animal abuse. She is truly an inspirational woman of our times.