WILKINSON, Ind. – Nick Atkins owns the Almost Heaven Farm Animal Sanctuary near Wilkinson in Hancock County.

He has mostly goats, pigs, cows and horses along with a donkey and several chickens on 26 acres, containing a half dozen outbuildings to provide the animals with shelter when they’re not roaming freely in his fenced-in pasture.

“On any given day, you’ll look out there and see the cows grazing with the horses and the goats right behind them. The pigs will not be too far away. Everybody gets along. It’s kind of cool,” he said.

Atkins said he rescues farm animals facing uncertain futures because of things like injury and owners no longer able to have a goat or a cow after moving from the country to the city.

He once accepted a piglet now weighing 700 pounds after it fell off a production truck on a highway several years ago.

Several of his horses were nothing more than skin and bone from being underfed before they arrived. “I’ve had some bad looking horses come through here and we nurtured them back to health,” he said.

He’s also taken in several potbellied pigs who were treated like pets until becoming too large and unwanted by their owners.

Atkins said people are also welcome to bring their animals to his sanctuary and he’ll accept them at no cost as long as he has room.

Right now, Atkins said he’s at the maximum of about 30 animals that are allowed to live out their life spans.

Atkins said he feeds the animals and provides for their medical care with help from donations of food and money.

Typically, the annual cost of caring for the animals is higher than the contributions, though. Last year, Atkins said he covered the $17,000 shortfall out of his personal funds.

Atkins, who has made a living out of selling plumbing parts for Central Supply Co., Inc. for nearly 40 years, doesn’t have deep pockets.

His household budget, however, is built primarily around the cost of caring for his mixed herd.

“I don’t eat steak or prime rib. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t gamble. My passion is these animals. I just love what I do,” he said.

Monetary donations to the sanctuary are tax deductible since it was registered as an official charitable organization with the federal government in 2012.

Atkins said he’s been an advocate for animals since he was a teenager and began rescuing dogs and cats. 

He and his wife moved to Indiana in 2001 to help care for some of her ailing family members. After learning about the need here they decided to use their newly acquired property east of Indianapolis as a rescue.

Atkins said his desire to help animals stems from being abused as a child and having a pet rabbit to talk to at length, sometimes, as an escape.

“That was kind of nice so I felt like if the animals have a problem they can come here and I can listen and give them a place. Give them a sanctuary like that rabbit gave me,” he said.

To offset expenses, Atkins, who served in the military for four years during the 1970s, has several fundraisers every year to help with expenses of the sanctuary, including a benefit ride on Aug. 5.

Motorcyclists for $15 and $7 for a partner will ride about 10 miles from the VFW post in Fortville to Woody’s Bar in Lapel for a raffle, live music and other happenings.

Atkins said he plans to operate the sanctuary for the rest of his life no matter how much he has to contribute financially.

However, more contributions would mean being able to do more things like having veterinarians look at animals sooner instead of waiting until he has the funds.

Atkins, who provides all of the labor, could also consider paying someone to help tend to the animals and maintain the grounds.

“If people donate and help out, that’s great. That’s less that I have to do. I’ll keep going while I’m still alive,” he said.