Our mission is to feed, shelter, and care for animals.
Dottiey’s Barnyard is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal sanctuary. We are home to a variety of animals who have found their way here. We strive to make sure each resident lives the best life that they can!
The Team
Melissa Miller
President and CEO
Melissa has been rescuing animals since 2007 and is well connected in the animal service and rescue community. She takes care of the animals, coordinates the rescues, and everything in between.
Contact: melissa@dottieysbarnyard.org
Jessica DeWitt
Treasurer and CFO
Jessica has known Melissa since 2006 and has rescued a few animals of her own. She helps coordinate the finances, fundraising, and event planning.
Emily Halcott
Secretary
Emily loves all animals, but especially pigs and her kitty, Lucy. She is enthusiastic about supporting and contributing to Dottiey’s Barnyard.
Our Story
The story of Dottiey’s Barnyard starts with Melissa Miller. She says:
“I have accumulated animals for years, some purchased, some taken in, and several rescued. I love my animals more than anything, and they are the reason I get out of bed early and am never clean, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
It all started with the first rescue more than a decade ago! This is Dottiey!
When Melissa was 17 years old, she was taking her truck through a car wash, and when she was in the tunnel, someone opened her door and put this little, innocent, and sick puppy in. Melissa brought the dog home, and her parents said she needed to find the dog a home immediately and she did, the dog stayed with her! Dottiey has been Melissa’s best friend and through a lot of growth with her. She is the best dog at reading people and is the smartest girl Melissa has ever worked with. Sadly genetics failed Dottiey when she developed Central Retinal Atrophy and slowly went blind over the last 6 years. She has adjusted well and is still Melissa’s little sidekick.Melissa continued providing homes for castoff animals by either rehoming them or providing sanctuary at her ranch in Lakeside. She houses a cow, a miniature horse, an alpaca, several sheep, goats, pigs, birds, dogs, cats, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, tortoises, and any animal that needs help.In December 2019, her best human friend, Jessica DeWitt, decided that Melissa needed to make the ranch an official charity and put them on the road to becoming a nonprofit. Dottiey’s Barnyard was officially incorporated on December 27, 2019. Emily Halcott joined our board of directors the following month. Our mission is to provide shelter, food, and care for animals. To achieve that goal, we are registering as a charity with tax exempt status. Our goals are:
- To raise funds to continue providing care for the animals at the farm and allow us to take in other animals we find that need care.
- To establish a program for rehoming adoptable animals.
- To educate the community about animals, both livestock and pets.
Dottiey's Barnyard 