Before I Go: Stories, Lessons, and Love from the Sanctuary

Description

Before I Go: Stories, Lessons, and Love from the Sanctuary

 

After 24 unforgettable years of rescue, advocacy, and radical compassion, Catskill Animal Sanctuary's Founder, Kathy Stevens, is inviting you to experience the Sanctuary like never before—through 5 unique, powerful, and deeply personal experiences.

Please Note: At Catskill Animal Sanctuary, the comfort and well-being of our residents always come first. While we do our best to create meaningful, interactive experiences, animals are individuals with moods and preferences...just like us. If they choose to keep their distance during your visit, we honor their need for space. We appreciate your understanding and compassion as we let them set the pace.

Each experience offers something different:

1. Iconic stories told in the exact places they happened

2. The role of sanctuaries and the challenges they face

3. Hands on experience with our rescued horses

4. Love Spoken Here Legacy stories from the animals that shaped CAS, and Kathy

5. A heartfelt closing circle marking the end to this incredible chapter

All include an opening gathering with Kathy and other CAS staff and a light vegan breakfast. Choose one experience —or choose them all!

 

Whether you’re laughing at the antics of our rescued friends, reflecting on the future of animal sanctuaries, or hearing about the horses who changed Kathy’s life, every experience is a tribute to the animals, the people, and the mission that built this extraordinary place.

 

This good-bye series isn’t just a celebration of what’s been—it’s a call to carry the Love that has always been Spoken Here, forward. Come walk with Kathy one last time, and leave inspired to help create a more compassionate world.

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#1 Saturday, April 26th

9:30 AM - Breakfast & Gathering

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Tour

• It Happened Right Here: Twenty Years of Tales Told Where They Took Place
  Iconic, hilarious, heartbreaking, and unforgettable—true stories shared in the exact places they happened. From the marijuana mystery to Rambo’s reign, relive moments that shaped the soul of the Sanctuary. Includes readings from Kathy's books Where the Blind Horse Sings and Animal Camp, with books available for signing.
  
  
  • Experience Includes: Light vegan breakfast

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#2 Saturday, May 10th

9:30 AM - Breakfast & Gathering

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Tour

• Why Sanctuaries Matter: Love, Liberation, and the Future We Choose
  Explore the vital role sanctuaries play in creating a just and compassionate world. With honesty and urgency, the founder reflects on the movement’s progress—and its challenges—and invites each of us to step into deeper purpose. Tour behind the scenes to witness what love in action looks like, and leave with a renewed sense of mission.
  
  
  • Experience Includes: Light vegan breakfast

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#3 Saturday, May 24th

9:30 AM - Breakfast & Gathering

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Tour

• Horsin’ Around: How My Love for Horses Sparked a Lifetime of Rescue
  Hear Kathy's transformational journey from horse-crazy kid on her family's thoroughbred farm to sanctuary founder opposed to the use of animals for human purposes. Along the way, hear stories of the unforgettable horses who taught her everything.
  
  
  • Experience Includes: Light vegan breakfast

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#4 Sat, June 7th

9:30 AM - Breakfast & Gathering

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Tour

• The Love Spoken Here Legacy Tour: A Tribute to the Voices We Hear and the Stories they Tell
  Experience the sanctuary with Kathy through the voices of its most powerful teachers—the animals. Told by Kathy, these unforgettable stories honor the lives that shaped our mission. Every tale is a reminder that love is spoken here and we are listening!
  
  
  • Experience Includes: Light vegan breakfast

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#5 Saturday, June 21st

9:30 AM - Breakfast & Gathering

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM Tour

• The Last Lecture: What the Animals Taught Me About Living, Loving, and Letting Go
  In one of her final public talks as founder, Kathy shares the life-changing lessons learned from two decades at Catskill Animal Sanctuary. With tears, laughter, and deep gratitude, this closing circle honors the animals, the people, and the purpose behind it all. It's not just an ending—it’s a call to promise to carry the love forward.
  
  
  • Experience Includes: Light vegan breakfast

Date & Time

May 10 - Jun 21, 2025

Venue Details

Catskill Animal Sanctuary

316 Old Stage Road
Saugerties, New York 12477

Catskill Animal Sanctuary