Monroe County Sheriff's Office Animal Farm

On Stock Island, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Animal Farm cares for rescued and abandoned animals, with help from selected county inmates. The collection ranges from farm animals such as horses, pigs and goats to alligators, turtles, tropical birds and sloths. Children and adults can get close to the animals, and the care program adds context to the visit. The farm is open to the public on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, so check the date before making the trip.

A farm for rescued animals

The animal farm is near the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and Detention Center on Stock Island. It cares for animals that have been abandoned or need a home, including farm animals and exotic species. The collection described includes horses, a cow, pigs, goats, rabbits, alligators, tropical birds, turtles and snakes, as well as sloths, a lemur, an emu and a kinkajou.

The farm began in 1994, when the jail took in a group of ducks. Selected county inmates now help care for the animals under guidance from farm staff. That program is part of what gives the visit its particular character: animal care is connected with a therapeutic program for inmates.

Planning a visit

The public opening is limited to the second and fourth Sunday of each month, from 1 to 3 pm. The farm is on College Road, just off College Road on Stock Island, at 5501 College Road, Key West. Check the date before setting out, since the regular opening is only twice monthly.

You can bring a cash donation or food donation. For produce, the farm's visitor information suggests checking Winn-Dixie in Big Pine for free donations before visiting.