About Us
Thyme and Sage Ranch was founded in Cazenovia, WI in 2001. The founder, Jennifer Petkus, has been committed and involved in animal rescue since 1992. Her rescue mission started with cats. The exact trigger point was in Martinez, CA on the outskirts of San Francisco. She went to her local shelter to obtain a second cat. She was torn between two different cats and baffled at how cold and dark this facility was. Not to mention all the animals in cages and line of people dropping more off for various reasons. Most of the reasons were just from uncommitted pet owners and they really bothered her. Two comments that she will never forget were, "My color-scheme has changed in my house decor." and "If I can't keep my dog, no one can have him. I demand he be euthanized." She was more determined to save at least one soul. She was reassured that the one cat she left behind would find a home, she was on her way to spoil and love the one she chose. After a sleepless night of dreaming about the one she left behind, she got up and went down to the pound the very next morning right at opening time. To her dismay and great sadness- the cat was gone. Thinking the best, she checked at the counter on the impound number. The cat was put down two hours after she had left the prior day. Holding back tears, she requested the reason why. Space.
The Saga Begins
Jennifer went undercover and saw things she sometimes wishes she had not. She would buy animals out and rehome or shelter, transfer them to other facilities. She even learned the codes that were put on the kennel cards (e.g. A24) and saw which one had 24 hours left before meeting their fate. Many rescues would come in and fight for animals that the public already wanted and leave the ones that really needed help. At times she would even go into the euthanasia room and pull animals off the table 10 seconds before the lethal injection. As life progressed, cats changed to include dogs, horses , farm animals, to all animals. Today, Thyme and Sage Ranch is a rescue/sanctuary to over 300 animals. Many were headed for slaughter, abandoned, neglected, or abused. Recently Thyme and Sage Ranch has signed on to be the animal pound for all of Richland County strays and impound cases.