58 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • OCTOBER 2019
PRESS PETS
RANCH
FARM DOUBLE D BAR OF HOPE
BY ALLISON MATOS
Just off the Long Island Expressway,
the no-frills Double D Bar Ranch in
Manorville offers a haven, and often
a last hope, for abused and unwanted
farm animals.
Two years after Rich and Gay Devoe
purchased their farm in 1997 as a
home for their horses, they purchased
the adjacent four acres and
adopted the 50 animals the previous
owner could no longer care for. As
news of the rescue efforts began
to spread, calls came in asking the
couple if they would accept more
unwanted animals. Now, the no-kill,
volunteer-run rescue aims to adopt
animals to good homes but also
takes in as many animals as they
have room for — they have about
350 — caring for them throughout
the animals’ natural lives.
“Between food, shelter,
veterinarian services, and
medications, it costs just about
$2,000 a week to run the ranch,”
says Gay, who continues to work
a full-time job while both owners
use their Social Security checks
to fund the rescue.
Over the past 20 years, the ranch
has welcomed numerous animals
who have dramatic stories.
In December, the ranch’s neighbor,
a slaughterhouse, mistakenly purchased
a pregnant cow and asked the
Devoes if they would purchase her.
After scrambling for donations, they
saved her and the next day she gave
birth to her calf. Both are thriving at
the ranch.
When 12-year-old Lumpy the bull
passed away from a neurological
disease, he left behind his best friend,
Norman.
“We moved Norman behind the barn
so he would have some company, but
he still missed Lumpy. It’s amazing
how loving these animals can be”
says Gay. “We called the slaughterhouse
next door and asked them if
they would purchase a young cow for
us, and so they came back with Pearl.
It was love at first sight, and Norman
and Pearl are doing great to this day.”
A visit to the ranch is a great way to
learn about the responsibilities of
caring for animals, which animals
make good pets, and which do not.
The ranch is open for tours between
10 a.m. and 3 p.m. every weekend,
weather permitting.
To donate or learn more, visit
doubledbarranch.org/help-us/
11/30/19
The Double "D" Bar
Ranch in Manorville is
home to about 350 abused animals.
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