Olaf’s story began in Jefferson county where he was seized along with 12 other horses back in September.

Leonard Hughes was convicted of animal cruelty and was sentenced to jail in November. He was sentenced to a maximum of around a year in jail and was prohibited from owning animals. He’s currently serving that sentence in the Jefferson county jail. 

Olaf spent time at a cat and dog sanctuary where they had difficulty finding him a forever home. Olaf is blind and most places have difficulty accommodating animals with visual impairments. That’s until they found Journey’s End at Birch Hill Farm. 

Kim Kwiatkowski and her husband run Journey’s End at Birch Hill Farm. They fund the effort by working multiple jobs each and getting donations.

Olaf has been there for the last two months and is happy and healthy. Kwiatkowski said, “He’s been a fairly easy fit here at the sanctuary, and he gets along with everybody. We love having him.”

Being blind, Olaf has his challenges but gets help from a new friend. Kwiatkowski explained, “He’s a very large animal as you can see, just him running into things would be a problem. He is fairly easy because he is very trusting. He listens to us for cues and he also has his friend Sally to help him negotiate some of the things that would be difficult on his own.”

While Olaf grazes in the open field, he makes sure that Sally is close by.

“He listens for her,” Kwiatkowski detailed, “He listens for the sounds she makes, he listens to her breathing and the movement she makes as she walks through the field.”

Birch Hill Farm isn’t a place where animals stay until they get adopted. The animals get to stay and live out their lives. It’s a peaceful and care-free life for Olaf and his new friends.

Kwiatkowski explained,”He doesn’t have to work any longer. He was probably once used as a plow horse and he had to work his whole life. Now he just gets to enjoy being out in the sunshine with his friends and getting to do what he wants to do during the day.”

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would toughen penalties against those who abuse or neglect animals. 

More information on Birch Hill Farm can be found on their website.