Welcome to Scatter Joy Acres!
Scatter Joy Acres is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing people and animals together through connection, education, healing, and joy.
Our journey began in Nebraska, and today our mission continues in Florida at Hope & Joy Sanctuary.
Come meet our animals, hear their stories, and experience a sanctuary built around compassion, connection, and unforgettable moments.
BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE
A place where every animal has a story, every life matters, and every visit creates a connection.
Hope & Joy Sanctuary is the Florida home of Scatter Joy Acres’ mission.
We offer personal, guided animal experiences designed to help guests slow down, connect, learn, and enjoy meaningful time with our animal residents.
Our sanctuary is welcoming, inclusive, and autism-friendly, with a calm environment where individuals and families of all abilities can experience the animals at their own pace.
Whether it’s your first visit or you’re coming back for more, there’s always something special waiting for you.
Come as a guest. Leave as part of our family. 
Animal Assisted Therapy
Scatter Joy Acres
Healing, Connection, and Community — Made Possible Through Your Support
Scatter Joy Acres is a nonprofit sanctuary where animals and people come together to support healing, connection, and well-being.
Founded in 2006 in Nebraska, Scatter Joy Acres has spent nearly two decades creating meaningful connections between people and animals. Today, our mission continues at Hope and Joy Sanctuary in Florida, while our impact in Nebraska continues through a valued community partnership that helps bring pet visits and animal-assisted experiences to those we serve.
Through our animals, programs, outreach, and partnerships, we create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience the comfort, connection, and joy that animals can bring.
Your support makes this work possible.
Every gift helps us care for our animals, provide meaningful programs and pet visits, strengthen community partnerships, and reach more people who can benefit from the human-animal connection.
Together, we’re continuing to scatter joy—one animal, one person, and one connection at a time.
Our Work in the Community
Every day at Scatter Joy Acres, animals help create moments of calm, connection, and growth for individuals and families.
Through animal-assisted experiences, educational programs, and community gatherings, we support:
Individuals with developmental disabilities
At-risk youth
Seniors
Veterans and their caregivers
Community members seeking connection and healing
Our programs are designed to be welcoming, accessible, and grounded in compassion — for both people and animals.
The Impact You Help Create
Your contributions support impact that happens every day, including:
Providing animal-assisted experiences that foster emotional well-being
Maintaining safe, healthy environments for over 88 animals
Supporting educational and community programming
Expanding access to services across Nebraska and Florida
Because of this work, individuals feel supported, families feel connected, and communities grow stronger.
How Your Support Makes a Difference
When you contribute to Scatter Joy Acres, you help:
Care for animals who are central to our programs
Keep programs accessible to those who need them most
Support staff, volunteers, and facilitators
Sustain and grow our community-based services
Every gift — large or small — directly supports the daily work happening on the ground.