Community Corner
Paws Discovery Farm In Burlington County Is Shutting Down
The longtime educational farm announced this week that it is closing due to financial constraints.
MOUNT LAUREL, NJ — A popular educational farm in Burlington County is closing its doors forever. Paws Discovery Farm’s last day of operation is Feb. 26, the farm announced in a Facebook post. The Garden State Discovery Museum is ending its management contract with the farm.
“Mount Laurel Township solicited for a new partner and did not find a suitable match,” Paws Discovery Farm Director Kelly Lyons said. “Paws Farm will be closing and the animals will be going to new homes.”
The closure is due to mounting financial costs, loss of sponsorship and the overall welfare of the animals and the staff, according to the farm’s owners.
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“Many of the smaller animals will be homed at the Discovery Museum and the barnyard collection will be finding new homes with wonderful accommodations and resources,” Lyons said. “We greatly appreciate all the community support and the partnership with Mount Laurel Township. Our members and visitors have brought such joy and love to all the animals and people of Paws. We appreciate you.”
Mount Laurel Mayor Irwin Edelson told the Courier Post the township didn’t have enough time to find a new operator for the farm, and that the township can’t “simply commit hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to maintain” the farm. The site is expected to remain as open space.
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Some residents have started an online petition to save the farm. As of Wednesday morning, the petition had more than 5,000 signatures.
“I'm a lead animal keeper at Paws, and this is the only way to ensure all bonded animals stay together healthy and happy,” one person wrote in the petition. “Many of these animal have lived here for their entire lives. We are their family. I love them all more than anything, and they should not be taken away from the home they have known for many, many years. The guests who visit them are also family. Please get the word out. Paws has the potential to be as great as it once was just like all the dedicated staff wants.”
The farm opened in 1979 as an animal sanctuary and nature center, and has remained open as an education center.
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