COVENTRY, Conn. -- After restoring a 54-acre dilapidated farm, a Coventry woman opened her doors to the state's unwanted animals.

BonnieJeanne Gorden turned a condemned Coventry farm into Tara Farm Rescue, a home for abused animals.

"The farm was rescued, it was condemned," Gorden said. "Tara came from 'Gone With the Wind,' because at the end of the war, when she came back and the whole place was destroyed -- that's what this place looked like when I came here."

Gorden overlooked the run-down, unkempt land with a vision of creating a field of dreams for rescued animals.

"I've always loved animals. My first horse was chained in the back yard like a dog with a screw anchor chain in the ground. He was malnourished and the vet said he won't live two months," Gorden said.

She said the horse went on to live 33 years.

Gorden said her life's goal has always been to take care of animals, but that she never expected to take in the 152 animals that currently reside at her safe haven.

"I never knew what kind of a need there was," she said.

The farm is currently inhabited by horses, cows, cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens, goats, donkeys, a mule and pot-bellied pig, according to Gorden. She said there is a waiting list for animals to get into the farm.

"There are seven horses waiting to come in," Gorden said. "There's all different reasons why people have to give them up. A lot of them are neglected. A lot of the people get them and they don't know what they're doing, they can't afford them."

Gorden's goal is to find homes for as many of the animals as possible.

"Some of our rescues will never leave because they just have problems," she said. "Some of them have some history that you feel bad for them."

While Gorden takes care of the animals around the clock seven days a week, she said she is always looking for volunteers.

"During the day, during the week, it's me by myself," Gorden said.

The farm currently has several volunteers to help care for the animals, but Gorden said she is desperately seeking more.

"Our biggest thing that we need actually is, we need women or men …. That can help us build," Gorden said. "And of course lumber so we can build."

Gorden said that she is also looking for another pot-bellied pig to keep the one currently on the farm company.

"He went to being a loved pet in a house to being shoved out like a piece of equipment," Gorden said.

For more information about donating time, money or supplies to the farm, visit Tara Farm Rescue's Web site.

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