UNION, Mo. — Tucked into the rolling hills of Franklin County, Longmeadow Rescue Ranch is usually quiet and peaceful. The tranquility is nice, but the unusual summer quietness is not.
"We are not seeing as much adoption interest as we usually do in the summer," Longmeadow Rescue Ranch Director Amanda Mullen told 5 On Your Side.
Not only are adoptions down, but she said the farm is lacking in volunteers too.
"I think people are finding themselves to work more than they did in the past or finding that their job is more demanding," she said.
Down adopters and down volunteers, but a steady stream of needy animals continues.
"We are seeing about double the amount of owner surrenders that we have seen in the past," she said.
Standing by an older red mare, Mullen describes adoptable Stoney, "when she came in she had some very severe dental neglect." Stoney is all healed up and one of many older horses on the ranch looking for their forever home.
Trying to encourage people to take home an older horse, Longmeadow is offering 50% off horses 18 and up.
"Senior horses can be great for less experienced adopters," she said, "but also adopters who are looking for a companion, maybe for another horse. They tend to be calmer."
On the less chill and perhaps more noisy side, there's a barn full of ducks and goats also looking for homes.
"We are seeing some more goats come in," she said, "and of course ducks, that's why we are doing the duck promotion."
For the summer, it's two-for-one on all ducks.