Funny Farm

My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals

De: Laurie Zaleski

Narrado por: Erin Moon

2022 Audible’s Best in Bios & Memoirs

Laurie Zaleski never aspired to run an animal rescue; that was her mother Annie’s dream. But from girlhood, Laurie was determined to make the dream come true. Thirty years later as a successful businesswoman, she did it, buying a 15-acre farm deep in the Pinelands of South Jersey. She was planning to relocate Annie and her caravan of ragtag rescues - horses and goats, dogs and cats, chickens and pigs - when Annie died, just two weeks before moving day. In her heartbreak, Laurie resolved to make her mother’s dream her own. In 2001, she established the Funny Farm Animal Rescue outside Mays Landing, New Jersey. Today, she carries on Annie’s mission to save abused and neglected animals.

Funny Farm is Laurie’s story: of promises kept, dreams fulfilled, and animals lost and found. It’s the story of Annie McNulty, who fled a nightmarish marriage with few skills, no money and no resources, dragging three kids behind her, and accumulating hundreds of cast-off animals on the way. And lastly, it’s the story of the brave, incredible, and adorable animals that were rescued.

©2021 by Laurie Zaleski (P)2022 by Blackstone Publishing

Love this ture life story.

The tales of her family and the animals will make you laugh and cry.

Humor, sad and caring

I loved this story! It was about a mother’s love passed onto her children and how the daughter doctored and saved many unwanted animals.

Awesome True Story of What Love Is

I usually avoid books about animals because it hurts to know of their suffering. There are some moments that will make you cry, but the lessons in this book from Annie McNulty and her daughter Laurie are spectacular and wonderful! Worth every tear of sadness and happiness. God bless all the animals and the wonderful people who love and care for them! I am totally inspired!

You’ll Laugh, You’ll Cry

This is a WONDERFUL book! I didn’t want it to end. Laurie painted a beautiful picture of her tragic childhood, interspersed with heartwarming and heartbreaking animal rescue tales. What an incredible person… what an incredible story. She is a hero, and I hope to visit her Funny Farm one day.

Room for one more?

This true story will have you laughing & crying as your heart fills with joy then breaks with sadness, but you will be so glad you read it or listened to it. It is a story of hardship & love of a battered family who just wanted to stay together & help animals in need. So Laurie Zaleski, her mother Annie & siblings worked hard to fulfill their mother’s dream of having an animal farm for unwanted & disabled farm animals. Of course Laurie is the founder & CEO of this non-profit organization, The Funny Farm, & has dedicated her life to keep it going. What an inspiring & selfless love story it is! Spoiler Alert: it’s helpful to have a box of tissues @ hand.

I cried tears of joy at the end of this book!!

BRAVA!! not only is Laurie a wonderful woman, daughter, sister, graphic-designer & animal rescuer but she's also a terrific writer. I loved this book & will be donating to the Funny Farm & following them on Instagram. Sincerely , Liz Jardine

Great true story!

If you're not already an animal lover, you'll fall in love with the real characters in this far.! I really am grateful for the author's kindness and outreach to "underprivileged" people too. A blessing to have such mensch in this world as Laurie, her family and crew of volunteers.

What a beautiful book!

I loved this book, even more than I thought I would. Any book about rescuing animals is extremely appealing to me, but what captured my heart equally was the beautiful life story behind it. What an amazing life Laurie has had, and an amazing mom! The narrator was perfect, so pleasant to listen to and really made me feel like I was hearing from the author herself. Highly highly recommend !!

Heartwarming, surprising & funny

I didn’t know how full this book would be when I started reading it. I saw “must-read for animal lovers” and thought, “I’m in!”

The stories about all the animals are priceless. Most of them made me laugh; all of them warmed my heart. (And this farm girl learned some things too!)

What I wasn’t expecting was the inspirational story of Laurie’s mom. The way she finally said, “Enough!” and carved out a better life for her and her kids was heroic — and I’m not being hyperbolic. She was a hero in every sense.

I won’t say more for fear of spoilers, but I can’t recommend this book highly enough — for anyone with a beating heart.

put a smile on your face

I loved it. funny sad silly animal lovers it's a must-read.The wonderful reality of how much love our animals are capable of giving.