12/31/2025
DOLLY PARTON DONATES $500 MILLION TO OPEN AMERICA’S LARGEST ANIMAL RESCUE HAVEN – “I WILL SHELTER EVERY DOG AND CAT ACROSS AMERICA – BRING THEM TO ME”
Country music icon Dolly Parton, 82, officially opened Dolly Parton’s Animal Haven today in a heartfelt ribbon-cutting ceremony on the outskirts of her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee. The massive sanctuary is fully funded by Parton’s personal donation of $500 million – one of the largest individual contributions to animal welfare in history.
Set on 500 acres of scenic Tennessee countryside, Dolly Parton’s Animal Haven is designed to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome tens of thousands of dogs and cats every year. The state-of-the-art facility includes advanced veterinary hospitals, wide-open natural habitats, calming spaces filled with soft country music inspired by Parton’s own songs, lifelong care areas for unadoptable animals, and extensive adoption and community programs – all provided completely free of charge, ensuring no animal is ever turned away.
Speaking with deep emotion at the opening, Parton said: “It breaks my heart to think of even one more abandoned dog or cat out there, scared and alone. Every animal deserves a lifetime of love, safety, and a true home. I will shelter every dog and cat across America – bring them to me. This $500 million is my promise that no paw will ever be forgotten again.”
The gates opened immediately, welcoming the first group of rescued dogs and cats, many already wagging tails and purring in relief. Fellow country stars Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert attended the ceremony, praising it as “the most compassionate legacy any artist could leave.”
Fans worldwide have poured out gratitude online, sending trending globally. The sanctuary is now fully open and already saving lives, one rescue at a time.