About Us
Muddy Paws Farm Rescue provides a loving, forever home to farm animals in need. Located on 11 acres in Southampton, NJ, Muddy Paws Farm is home to over 100 farm animals, including goats, donkeys, cattle, horses, and an ever-growing gang of bunnies, peacocks, turkeys, geese, chickens, roosters, ducks and barn cats.
Howard and Debbie Griffis rescued their first four-legged farm friend in 2017, shortly after purchasing the property. They soon discovered there are many farm animals that need new forever homes, and created a 501(c)3, non profit rescue organization.
Our Founders
Muddy Paws Farm Rescue is a dream brought to life by two high school sweethearts who wanted to rescue some animals and bring the community together along the way!
Farmer Deb
Executive Director
Farmer Howard
Infrastructure
Their Story
Elementary Introductions
Howard & Debbie met in 3rd grade. Their mothers joined the PTA & became friends, and the two families began taking camping trips together.
There isn’t much to do in a State Forest, so Howard and his two younger brothers, and Debbie and her two younger sisters, would join forces to combat the boredom of staring at trees.
Teenage Transition
Camping trips continued, and summer picnics were added. The boom box disappeared, and games to combat forest boredom turned into sneaking alcohol and exchanging tales of teenage oppression.
​
If questioned, Howard & Debbie would publicly admit to being friends and say hello to each other when they passed in the high school halls.
Mr. & Mrs. Buy a Home
The headstrong firstborns got married at age 20, & bought a house that should have been condemned.
​
They fixed it up, sold it for a profit, and repeated the process several times until they could afford an unloved three-story Victorian in the center of Moorestown, where they had both grown up.
​
Problematic Puberty
The forced family camping trips were painful during the gawky, awkward early teen years.
Howard, his buddy Will & a boom box that played non-stop ACDC at max volume were inseparable.
Debbie & her ever-present sidekick, Sarah, were way too cool to hang out with immature dumb boys.
Suddenly Seniors
On the night of the Thanksgiving pep rally, during a hasty escape from the principal, the two were literally thrown together and banged heads.
​
The result was minor concussions and somehow the ability to see each other in a different light. And love began.
​
​
Spawn Reproduction
Twenty-four amazing, exhausting years passed in a blur. Four fairly great children were born, raised, and shuttled to their activities. Home remodeling never stopped, and a steady stream of dogs, cats, and other people’s children came in and out of the house.
​
One day, we looked up, and we were almost empty nesters.