SHARE

West Milford Mom Turns Home Into Animal Rescue Zone

WEST MILFORD, N.J. — Sandy Roberto's West Milford property is home to her husband and two daughters, plus eight dogs, some horses, goats, pigs, peacocks and more.

Tori Roberto with a three-week old pig at her West Milford home.

Tori Roberto with a three-week old pig at her West Milford home.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sandy Roberto
Taylor Roberto with a newborn lamb at her West Milford home.

Taylor Roberto with a newborn lamb at her West Milford home.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sandy Roberto
Sandy Roberto with Tonka, a rescued horse, at her West Milford home.

Sandy Roberto with Tonka, a rescued horse, at her West Milford home.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sandy Roberto

Roberto, owner of Must Love Dogs in Wayne, lives on a farm in West Milford with the many animals she's rescued over the years.

In total Roberto estimated she has around 30 animals with her.

"It's chaotic heaven," she told Daily Voice. "I love it. I just love being able to go outside, let the goats run around and the pigs. For me it's perfect. It's a dream come true."

It takes plenty of work to manage all the animals. Roberto wakes up to let the dogs out and then checks on fresh water and hay for the animals.

Depending on weather she makes sure to let the horses and chickens out to roam around, along with the other animals.

"It's just a lot of feeding and cleaning basically," she said. One of her daughters helps out too, Roberto said.

Roberto started rescuing animals when she was 17 and strived to have her own facility. She achieved it with the Mountainview Boulevard store in Wayne, plus some extra space at home.

She found the animals through multiple ways. People tell her about ones in need while she's at work. Others she finds through social media or word of mouth.

Her pigs, for example, were covered in mange and were malnourished, but she rehabbed them back to health as they became part of the family.

Roberto hopes she can inspire people to take animal care seriously. 

"People don't realize how many homeless or even farm animals there are," she said. "Even my little pigs, people get them as pets and they discard them. Pets are not disposable. They're a commitment."

to follow Daily Voice North Passaic and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE