Between Oaks
Between Oaks Homestead and Animal Rescue badge

Between Oaks

Homestead & Animal Rescue

Sheltered by love.

A family homestead and animal rescue taking root in the oak bottomland outside Fordyce, Arkansas.

Our story

A home between oaks

Two old oaks stand side by side in the creek bottom, the way Kenneth and Janie Shrum stood together for 63 years.

Kenneth has cared for these oaks for decades.

Janie was an artist, a gardener, a baker, and a foster mom with an open door and a heart full of love. Her favorite flower was the sunflower, so they grow at the feet of both oaks, turned toward the light.

Carrying it forward

Janie and Kenneth spent their lives growing things and making room for others.

Now Tait and Andry are carrying that on. Between those two oaks they're building a home, a family, and a rescue for animals who need a soft place to land.

Two oaks

Mom and Dad, side by side, sheltering everything beneath them.

A soft place to land

The home between the oaks, with the lights on.

Janie's sunflowers

Her favorite flower, growing at the feet of both oaks.

All animals welcome

The first residents

Meet the Crew

Five dogs and Katya the cat were here before the rescue had a name. They run the place. Our wild neighbors, the deer and raccoons, were here long before us, and we welcome them at Between Oaks.

Follow their adventures on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Little paws, big heart.

The rescue

A soft place to land

We partner with rescues and shelters across Arkansas to give a home to good animals who keep getting passed over for being too old, too big, the wrong breed, or even the wrong color.

Overlooked, not unwanted

Senior dogs, large breeds, and the others who wait too long in shelters. Here they get room to run and time to find their people.

Vetted by partner rescues

Every animal comes from an Arkansas rescue or shelter we trust, already vetted and good with others. We make exceptions when we have room.

How to help

Pull up a chair under the oaks

Follow along, join the list, or reach out. Ways to give are on the way.

Follow along

Life on the homestead, the crew, the garden, and music on the porch.

Stay in the loop

Be the first to hear when Janie's Sunflower Fund and the Under the Oaks Club open, and when animals need homes.

Get in touch

Rescue partners, volunteers, and neighbors: we'd love to hear from you.