Susan Klingenberg
I am the founder, president, executive director, social media manager, animal caregiver, accountant, website manager, and so much more. I wear a lot of hats. In the beginning of 2022, I left the company, AssuredPartners, who I worked for almost 25 years and I now focus all my time helping the animals, literally from from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. Holding so many jobs makes for very long days but saving these precious lives drives me everyday. You look into their eyes and the love you receive is enormous.. Each animal on this farm is my child and I know they look to me as their mom. I would do anything for them. They all eat breakfast before I do. They all eat dinner before I eat dinner. But that is how it is supposed to be. All animals deserve love, safety, plenty of food, and lots of friends and so I am determined to give as many animals that chance as I can.
I never imagined Little Buckets would have become a nonprofit so soon and I certainly never expected for us to have so many followers on social media so soon. The amount of love my gang and I receive everyday is mind boggling and I can't thank you enough. Having so many people believe in me and what our mission is so special. It absolutely means the world to me.
Having a Farm
My parents were super generous and when we all were old enough, they divided their land up and gave me and my brothers and sister a lot to build on. We had the Klingenberg Compound so we all lived right next to each other and our parents. It was beyond fun. We would all convene at each other houses and spend every holiday together. When my mom passed away in 2009, one of the last things I promised her was I was going to get us our farm. We always dreamed of having a farm full of animals. So at the age of 40, I got my first farm and my first horse. It was a dream come true and oh how I wish my mom would get to experience it. I know she is always with me and looking after not just me but all the animals too.
The plan was that my dad would move in with me when I got my farm in Maryland and so he did. He got to experience farm life and learned to love animals in a way he would admit, he never thought possible. So when I got my first farm, it was very important to stay close and so I am did, just 10 minutes from where I grew up. But I had a feeling the farm was going to be too small for my dreams of having a rescue and sure enough I was right. Just 6 years later, I began my search for a new bigger farm to make my dream come true of having a rescue of my own.
My Younger Days
I am the youngest of five kids. My parents owned a five and dime store on our Main Street in our town. We all grew up in the store and all helped when we were young and worked there when we were in high school. My parents worked extremely hard and very long days. I attribute my work ethic to them. My love for animals definitely came from my mom. Growing up we had dogs and cats and I always wanted a horse but that was one of the few things my parents said no to. :)
My brothers and sister all played sports and well back then, you didn't have all the sport options at a very young age as you do now so I played tennis and started when I was 6 years old. By 10 years old, I was traveling nationally and tennis was my childhood life. I dreamed of becoming "pro" and I ended up playing tennis for University of Kentucky where I graduated. I was All-American in my junior year until getting injured at the end of my senior year. I was playing satellite pro tournaments during the summers of my college years but had decided that after college I would hang up my racquet which I did.
Tennis required a daily dedication to training. A morning and evening routine of working out and practicing and so it was very similar to the routine of sanctuary life. And even getting no days off is the same. I know that helps me each and everyday as sanctuary life is 365 days a year no matter what the weather brings. But I love it and it is always interesting when your life comes full circle. I seem to always makes choices that never allow me to relax. Someday I will but for now...these animals need every ounce of energy I got from morning to night and I am going to give it to them.
As you can see, life really does come full circle as that is me at 2 years old with my parents and a goat. :)
Getting to spend time with the animals is truly special. I wish everyone could spend time with them, feeling the love they want to receive as well as give is no different than the unconditional love of your domestic pet. There really is no difference and we hope you are inspired to be more compassionate and kind to all animals.
