⚠️ WARNING: If you are disabled, traveling with a service animal, or care about animal welfare, read this before visiting Wellwood Orchards. ⚠️
After years of not going to Wellwood Orchards—mainly because I was serving in the Army and away for a long time—my fiancée and I finally made the five-hour trip so I could show her a place I once had fond memories of. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing like I remembered and turned out to be extremely upsetting.
I am a disabled combat veteran and had my 6-month-old service animal with me, who plays a critical role in helping me manage my disability. She is only 3.5 pounds, a tiny dog, and I was holding her in my arms on her back like a baby the entire time. She posed no threat to anyone or anything. Instead of being treated with understanding, I was met with hostility. While my fiancée was petting the barn animals, an older woman—either the owner or an employee—rushed over in a frenzy, yelling aggressively at me, insulting me, and shouting “dogs aren’t supposed to be near here, what are you, stupid?” I calmly explained that my dog is a service animal, but she completely disregarded me and continued her verbal attack, showing zero respect and no understanding of the law.
She then pathetically claimed my 3.5-pound service animal was a “predator” that could kill her full-grown farm animals. To call such a small, well-behaved service dog a predator is beyond absurd. It was insulting, cruel, and disgraceful behavior.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is very clear: service animals are allowed anywhere the public is permitted to go—including petting zoos and animal areas open to guests. Restricting a service animal from a public area is illegal unless the animal is out of control or not housebroken, which was not the case here. My dog was calm, in my arms, and completely under control. If this happens again when I return to Vermont, I will not only file formal ADA complaints but also sue for these rights violations. Businesses risk penalties of up to $75,000 for a first ADA violation and $150,000 for subsequent ones, and Vermont law adds fines up to $10,000 per violation for interfering with assistance animals. I strongly urge others with service animals—if you are ever treated this way here—to hammer them with lawsuits as well. It’s the only way this disgraceful behavior will stop.
Even setting aside the way I was treated, the state of the animals was heartbreaking. Just as many other reviews have said, the animals looked neglected and unhealthy. The cows especially were emaciated—you could clearly see ribs and backbones sticking out, which is not normal or acceptable. There was little to no shade for them or for the other animals in the petting zoo. Watching families enjoy the petting zoo while the animals clearly suffered was deeply upsetting. I will be contacting animal control and Vermont authorities to report what I believe to be abusive and inhumane treatment. Animal neglect is not just distasteful—it is illegal.
If you unfortunately decide to visit this place, be prepared for the possibility of being disrespected and for your children to witness animals in poor condition. If your rights are broken here—like mine were—don’t let it slide. File complaints, take legal action, and hold them accountable.
What was once a place tied to my childhood memories has now become a place I will forever associate with disrespect, discrimination, and animal suffering. To treat paying guests this way—let alone a disabled veteran traveling five hours with a small dog—is shameful. Between the disregard for federal law, the lack of basic decency, and the appalling neglect of animals, I cannot recommend this...
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