Many children who come to Green Chimneys arrive scarred by mistreatment such as abuse or neglect. Because they often never received adequate love and care at home they found it difficult to form warm relationships with others. They would often express their negative feelings through violent behavior. Consequently, these children are at risk of eventually hurting either themselves or others. Also, it is known that children who are abused by their parents tend to abuse their own children when they grow to be parents themselves. Green Chimneys strives to teach these children to both love and to receive love through the action of caring for animals.

Fourteen-year-old Keyla, who grew up without getting much attention from her parents, says, "I come to the farm when I'm sad because the animals give me comfort." Her favorite animals are the goats. Unlike many other animals, which often run away, goats will come close to you and pull your shirt or shoelaces, and Keyla enjoys that attention. "When I'm surrounded by goats," She says, "I feel accepted and loved. "

One day at Green Chimneys a boy who used to hit his mother tried to pick up a duckling. It was warm and cute and soft, and he really wanted to hold it. But when he saw the duckling's mother running around anxiously, he let the duckling go. "His mom is worried about her baby," He said. " I shouldn't do this."

Animals can draw out the gentlest part of a child's heart, even if that child is labeled with behavioral or emotional problems. The nurturing instinct is a treasure that every child possesses inside themselves.