PROVIDING for about 450 animals great and small has offered Big Ears Animal Sanctuary co-founder Jacqui Steele respite from terminal cancer.

Mrs Steele will open the Longford haven, home to animals ranging from goats, to emus and turkeys, for tours throughout February.

She hopes to teach Tasmanians that it's not only dogs that can be man's best friend.

"Our philosophy is that they must come from a background where they're either not wanted, they've been mistreated, basically they've got nowhere else to go," Mrs Steele said.

Mrs Steele and her husband, Brett, were inspired to open the sanctuary after a holiday to Egypt in 2003 opened their eyes to the harsh reality of animal cruelty.

They came back and opened the sanctuary in 2004.

"It's what keeps me going," Mrs Steele said.

"I was diagnosed in 2011 as terminally ill and I'm still here and I'm still very healthy looking and pretty healthy.

"My doctor says to me whatever you're doing out at the sanctuary, just keep doing it because it's working."

Mrs Steele has 220 rabbits, describing them as her "passion".

People can contact the sanctuary to arrange to sponsor an animal, allowing them to visit and tour for free.