Sanctuary Tails

With a Little Help From My Friend

 

by Susie

Fortune has not always been a friend to Muck Muck, but mere mortals have done their best to fill in. And one particular little mortal has turned out to be the best friend Muck Muck could want.

The first person to do Muck Muck a favor was the one who rescued this Pekin duck from the side of the road in Tennessee. Pekins, a domestic breed used most often for meat and sometimes kept as companions, are not equipped to survive in the wild. White feathers and bright orange bills make them easy prey, unlike wild ducks whose coloring is more a match to their surroundings. Although we don’t know all the facts about Muck Muck’s origin or the history of his escape or abandonment, it was apparent from his severe wounds that he had a run in with a dog or some other predator. He has since recovered from most of his injuries, but the trauma to his eyes was so critical that he was rendered permanently blind.

Rescued but unclaimed, Muck Muck needed a safe haven. Initially, an adopter stepped up and offered the duck a home, but later she had to move and was worried that she could no longer give Muck Muck the special care he needed.

With Muck Muck’s future uncertain, his adopter turned to us. We were happy to welcome the duck to our shelter and, equipped with our extensive experience caring for special needs animals, immediately set about making him as comfortable as we could. But something still would have been missing if not for Nellie.

The two met at the home of their adopter, and Nellie too came bearing the scars of a violent past. She was rescued from a farm in Connecticut where she had lived with 30 to 40 other geese, most of them male. This is a dangerous and unfair situation in which to keep a female goose. The stress of repeated mountings by male geese damaged her spine, causing her neck to be bent downwards permanently. Nellie now has a neck contorted into a sideways S, which forces her to hold her head only a few inches above the ground. Leg injuries from the same cause left her with a stumbling gait. When we took her in, we knew that we couldn’t integrate her into our goose flock because of the risk of further injury from additional mountings by our male geese. We established her instead in a special needs flock of ducks, where she could rest and wander in peace beside a small pond.

So Muck Muck and Nellie, two animals who seemed in no condition to help even themselves, discovered they could help each other. Unable to know the companionship of other geese, Nellie found a companion in Muck Muck. The gallant duck stays close to her and, despite his own disability, is very protective. Nellie looks out for Muck Muck too, guiding him with calls when he has trouble navigating.

These are amazing birds. I don’t know how she does it, but Nellie has figured out ways to do all the normal goose things. When she first came to us, I doubted she would be able to swim — in fact, I worried about what would happen if she tried. But Nellie has worked out how to keep her head above water. She can groom herself; eat from her feeder; and even graze, a feat she cleverly manages by tearing up leaves and forming a pile from which she feeds with greater ease than she could by trying to nibble greens directly from the ground. She has been seen by doctors at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, and they assure us that although the condition is permanent it is not painful.

Muck Muck has also learned to cope. He has become confident at finding his way by sound, and though unexpected noises or contact still distress him, he can handle them once he overcomes his panic and stops to listen.

He listens most carefully at dusk. When it is time to go to bed, Nellie’s calls lead him to her side, where he sleeps every night. Like we see so often with farm animals, these two birds have adapted admirably to the deficiencies of their bodies. And they have each other, which seems to make life worth living. No healthy duck or goose, or human, could quite supply the missing piece for Muck Muck or Nellie, because it is what each lacks that allows him or her so aptly, and with such graciousness, to fulfill the need of the other. We feel so lucky to have them in our lives and so happy that they found each other.

Angelo's Out and About

 

Last month, we gave safe refuge to Angelo, a newborn lamb who was orphaned shortly after his mother gave birth to him on a transport truck bound for a slaughterhouse. Rescued in the nick of time by a compassionate citizen, this tiny baby wound up at our New York Shelter, where he's since gotten quite an education about sanctuary life. In this adorable video, Angelo embarks on some of his first explorations of the shelter, including a visit to a friendly pig and a crowd of curious steers and cows. Enjoy!

Thanks for the Veggie!

 

by Susie & Leanne

Last week Farm Sanctuary was honored to be named "Favorite Animal Sanctuary" in VegNews Magazine's annual Veggie Awards. Thank you to everyone who voted for us — we appreciate your support!

We are grateful to be able to rescue and shelter so many amazing animals — to witness the transformations of creatures who, having lived as mere production units, are at last free to express their natures. It is like watching them become themselves. Chickens who were kept in cramped wire cages take the first, tentative steps of their lives; soon they are running. A pig who knew nothing but concrete floors and metal bars discovers the joy of mud-bathing — legs stretching, mouth agape.

Humans, too, are transformed. Some meet farm animals for the first time and are delighted to discover that each individual has a unique personality. Hundreds of visitors have told us that, having now met chickens, cows and pigs, they can no longer eat these creatures. Others, witnessing the suffering our rescued animals have endured, and the persistence of their spirits in the face of it, feel their own spirit of service galvanized. Whether we express it through changes of habit or dramatic redirections of course, we are moved by the animals to live a little outside of ourselves, to live a little for them. Our shelters are really sanctuaries for people as well as animals. In healing them, we are healed. In recognizing the feeling beings they are, we become more feeling.

Over the past two decades, Farm Sanctuary has rescued thousands of animals. We are grateful to have been able to undertake both small rescues and several ambitious, large-scale ones; to be able to provide state-of-the art care for our animal residents; and to be able to place animals in permanent, loving homes, at our shelters and elsewhere. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many people without whom this work would not be possible: To our generous donors and supporters; to the compassionate members of our Farm Animal Adoption Network, who allow us to rescue and place needy animals even when our shelters are full; and to our dedicated staff, interns and volunteers.

Part of the Community

 

by Leanne

In California, we were pleased to recently celebrate the centennial of Orland, where our shelter is located, with the rest of the local community. Farm Sanctuary has been a proud part of Orland’s history for the past 16 years, and we recognized this bond by joining many other businesses and organizations in a parade through town.

Volunteers began creating the parade float several weeks before the event. As they labored over scrap wood, metal and other supplies found around the farm, a miniature barn and crew of critters slowly took shape. Colorful cutouts representing sanctuary animals drawn by talented interns were affixed to the mini barn and trailer, and a life-size pig figure sat on the edge to greet the crowds. On the day of the parade, hundreds of people flocked to the streets to enjoy the festivities.

Many of Orland’s establishments provide nourishing food and vital veterinary care to our animals, while others donate plants to beautify the farm or add tasty vegan meals and treats to their menus to satisfy our compassionate palates. We appreciate all of the help and support from our neighbors and look forward to celebrating with them again.

  

The Pig in the Mirror

 

by Susie

Pigs have a reputation for loving their food, and I can tell you from experience that it’s justified — our pigs love to eat! Thanks to a paper published in this month’s Animal Behavior and reported by WIRED, maybe they’ll also get a reputation for the unusually clever way in which they are capable of finding that food.

The paper, co-authored by animal behavior expert Donald Bloom of the University of Cambridge, relates his investigation of how pigs use mirrors. Observing mirror use is one way scientists evaluate the cognitive processing abilities of animals, and species that have been shown to use mirrors effectively include some primates, dolphins and elephants.

In the Cambridge study, researchers placed a mirror in a pen with eight pigs for five hours. The pigs spent time looking at their reflections and shifting position to see themselves from different angles, behavior that indicates an understanding of the relationship between their own movements and those of their reflections. Then the pigs were placed in a new pen that contained both a mirror and a hidden food bowl. Seven of the eight found the reflection of the bowl in the mirror and then headed straight for the correct location of the actual bowl, applying deduction to what they observed and remembered about their environment and their own actions. The performance of these pigs suggests something scientists call "assessment awareness" and also provides evidence of self-awareness.

This and many other studies lend the authority of the scientific method to a truth that those of us who work closely with pigs have known since our first acquaintance with the creatures: A pig knows who she is; she knows what she likes; and she’s pretty darn smart about getting it.

Take for instance the way pigs react to their regular health checks here at the sanctuary. These checks involve hoof and tusk trimming, and the pigs are not fans. When they see the tell tales signs of health checks — the healthcare kit, halter, clip board, and a crew of caregivers — a few of the more bashful pigs head immediately for the far reaches of the pastures.

This time of year we also have apples in large tubs in the tack area of the pig barn. People come and go throughout the day with no reaction from the pigs, but when a certain pal of theirs arrives at the barn, the mere sound of her voice gets everyone up and active, knowing that the apples will most likely be distributed. They are amazingly wise. I could go on and on and list so many examples of their intelligence, but this is a blog and not a novel, so I will save them for the next time I react to a study.

I hope that, as science continues to provide more evidence of the intelligence and emotions of farm animals, more people will be inspired to take a look in the mirror and examine how their own choices are affecting these creatures with whom we share such kinship. Professor Bloom hits the nail on the head in discussing the significance of his paper: "If an animal is [perceived as] clever, it is less likely to be treated as if it is an object or a machine to produce food, and more likely to be considered as an individual of value in itself."

We at Farm Sanctuary are privileged to know many of these individuals personally. We know that coming face-to-face with a pig can feel like looking in a mirror because of the way she returns your gaze. A pig looks you right in the eye, with startling clarity, with cognizance, with recognition.

The Fruits of Compassionate Labor

By Leanne

This summer we had the distinct pleasure of working with a group of volunteers from the First Congregational Church of Berkley. Accompanied by several adult chaperones, this group of eight high school students arrived at the California Shelter early on a Monday morning (after receiving their first introductory tour on Sunday), ready to start tackling a long list of projects they aspired to complete: building a jungle gym for the goats, activity boxes for the rabbits, nesting boxes for the owls who live in our hay barn, and compost bins for our Education Center. Of course, they also found time for some extra fun activities like brushing the animals and feeding them tasty treats, and every day ended with an educational program, one of which included baking cookies for the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale event that we held at the local farmers market in Chico.

The first morning of the volunteers’ week at the farm was a bit hectic as we gathered together the necessary supplies and equipment for their ambitious shelter projects. While half the group worked on this, the other half started becoming more acquainted with the animals – gently brushing our elderly steers and feeding fresh apples and carrots to the sheep and goats. Once everything was ready, the group started plugging away with great determination, and, by the end of the very first day, they completed and placed a newly-constructed compost bin made of recycled pallets at our Education Center. From this day forward, despite the intense California heat, their momentum never faltered as they put their shoulders firmly to the wheel for the animals and completed the cozy nesting boxes for the owls, the goat jungle gym and rabbit fun boxes.

The goat’s playground was designed by a member of the church and was composed of seven sections of varying heights connected with ramps, allowing a goat standing at the top of this structure to truly be the king or queen of the mountain. The group worked diligently cutting and putting together all of the wood for the structure while taking breaks to assist us with sheep health checks, too! After all of the sections were completed, we brought them to the goat pasture to be assembled on a newly-flattened area of ground. At first, the goats were more interested in getting attention from our go-getting group of volunteers, and scratching their heads on the loose pieces of wood on the ground, but then one goat, Buddy, slowly sauntered over to give the structure its first touch of approval. The rest, as they say, was history as the other goats joined in the fun.  

The fun boxes for the rabbits, designed during the group’s visit, were constructed to further enrich the rabbit barn by giving the bunnies additional spots to explore, burrow and play hide ‘n seek in. They constructed nine of these boxes, which could be stacked and moved around the barn for limitless possibilities of rabbit fun. Millie and MacBeth rabbits are especially fond of their new boxes, and often hang out in them all day long.

On the last day of their visit, all of the volunteers gathered with Farm Sanctuary interns and staff to enjoy some tasty vegan ice cream and cookies as a "thank you" for all of their hard work for the animals. Their spirit and energy was contagious and the fruits of their labor will last for many years to come. For this, we couldn’t be more grateful.

Farm Sanctuary volunteer opportunities like this one are a fun, positive way to meet new friends, pitch in with critical chores and projects, spend time with the animals, and learn more about the work that we do. If you, or a group you’re involved in, would like to give us a hand on the farm, we’d love to have the help! Learn more about volunteering here.

Open Up and Say “Baaah!”

by Leanne

Just recently we tackled the large job of performing health checks on the main flock of Santa Cruz sheep. Rescued in 1997 from one of the Channel Islands, these animals remain essentially wild despite having lived 12 years at the farm. Because of this, we use different medical examination procedures with them than we do for our domestic sheep herd, and find unique health problems among the Santa Cruz flock due their old age.

The porch of the Sheep and Goat Barn is the most convenient spot on the farm to perform health checks, which means we had to move the entire flock of more than 75 sheep from another barn all the way across the farm where they had been residing and enjoying a change of scenery and a fresh pasture with the main cattle herd. Luckily, this feat is easily accomplished because we move the animals through the barnyard as a flock often with necessary gates closed and people strategically placed to show them the proper way and coax them along as they stop to snatch up any last morsels of green grass.

Health checks began the day after the move and took a large team of caregivers, interns and volunteers nearly two days to complete. We break the large flock down into smaller groups and then pull individuals out for examination. Though we do these extensive health checks on the animals multiple times a year, the beginning of summer is a perfect time for this task since the sheep have been shorn not too long ago, making it easier to spot any lumps or bumps that could otherwise easily hide beneath their wooly coats. More importantly, we can better assess their weight and assign each individual a body condition score, which is a number between 1 and 5 that measures the amount of fat and muscle they have. A score of 1 denotes a very thin animal, while a 5 indicates someone who is carrying a lot of "extra baggage." Weight loss is the number one health problem we find in these sheep who are now more than 12 years old, and we often end up moving individuals who have lost significant weight from the main flock into a smaller one (a group of approximately 30 sheep) so they can receive special treatments and feed.

In cases of severe weight loss, the first possible cause we examine is dental problems. Just like some older people, many of the Santa Cruz herd have lost their teeth or simply worn them down to the gum line, making it hard to chew the dry and tough hay that is a staple of their diet. We integrate these sheep into the smaller flock and give them a mash of special feeds that they don’t have to chew but which guarantees they receive the proper nutrients they need to thrive. But when their teeth are healthy, it is time for us to look more closely for the causes of weight loss by performing blood work, radiographs and other necessary diagnostics. Unfortunately, due to the age of the Santa Cruz herd, one disease we do find in these elderly animals is cancer, which we begin to work with veterinarians right away to treat and keep those in early stages healthy and active for many years. For those with more severe cases, we take every measure possible to keep them comfortable and happy, and closely monitor their quality of life.

Thankfully, despite their age, we find amazingly few problems overall in the sheep during these body checks. Their hooves remain nice and short from all the running they do, and they form strong emotional bonds with one another which bolster both their physical and mental fitness. Once health checks were done, we moved the flock back to their barn and pasture to enjoy their freedom to roam with the cattle and donkeys.

Hay Day

by Leanne

 

Hay is the main staple of many farm animals’ diets, so working with this food in bulk is a big part of life on the farm, making our annual hay delivery day a pretty major event at the California Shelter. Throughout the year, we rotate the animal herds onto our various pastures so they can eat every last morsel of green grass they can spot. If it is a particularly rainy year, many of the herds can go without supplemental hay as they chow down on rich and nutritious grass. But when the rain ceases in late spring and summer rolls around, the pastures turn golden and the hay barn supply gets low. It then becomes necessary to have a new shipment of this vital foodstuff delivered to the farm.

A lot of preparation is necessary before the semi trucks arrive loaded high with hay, which is cut and baled in northern California. Since, during the California summer, we can feed out up to 25 bales daily (a steer can eat up to half a bale all by himself in one day!), it’s necessary to have a large barn in which to store everything. Not only does the barn house feed hay, but it also protects bales of straw bedding, which cannot fit into the large barn lofts, from the elements. After a rainy winter, the first step for our hay supplier is to distribute the back stock of straw throughout the farm to be used during the summer. After that, the hay from last year’s delivery is moved to the front to be fed out in the first couple of weeks of summer, and the large stacks of the freshest hay are tucked behind it. The entire process is like a giant real-life game of Tetris: the goal is to ensure that everything fits snuggly together in their proper spots so that precious indoor space is used most efficiently.

And, of course, what would be the fun of the game without some obstacles? This year they came in the form of a mother owl and her five babies who took up residence in the barn. The nooks and crannies between the bales make the ideal spot for a nest, and since it is a farm, there is abundant food for the owls to survive on. Guests relaxing on the front porch of the visitor cabin are often startled to see the owls’ swooping bodies and hear their happy hoots as they explore the farm. We moved the owl babies to safety while the forklifts and semi trucks moved around the hay barn, and then put them back once everything quieted down. Luckily, the family now has a new home high in the hay barn rafters thanks to volunteers who constructed nest boxes specifically for them.

After the dust settles, the hay barn is all ready for caregivers and volunteers to throw down the heavy bales and drive them out to the hungry herds. Bales are selected carefully — we use the oldest bales up first, and cut out steps in the tall stacks so the highest and farthest bales can be reached. In this way, hay is stored not only as food for our animals, but as an architectural structure that we construct once a year, and then gradually dismantle as the days pass. In some ways, the hay tower is like a metaphor for life on the farm — it is continually changing, yet at the same time constant and vital.

 

Joan Jett Rocks the New York Shelter

by Susie

Recently, I had the pleasure of showing rock legend Joan Jett around the New York Shelter. For me, this was a thrill of a lifetime – especially since Joan’s songs often play over and over in my head (like "Crimson and Clover"). Joan has been a dedicated supporter of Farm Sanctuary and an outspoken and passionate animal activist for years, and it was awesome to be able to introduce her to the animals, and I think we actually got to almost everyone (meaning all 700+ residents!).

 

During her visit, Joan got to meet her namesake, the fabulous Joan Jett pig (pictured above) and pitch in with farm tasks like moving the main cattle herd to a different pasture so they could enjoy grazing on new lush green grass, and feeding scratch mix out to flocks of super excited chickens. She also, of course, got to just hang out and play with all the animals, and I was thrilled to see how very comfortable she was with all of them – no matter how big or how small. Joan was an absolute natural with the animals and, of course, extremely cool to hang out with too. Her visit was definitely the highlight of my summer and I am so glad she got to come to the farm. We are all hoping to have her back soon- especially the chickens- who took an instant shine to the famous rocker – and her namesake Joan Jett- who also happens to love Rock and Roll!

 
Joan explores the pig pasture with Fiona.

 
Joan shares a special moment with Will.

  
 Joan helps move cattle to a new pasture.

 
Joan feeds the chickens scratch mix.

 
Joan meets the fabulous Jerry Lee.

New York Scenes

by Susie

Recently, we've been very lucky to have photographer extraordinaire and good friend of Farm Sanctuary Greg Straight Edge, visit us at the New York Shelter. With his unique photography style, Greg captures the animals' personalities in a very special way. These are some of my favorite photos from his trip. Thanks, Greg, for sharing your talent with us!

SNICKERS

 

FIONA

 

PLANTAIN

 

GOTTI

 

SALLY

  

(Photo at top: AMI Goat)