Sanctuary Tails

Casey and Phoenix Turn Two

by Leanne

This month, we celebrated Casey and Phoenix steers’ second birthday. Standing next to these boys now, it is hard to believe that they were ever small enough for me to carry. When they first arrived at the California Shelter as calves, there were many health obstacles for them to overcome, as they had contracted tendons and poor immunity from not receiving their mother’s vital colostrum. The biggest challenge initially, however, was getting them to eat. Of course, being weak and without a mother to teach them, they had no idea what a bottle was, and it was necessary for us to tube-feed them at first.

 
Here's Phoenix when he was little. See more photos.   

After several training sessions with interns and staff, however, Phoenix and Casey finally began to eagerly take their bottles. They even started coming up to their hospital stall gate when they heard the lid being removed from the container of milk replacer, waiting to give their surrogate mother a playful head knock for their food. Much to their dismay, they were later weaned and given "grown-up" meals of alfalfa and hay – though it was this big change that allowed them to move to a pasture with other cattle.

 
Phoenix can hardly wait for caregiver Kerrie to dole out
the hay. Photo by Connie Pugh.

Their first introductions to other bovines were with the members of our small special needs herd of steers, all of whom are older and afflicted with arthritis. Casey and Phoenix instantly loved these steers and quickly won them over with their charm. Along with showing the boys proper cattle etiquette, the elders were very affectionate with the calves and always gave them kisses. But as Casey and Phoenix grew, they became a little too rambunctious for the slower-moving steers, revealing to us it was time for them to join the main herd.

This herd is also comprised of mostly older cattle, who at first didn’t enjoy these spunky calves eating from their pile of hay; but, after several days, the two were finally accepted. The cow who has stolen their hearts, however, is Susie Moo – also a newer addition to the herd. From the first day they met her, Casey and Phoenix were swooning and lavishing her with kisses, as you’ll see in the photo of Susie Moo and Phoenix below!

 
Photo by Connie Pugh.

Now, as I stand next to Casey and Phoenix they are as tall as me, and as large as some of the other cattle we care for who are several times their age; however, both remain calves at heart. They maintain their strong bond with one another and they always welcome me when I come to see them – mooing and coming over to investigate, hoping for a tasty treat and never failing to make me smile and laugh.

 
Photo by Connie Pugh.

But even as I celebrate Casey and Phoenix, their birthday also brings a hint of sadness as I think of Billy, another calf rescued with them who passed away. He was the goofiest of the bunch, and I’m sure he would be larger than life if he was still with us now. I continue to mourn his loss as if it happened yesterday. Still, he and all the other animals I’ve loved who passed away remain in my heart and make me all the more thankful for each birthday we celebrate here at the farm.

The Iowa Pigs’ First Snow

by Susie

Four former gestation sows rescued from the Midwest floods remain with us, including Nikki, who had her babies on the levee in Oakville, Iowa; Mabel, who was pregnant at the time of her rescue and gave birth soon after arriving at the New York Shelter; Rose, who tragically lost her 10 babies on the levee; and Honey, who was so burned and emaciated when we found her that, at one point, we thought she wouldn’t make it. Nikki and Mabel’s babies still live here – though Mabel and crew have an adoptive home lined up and, like most of the other pigs from Iowa, will be moving soon.

So now, about seven months after these extraordinary pigs were saved from factory farms and floods, Nikki, Mabel, Honey, Rose, and the rest are experiencing many firsts – among them, the joy of playing in the snow! While the pigs in our main resident herd sleep through many hours of the cold months, often refusing to go out in the snow, the Iowa pigs are thrilled with their winter wonderland and can’t be kept inside. (Hog industry representatives have claimed that modern pigs can no longer tolerate the cold due to their breeding and therefore can no longer live outside. The Iowa pigs' desire to be out in the elements is just one more example of how we know different!)

Running, playing and sinking up to their chests in the pure white snow, the pigs literally ate up the experience of going out in the fluffy stuff for the first time. They stayed outside until their feet turned pink and then, at the end of the day, created the biggest straw bed I’ve ever seen! Exhausted from their merry-making, they slept soundly until the next day.

The fact that these pigs, especially the former gestation sows who spent years imprisoned in 2-foot-wide crates where they could barely move, are able to have days like this now is simply incredible. Spending time with them on this special day refueled me, further strengthening my resolve to stop factory farming abuse and encourage people to save lives by going vegan. If these pigs’ passion for life inspires you too, please join me in spreading the animals’ stories far and wide.

You can learn more about the pigs and see them enjoy their first snow below.

Our Barn Doors Are Open

Welcome to “Sanctuary Tails” … your place for all the news that’s fit to print from behind Farm Sanctuary’s barn doors. Brought to you straight from our very own national shelter director, Susie Coston, and California shelter director, Leanne Cronquist, this down-to-earth blog will give you the inside scoop on what it takes to rescue, rehabilitate and provide daily care for farm animals; show you never-before-seen videos and photo slideshows; indulge you in fascinating animal stories; and give you exclusive reports on more obscure shelter happenings. So, if you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be on the shelter, now is your chance to find out! Join us often as we bring the sanctuary experience right to you (twice a week) from those who know it best. Now, without further ado, meet our bloggers …

 

... Let the barn doors open!