Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Up for grabs as “grain fed lambs” for a Thanksgiving meal, Costailo and his brother Abbott were saved and brought to sanctuary.  Grain can be highly damaging to a ruminant’s stomach over time, but it makes them fat much more quickly than their natural grass diet, and thus producers usually choose profit over the well being of the animals.  Both these boys vie for the attention of guests, and it wouldn’t be surprising to turn and have a wooly face or leg bumping you and asking for scratches.

Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

Found on the side of the road, abandoned and weak, May arrived at the sanctuary very near death. Lambs are delicate babies, made more so by human meddling in their breeding. Their survival is cause for celebration. Alas, there was no celebration for May as after one short week her body relinquished its struggle. Though her time was short, she touched the hearts of all who met her.

Animal Place, Grass Valley, California

Farm Sanctuary, Orland, California

One of twelve sheep rescued from a Los Angeles area backyard butcher, Trudy and the other ewes were in terrible shape - emaciated and suffering from respiratory illness, barely surviving on scraps, and likely continually impregnated to sell their children for lamb meat. Arriving at Farm Sanctuary, these elderly girls' world transformed to one of medical care, plentiful food, warm barns, and humans who wanted nothing from them except for them to be at peace. Trudy and her friends' situation is not unique: small scale farms face stiff competition and often cut every corner for profits, denying the individuality of the animals they harm.

Animal Place, Grass Valley, California

Animal Place, Grass Valley, California

When she was born, Gwen was referred to as a “bummer” lamb – a lamb the mother ewe cannot care for, either because she has given birth to triplets or more and she cannot produce enough milk for all the lambs, or else the ewe may have died during birth. This occurrence of multiple births is likely due to selective breeding of domestic sheep. The breeder did not want to bottle feed her as is common for bummer lambs and intended to get rid of the baby. Animal Place was contacted and able to offer her sanctuary where she is certainly not a bummer as part of the flock; Gwen is a bright-eyed and sweet girl.

Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Up for grabs as “grain fed lambs” for a Thanksgiving meal, Abbott and his brother Costailo were saved and brought to sanctuary.  Grain can be highly damaging to a ruminant’s stomach over time, but it makes them fat much more quickly than their natural grass diet, and thus producers usually choose profit over the well being of the animals.  Both these boys vie for the attention of guests, and it wouldn’t be surprising to turn and have a wooly face or leg bumping you and asking for scratches.

Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Up for grabs as “grain fed lambs” for a Thanksgiving meal, Costailo and his brother Abbott were saved and brought to sanctuary.  Grain can be highly damaging to a ruminant’s stomach over time, but it makes them fat much more quickly than their natural grass diet, and thus producers usually choose profit over the well being of the animals.  Both these boys vie for the attention of guests, and it wouldn’t be surprising to turn and have a wooly face or leg bumping you and asking for scratches.

Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Goat the sheep was raised as part of a 4-H project. The 4-H program is supposed to teach kids how to care for non-human animals, yet built into the system is the need to become uncaring and emotionally detached from their companion, knowing they will die at the end.  Some human kids do not resist their natural empathy however, and Goat was fortunate that his human companion chose to find him a loving home at Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary where he is celebrated as an individual and a quirky member of the sheep flock.

Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Farm Sanctuary, Orland, California

Farm Sanctuary, Orland, California

Farm Sanctuary, Orland, California

Farm Sanctuary, Orland, California

Farm Sanctuary, Orland, California

Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

A hunting trip to Arizona turned out drastically different for the man who ended up rescuing tiny Joey from the side of the road. Likely abandoned when a flock was forced to move on, Joey would have quickly perished, and her hold on life was touch-and-go over the Christmas holidays once at Farm Sanctuary because of her ordeal. She lived with caregivers, and received many rounds of veterinary treatment. However her zeal for life saw her through, and now Joey is a sociable and loving member of the NorCal sheep flock.

Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

Green Acres Farm Sanctuary, Silverton, Oregon

Green Acres Farm Sanctuary, Silverton, Oregon

Merry was one of three kids found loose just before Christmas in an Oregon neighborhood along with Hannukah and St. Nick. They were left without food, water, or shelter, but thanks to the actions of concerned humans in the neighborhood, the trio was brought to Green Acres where they could be protected and warm during the snowy winter and for the rest of their lives.

Green Acres Farm Sanctuary, Silverton, Oregon

Green Acres Farm Sanctuary, Silverton, Oregon

Green Acres Farm Sanctuary, Silverton, Oregon

Out to Pasture Sanctuary, Estacada, Oregon

Rescued from a small farm that was being sold, Martha and her ovine companions would have gone to auction, sold for slaughter in their elder years. Instead Out to Pasture welcomed them to live out the twilight of their lives safe from harm. Martha is rather skittish, not too keen for human company, and she stays rather close to the other sheep at the sanctuary. She usually prefers to be well away from any activity happening in the sheep & goat yard.

Out to Pasture Sanctuary, Estacada, Oregon

Sanctuary One, Jacksonville, Oregon

Sanctuary One, Jacksonville, Oregon

Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Saugerties, New York

Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary, Poolesville, Maryland

An iconic figure at Poplar Spring, Andy’s story might have ended tragically except for an act of kindness. Purchased by a horse farm to be lamb barbecue at an event, tiny Andy developed an infection; he was left to die untreated in a cardboard box, but a boarder at the facility found him and brought him to Poplar. The infection left him unable to bend his back legs, but after his treatment Poplar secured a cart for him. Andy was often seen rolling around, accompanying caregivers on rounds, the center of attention to adoring visitors, or just enjoying sunshine and the company of other sanctuary residents. His affable personality and perseverance despite his physical differences made him an inspiration to many during his time at Polar Spring.