Miracles Come in Pig Sizes: a Family's Healing at Rooterville

Miracle & Sampson, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Yoga Animalia: Porcine - Miracle & Sampson

Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Putnam County Animal Control discovered a property where a family of four pigs had been abandoned. They were starved, bones protruding under skin, near the brink of death. Emaciated, the father, mother, and two sons arrived at Rooterville and began their healing process. The mother became known as Miracle, for her recovery was miraculous, yet challenging. Her spay surgery resulted in a hernia and an infection that forced her back to the vet hospital she had been rushed to upon first arrival. After stall rest and yet more recovery, she finally got to become part of the sounder with her family, able to create nests for her sons Sampson and Logain, and finally enjoy the good life.

This image of Miracle and her son Sampson is one that begs a bit more story. Their tale could have ended so tragically, and even after their rescue, the journey of recovery was lengthy, especially for Miracle. The images that follow show the condition in which she and her family were discovered.

Miracle at University of Florida, Gainesville animal hospital right after rescue. Photo courtesy Rooterville Facebook.

Sampson, Logain, and Daddy overjoyed to have grass to eat after their rescue and arrival at Rooterville. Photo courtesy Rooterville Facebook.

Original Facebook album with more photos via Rooterville can be seen here. When I first saw these images, I could barely believe she was the same pig in the photo. My brain had moments of difficulty relating the healthy, happy, and rather boisterous lady with the barely functioning one in the rescue photo.

Later when I originally captured the first image, I had yet to know the full details, that the young pig next to her was in fact her son. It made finding this image as I perused my captures all the more special, because it spoke to me of a long and challenging healing process. Her glance at my camera seems satisfied and happy as she rests next to her sleeping son. That I got to witness and record this simple moment of mother and son closeness that could just as easily never happened is truly magical for me.

Miracle's story is one of mercy and hope, a story of a family's second chance.

Miracle on one of my first days at the sanctuary, after months of healing and stall rest, anxious to spread her porcine wings.

March Sanctuary Spotlight: Rooterville

In mid-February I traveled to a rural part of north-central Florida, about an hour south of Jacksonville and 50 minutes east of Gainesville. After my Apple GPS told me several wrong ways, nonexistent roads to take, and other tomfoolery, I arrived on the outskirts of Melrose at Rooterville's doorstep, marked by a marquee like you might see outside a church or a theater.

Rooterville Sign lit up for the night

It marked the second sanctuary of the new year I would visit, and I was soon to learn that the source of its name were the potbellied pigs who originally inspired the creation of the sanctuary. Rooterville had grown from its early days as a potbelly rescue into a more fully-fledged farm animal sanctuary. Here I met a host of porcine characters, lounging, rooting, and exploring almost everywhere I looked.

Pigs & Clouds, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Doodle & I, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Leo & I, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

I also met a few equine and caprine friends, including (pictured) Doodle and Leo, both whom insisted on selfies with me, and many photos of themselves besides. I must say, both boys have dashing hairdos - I don't think I've quite seen the like at other sanctuaries!

Paul & Pancake, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

While later perusing Rooterville's website, I noticed that they had several open staffing positions available. I did not intend to leave Florida until April, so I reached out to Elaine, the founder of Rooterville, and asked if she would be interested in me working at the sanctuary for the month of March. It fit for both of us, especially given my previous caregiving and tour guide experience, both roles for which she is looking, and thus I have been helping out the last week and a half. Katie Kowhugger is getting acquainted with several of the most curious porcine residents, and it has been a delight to get to know the residents even better myself. More photos to come throughout the month!

Miracle in her recovery suite after her spay, anxious to join the larger population, and for more treats, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Rudy helps me out with my email, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

Good Night Peepers & Chica, Rooterville, A Sanctuary, Melrose, Florida

How Best Friends Can Heal Your Wounds: Levi & Romy

Levi & Romy, friends for life, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Levi and Romy were two of the first Farm Sanctuary New York residents I had the pleasure of meeting. The pair were sharing a stall in the Melrose Small Animal Hospital which also serves as the nexus of shelter activity. They had just come in separately not long before (their individual rescue stories are below), and though Romy had taken no time at all to bond with humans due to his long convalescence, Levi was still terrified. Romy would come bounding toward me when I entered their area, but Levi hung back; Romy would head butt, hoof, climb, and in other ways let you know of his need and demand for attention, while Levi seemed content to let his friend deal with us bipeds.

Levi & Romy playing with the Postal Peeps in their stall in the Melrose Small Animal Hospital, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Romy & Levi, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

A highlight of my Watkins Glen time was the first time Levi came up to me and started to hoof at my leg - a demand for attention that some of you might be accustomed to receiving from friendlier sheep and goats. Such a dramatic difference from when I first arrived and he would flee in terror. Whether it is a sign of his growing acceptance that the humans around him now are there to help him, or whether he just had a particular nasty itch he couldn't reach and I was a convenient scratcher, this gesture made me giddy. Perhaps it is a testament to the power of friends that Levi slowly started to not only allow people close, but eventually to demand attention himself. Maybe he saw the interaction that Romy had with us and this spurred his healing, and maybe Levi just needed more time to acclimate. 

Levi, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Levi is now a bona fide friend to the humans, perhaps inspired by his best friend Romy. Watching the transformation from scared new rescue to loving Farm Sanctuary resident brought me so much joy, and now Levi and Romy get to live out their lives at the newest Farm Sanctuary site: Jon & Tracey Stewarts' Bufflehead Farms in New Jersey. Click here for a ridiculous cuteness overload video of their arrival. When the newest location is open, Romy, Levi, and their new herd will greet humans with the love and joy they have received, and maybe even inspire healing through friendship for visitors.

Levi, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Yoga Animalia: Caprine - Levi

Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Levi was found, scared and emaciated, in Brooklyn. It is suspected that he somehow escaped a live market, as his Kentucky tags marked “meat” indicate he was transported in to the city. How he escaped is unknown and miraculous, as this boy has issues with his back that cause problems with his movement and he may possibly be a fainting goat. However he escaped, Levi found his way into the safety of Farm Sanctuary where his terror has started to abate, and he will receive a loving community to help him come out of his shell.

Levi, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Romy, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Yoga Animalia: Ovine - Romy

Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Romy arrived at Farm Sanctuary from a small permaculture farm that raises sheep for meat. He was left in the cold night after born, and, when found the next day, the effort and expense to heal the lamb outweighed his worth to them. Farm Sanctuary was able to get him the veterinary care he needed - several months worth of hospital trips and intensive antibiotic treatments. During that time Romy only had humans as companions, and to this day adores hanging out with people. This sickly lamb has become a loving and happy sheep, lavishing attention on his human and goat friends.

Romy, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

The Remarkable Moxie of Old Lady Goats

Molly & Maria - two peas from very different pods, Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

moxie, noun

1. vigor; verve; pep.

2. courage and aggressiveness; nerve.

I created the above image pair the other day because I missed my Acton crew. I had found a batch of photos from my last few visits to my former home-away-from-home (Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres) that I had set aside for later perusal and found the delightful image of Maria; I love how it mirrors the photo of my beloved departed Molly.

I worked with both old lady goats for five years - Maria is the kindly, grandmotherly type that will bake you cookies (not really, but she will gladly eat any vegan cookies you make!), and Molly fell more on the cranky spinster side. Maria helped Elle, both rescued from the same backyard butcher case, raise Cocoa and Nilla who were born to Elle at the sanctuary; we sometimes speculated that Maria could be their actual grand-doe. Molly on the other hand only put up with a baby Prince because she was so savvy she realized baby goat = treat payday. Maria is one of the greeter goats at Acton. Molly's greeting was a contemplative cud chewing with her back to you and her gaze yonder up the hill. Maria got pushed around by the other goats; Molly did the pushing.

Thinking about these old lady goats got me remembering some of the others I have met on this journey, and I am excited to introduce you to them. But first, a close-up of Maria's perfect, beautiful, old lady goat eye:

Maria - about those cookies..., Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

When I visited Animal Place I met Charlene and Laura - two old lady goats who have had the rare blessing of growing old together. This loving couple arrived from separate neglect and abuse cases in 2004 and bonded with each other at the sanctuary - twelve years of love! Watching them nuzzle, Charlene intently snuffling Laura's coat while Laura regally stood ruminating, it was clear how much these two ladies care for each other. All of the many times I visited Animal Place and I never once got a Charlene nor a Laura snuggle because these girls were too busy snuggling each other!

Charlene & Laura - excuse us human, we are busy, Animal Place, Grass Valley, California

I spent at least a third of my photographing time whilst at Green Acres Farm Sanctuary trooping around the goat pasture, ostensibly capturing portraits of the gaggle of goat friends, but really just following Fauna. In several ways she reminded me strongly of Molly, who had passed just two months prior, but Fauna is uniquely her own independent spirit. I hung out with her and crawled about, capturing her portrait (a challenge since she is a pygmy goat and not that high off the ground), and hoping for a modicum of attention from this wee old lady. I managed to snap a lot of photos of her eating, which she did intently, seemingly ignoring the movements of the rest of the goat herd, content to let me trail after her and make ridiculous gushy noises of endearment, while we forged our own path into the acres of green grasses. At some point her belly filled and Fauna then deigned to let me snuggle her and capture her radiance in proper portraits.

Fauna - ready for that close-up, Green Acres Farm Sanctuary, Silverton, Oregon

Fauna - the grass was greener until the goats got it, Green Acres Farm Sanctuary, Silverton, Oregon

Curly Sue wasted no time in making sure I knew she was the most important caprine to be photographed. I have quite a few close-up and much-too close-up photos of this gregarious old lady of Sanctuary One. Vying for greeter title with the brothers Freddy and Friday, Curly Sue has them beat however in my book due to the ineffable charm that comes to the refined and experienced goat gal. I also just learned that Curly Sue has since my visit been adopted into a loving home with a private individual who was owned by a lonely old goat girl, and so now Curly Sue has a sister-in-crime with which to live out her twilight years.

Curly Sue - coming in for the extreme close-up, Sanctuary One, Jacksonville, Oregon

Curly Sue - posing for her good side, Sanctuary One, Jacksonville, Oregon

These elder caprine beauties are powerhouses of personality, charm, and attitude, from the elegant to the intense to the aloof. Moxie - these old lady goats rock it.

Molly - the old lady goat that started it all for me, Farm Sanctuary's Animal Acres, Acton, California

Sonny: Steered by No One

Sonny, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Stubborn. That was the introductory adjective I was given for Sonny. He proved it accurate several times during my stay in Watkins Glen. If he did not want to move, did not want to go through the chute to get his fly prevention, did not want to leave the barn, then Sonny did not do those things, not the easy way at any rate. It was rather comical that this survivor of the dairy industry, beloved friend of my friend and National Shelter Director Susie Coston, was so obstinate with everyone. It is obvious that Sonny adores Susie, and she can sometimes get him to behave. This is the beauty of sanctuary life: Sonny gets to be Sonny, a character that inspires and confounds with his bovine tenacity.

Sonny and Susie, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

Yoga Animalia: Bovine - Sonny

Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York

At one day old, found motionless in a filthy stockyard pen with a torn off umbilical cord, Sonny would have ended up as yet another dairy discard. Too sick and weak, Sonny would have been dumped on the stockyard dead pile, but investigating Farm Sanctuary staff took him immediately to Cornell for treatment. Sonny’s rescue story can be seen in the documentary Ghosts in the Machine, and now that he is safe and thriving, his star status has given him something of an ego – this boy can be stubborn when he wants his own way.

Sonny, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York