In Memory of Andy

I met Andy at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary's massive vegan Thanksgiving potluck. I helped Carolyn, my friend and a caregiver at the sanctuary, tuck him into bed that night with his adopted grandma sheep Sammie, with whom he snuggled each night in their special needs stall. Carolyn painstakingly made sure his bed of soft straw fully supported him and kept him cozy.

When I was able to visit again the following week, Andy and I got a chance to hang out more, lounging together in the grass and sunshine near the main house. Trooping around in his cart, he would make sure no treats were in the offering before heading out to graze nearby. When it was time to move to the next spot during sanctuary chores, Andy always rode in the front seat so he could securely see where they were headed. Carolyn told me Andy looked forward to those rides. It was obvious to me how beloved this boyo was to his sanctuary family, and my heart goes out to them all during this challenging time. You can see the beautiful tribute Poplar Spring made to their special boy here on their Facebook page, including a beautiful photo of Andy with Sammie.

Andy

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.

Who's on First?: Abbott & Costailo

Costailo, Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Abbott, Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

January finds me reflecting on the sanctuary I visited that made the possibility of creating the Yoga Animalia Project a very real idea: Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, located within the metro area of Salt Lake City, Utah. I'll share that story in greater depth in a later post, but for now I want to introduce you to two of my sheep friends I think about often and with whom I wish I could be bounding about the Utah sanctuary grounds regularly: please allow me to introduce you to Costailo and Abbott.

These boys stole my heart from our first meeting when Costailo posed like a pro for photos, and Abbott demanded attention so closely that it was my second visit to the sanctuary before I managed a decent capture of his charming character. I could spend hours with these sociable boys, and I’m sure they would let me spend the bulk of that time snuggling, or rather, demand I spend that time snuggling with them. Abbott and Costailo are some of the first sanctuary residents whom I met that showed me I could visit a sanctuary as a new visitor and still connect strongly with individuals residing there - a key element of the Yoga Animalia Project.

Yoga Animalia: Ovine - Abbott & Costailo

Ching Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Herriman, Utah

Originally up for grabs as “grain fed lambs” for a Thanksgiving meal, brothers Abbott & 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. These boys often act as greeters to visitors, unless they are too busy running around with their fellow sheep friends.