Tag: Rescue Animals

Sanctuary Visit: Whispering Rise Farm & Animal Sanctuary

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Whispering Rise Farm & Animal Sanctuary
Freeland, MD

Whispering Rise Farm & Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide sanctuary to abused, neglected, abandoned, or seized potbelly pigs who are products of the pet pig trade. Their secondary mission is to provide humane education to the public, and to offer an anthrozoological experience to individuals and small groups.

The farm is available to children and adults who want a volunteer or community service experience, or who are looking for a more intense spiritual or emotional connection to animals in need.

Individual sponsors provide each of Whispering Rise’s residents with a proper diet, warmth in the winter, cooling relief in the summer, year round vet care, medication and supplements, and a healthy living environment at all times.

Meet the pigs:

Ethan: (From WRFAS) Ethan is an incredibly sweet pig in a larger than life body. He has a spinal deformity, due to improper use of a harness, but that doesn’t stop this special guy! He is the King of Belly Rubs. There really isn’t much he wouldn’t do for one! You will often find him flopped over waiting for belly rubs or for his diet to end.

Ethan was rescued from a Maryland trucking company that kept him as a “mascot” for the business. He was kept tied to a tree, but now lives safely and happily at WFRAS!

Ozzie is a sweet and curious pig! He loves people. After meeting me, he followed me around the pen and posed for many photos!

Queen Peaches is a gorgeous Berkshire pig. Berkshires are a rare bred of pig that originated in Berkshire, England. They are commonly bred for meat which is sold at a premium. Thankfully, Queen Peaches is safe at WRFAS, and will never be butchered for meat.

Belliumpkins: (From WRFAS) Belliumpkins is a gentle giant. His mom was presumed to be a farm pig while his dad was a potbelly, creating this adorable spotted creature. He was rescued and brought to Whispering Rise Farm & Animal Sanctuary where he bosses around his friends in Pen 3. He’s known to try to knock buckets of food out of unsuspecting hands and to smush his muddy nose against your leg until you pet him.  Belli is one of our most noticeable and loveable pigs.

Hershey was a little bit shy when we met, but still warm and friendly. Check out that mohawk of bristles!

Oreo was named for obvious reasons and was rescued as a stray. She has since been reunited with her owner, but she continues to live at WRFAS.

LuLu: (From WRFAS) LuLu is a special gal and the official tour guide of Whispering Rise Farm & Animal Sanctuary. She has a sweet soul that will calm you better than any medicine ! She loves kisses on her nose and plenty of attention. She is a loyal companion who will follow you to the end of the world and back, or at least to the front gate. She likes posing for photos and meeting new people

Mushu (Left) and Notorious P.I.G. (Right)

I had a great time visiting Whispering Rise Farm & Animal Sanctuary and meeting all of their residents. With over 60 pigs in multiple herds, there are so many beautiful beings to spend time with. So many of these pigs were recused from neglect and abandonment or rescued from homes where they were kept as pets. Often people are falsely told that the pigs they are purchasing as pets will stay teacup size. Once they grow, their owners are unable to care for them. Additionally, when pigs are kept inside away from the mud and dirt they love, they can become aggressive. Again, this leads to abandonment of the pig. Fortunately, the pigs at Whispering Rise now live happy lives in a safe environment.

Below are many more happy faces from Whispering Rise Farm & Animals Sanctuary.

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Sanctuary Visit: Here With Us Farm Sanctuary (2018)

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Patrick & Darby
Here With Us Farm Sanctuary, Lancaster, PA

Here With Us Farm Sanctuary provides a safe and loving home to abused farm animals and was founded in July 2018 in Lancaster, PA. Their first rescues are two sweet and silly goats, Patrick and Darby, who were saved from a neglectful farm. They were malnourished and walked on their knees due to hoof rot. Patrick, a Boer goat, and Darby, a mixed breed, are now living happily thanks to Here With Us Farm Sanctuary. Having recovered from their hoof rot, they are both strong, back to walking on their hooves, and climbing!

Here With Us Farm Sanctuary was founded and is operated by Amanda Clark of The Sanctuary Project.

Learn more about Here With Us Farm Sanctuary and support them through their Patreon page.

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Sanctuary Visit: Winner’s Circle Center

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Winner’s Circle Center
Lancaster, PA

The Winner’s Circle Center provides various animal-assisted therapeutic services including counseling, psychotherapy, and learning services with a number of rescued and rehabilitated animals. Their mission is to unlock the potential within each of their clients and students to find the solutions that improve their emotional, academic, and social well-being. Those who use WCC’s services have the opportunity to learn about, form bonds with, and care for a number of horses, dogs, goats, and chickens and leave with a greater compassion for and understanding of animals.

Meet the animal residents of the Winner’s Circle Center below:

Skip
Morgan Horse

Skip is a Morgan horse. He was an Amish buggy horse until he severely broke his ankle. Thankfully, The Winner’s Circle Center saved him from euthanasia and rehabilitated his ankle. He’s now living free and happy!

Charlie
Thoroughbred Horse

Charlie was once a competition horse used for racing and show jumping. As he aged and the competitions took their toll on his body, he developed arthritis. Sadly, Charlie was going to be euthanized since he could no longer compete. Thankfully, the Winner’s Circle Center stepped in to save him and provide him with a new home. Charlie now lives happily in Lancaster, PA with his competition days behind him and the company other horses.

Cassie
American Paint Horse

Cassie is a beautiful American Paint horse who lives at The Winner’s Circle Center. She came to WCC a very young and orphaned foal, but is now a few years old and living happily. She has a wonderful personality and enjoys interaction with people.

Alice
Pony

Alice is a sweet little pony who lives with Charlie, Skip, and Cassie in the barn at the Winner’s Circle Center. She has a calming and friendly presence. She lovingly cared for by the WCC team and has the company of several beautiful horses and goats!

Colleen, Diego, Dixie, Luna, Paco Taco, Rocky Balboa, and Sadie
Miniature Horses

Colleen (brown and white Paint), Diego (white with brown speckles), Dixie (white), Luna (gray/light brown with white speckles), Paco Taco (tan), Rocky Balboa (brown with white batches), Sadie (chocolate brown)

There are seven miniature horses at Winner’s Circle Center. Many were saved from auction and rehabilitated from illness and injuries. Here are a few of their stories:

Sadie (chocolate brown) is often a favorite of students, and she is especially good with kids. Sadie is the matron of the herd, and she likes to keep the other horses in line no matter how big or small they are!

Colleen (brown and white) is a Paint mare. She is a beautiful little horse who is very sweet and patient. Colleen was pregnant when she arrived at the Winner’s Circle. 13 months later (an unusually long time since the normal gestation period is 11 months), gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Rocky Balboa. It was a miraculous birth! Colleen is a great mom who is very patient with her sassy son. Colleen loves attention and enjoys meeting new students and clients!

Diego (white with brown speckles) is a truly small miniature horse! He very friendly and curious, so he has no problem meeting and interacting with people. Diego has a unique feature: he was born without a tail. He doesn’t let that get him down, and he is a great example to students of the Winner’s Circle Center who also deal with physical challenges or differences. 

Rocky Balboa (brown with white patches) is Colleen’s baby boy. Rocky was born on Preakness morning, May 16, 2012. He is a bit headstrong, but training to become a therapy horse. Rocky enjoys running around the pasture and playing with his favorite toy – a big bouncy ball. Students and clients love his energy and enjoy watching him run and play!

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Harry, Ted, Winston, and Pearl
Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian Goats

Some of the newest residents to join the Winner’s Circle Center are these adorable baby goats named Harry (white with brown patches), Ted (tan), and Winston (brown and black)! These sweet little guys are learning the ropes while they get acquainted with the horses and humans. They are still timid but very friendly. They are sure to be a hit at WCC! 

Pearl (white), an adult goat, has been with the Winner’s Circle Center for a while. Although she is reaching older age and suffers from some mobility challenges (which she doesn’t let slow her down), she is a sweet and beautiful lady. I made a special connection with her while capturing her portrait. While crouched down to meet her level with the camera she came to me and rested her head in my lap while I pet her.

Bella, Hampton, Malacca, Nigel, Sassy I, Sassy II, Scarlet, Sophie, Tucker
Dachshunds

There are many happy pups at the Winner’s Circle Center too. They may be small in stature, but not in personality! Hampton (long, black hair) was the first of the dachshunds to join and is a Certified Therapy Dog. Hampton enjoys all people, but he especially enjoys children. Many of these dogs were saved from shelters and difficult situations. Sassy I was found running scared in the street of Baltimore. Sassy II has suffered from multiple bouts of paralysis and was brought to a shelter while pregnant. Most shockingly, Scarlett was found tied to a tree and pregnant. She then gave birth to Pitbull puppies. And finally, Sophie was saved from a puppy mill. They may have had rough pasts, but they now have very happy lives and bright futures.

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Chickens

There are lot of feathered friends at the Winner’s Circle Center as well! They have free range of the entire property and can be found hanging out in the gardens or in the barn with Skip, Charlie, Cassie, and Alice.

Learn more about the Winner’s Circle Center by visiting their website. 

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Enzo the Escape Artist Piglet (2018)

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Enzo the Escape Artist
Lancaster, PA

Enzo is a spunky pig who was mysteriously found running through the streets of downtown Lancaster one year ago in July of 2017. Her cropped tail strongly suggests that she managed to escape from a livestock truck on her way to another meat farm or to a butchering plant. This amazing feat earned her the loving name of Enzo the Escape Artist by her rescuer, Francesca!

Francesca was on her way to work when she spotted Enzo dodging through traffic. Without hesitation she jumped out of her car and chased Enzo down so she could ensure her safety. After sending a selfie with Enzo to her employer to prove her unbelievable excuse for her tardiness, Francesca brought her to veterinary emergency office where she learned that Enzo, who she thought was a boy, was actually a girl! Regardless, the name Enzo stuck.

Also discovered at the vet was a life-threatening hernia and minor leg injuries caused by a fall (presumably from a livestock truck). Thankfully, after Enzo became locally famous through news outlets and social media, the community came together to raise money to cover the cost of multiple hernia surgeries.

Now one year later, Enzo is so happy and healthy at her first birthday! She was a mere 6 pounds when rescued, but is now an estimated 250 pounds. During her second year she’ll put on most of her eventual total weight of 600 to 1,000 pounds!

Currently, Enzo lives nearby with some fellow rescued pigs and boars (rescued from a trophy hunting situation) and a couple with huge hearts for animals! It’s so great to see Enzo happy, healthy, and with friends! 

Meet some of Enzo’s friends below!

Read more about Enzo at these links:

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Sanctuary Visit: Lancaster Farm Sanctuary (2018)

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Lancaster Farm Sanctuary
Elizabethtown, PA

Animal advocacy is a cause near and dear to my heart, so I had a blast photographing all the beautiful, animal residents of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary on a warm and sunny May afternoon! All the animals I met were happy, lively, and so lovable with big personalities of their own. The Sanctuary, now officially a 501c3 non-profit, provides a safe and loving home for sick, injured, and abandoned animals. Founded in July 2017, they have saved and become the home to goats, ducks, chickens, a turkey, cows, and sheep during just their first year.

Meet the animal residents of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary below:

Benji
Pygmy Goat

This sweet little Pygmy goat is Benjamin, or Benji for short. He was found abandoned at just 2 days old, but is now recovering from illness. He is very lively and happy. He followed me around during the entire photoshoot and mingled lovingly with all the other residents of the Sanctuary!

Livingston
Pygmy Goat

Livingston, or Livvie as he is affectionately known as by Lancaster Farm Sanctuary, is a lovely black and white Pygmy goat. He loves his fellow goats at the Sanctuary and shares a pen with Tammy the Turkey and Mary Margaret the Plymouth Rock chicken. It’s great to see multiple species living peacefully together! Livingston was originally purchased at a market to be kept as a pet, but the purchaser quickly realized that their dogs did not appreciate his presence. Fearing their dogs would harm or kill him, Livvie was given to Lancaster Farm Sanctuary to live a peaceful, happy life. 

Stanley
Boer Goat

This handsome goat is Stanley. He is a Boer goat, which is a breed commonly raised for meat. Stanley came to Lancaster Farm Sanctuary with some mobility challenges, but that hasn’t stopped him from living life to the fullest! In fact, his mobility challenges are what saved him from the goat meat farm where he previously lived. He is happy and so sweet, and he enjoys the company of a Pygmy goat, a turkey, and a Plymouth Rock chicken (with many other animal friends nearby and throughout the sanctuary).

Charlie, Tony, and Frankie
Muscovy Ducks

There are many feathered friends at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary as well! Meet Charlie (black and white), Tony (black and white), and Frankie (white)! All three of these rescued Muscovy ducks were given to their original owners as Easter gifts as chicks. Luckily, the Sanctuary gave them a safe home after their owners could not care for them. 

Mary Margaret
Plymouth Rock Chicken

Mary Margaret is one spunky bird, but don’t let her clucking fool you! She’s a very sweet girl (even if her noises sound like mischievous laughter). Either way, she no doubt has one of the biggest personalities at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary! Mary was found mysteriously wandering the streets of Lancaster City. Two local animal advocates rescued her and brought her to the Sanctuary. Upon arrival she was affectionately named after a dear friend of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary.  

Tammy
Bronze Heritage Turkey

Tammy most likely ran away backyard butcher raising her for their Thanksgiving dinner. She was found in upstate Pennsylvania and made her way to Lancaster Farm Sanctuary through the kindness of some animal advocates. Tammy seems to have a special way of connecting and becoming in tune with the other animals around her at the Sanctuary. She also has a very special bond with Sarah, one of the co-founders of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary. She enjoys following Sarah around and even snuggling up to her leg while Sarah is using power tools! Tammy is a very special turkey!

Bessie and TrueHeart
Jersey Cows

Meet Bessie (brown) and her mother TrueHeart (beige)! They live at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary. They are both Jersey cows that were acquired by their previous owners for milking, but after they had a change of heart about using them as dairy cows, they came to live at the Sanctuary. Bessie and TrueHeart are nearly inseparable and so happy to be living together at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary!

Bandit (and friends)
Cornish Cross Chickens

Bandit and her fellow chicken friends were the very first residents of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary! These tough birds are survivors of a livestock tractor trailer incident. The driver of the truck lost control and spilled several creates. Sadly, hundreds of chickens were killed and many others were injured, including some of these chickens. Bandit (first photo) was ill when I met her which explains her droopy comb, but was still sweetheart and in a good mood. Thankfully, these chickens are safe from slaughter and can live a natural, happy life now that they live at the Sanctuary!

Eddie and Patsy
Golden Comet Chickens

Eddie and Patsy were delivered as chicks to Lancaster Farm Sanctuary by egg farmers due to Eddie’s leg injuries. Patsy is Eddie’s faithful protector. The Sanctuary gave Eddie physical therapy treatment and attempted use leg braces. Eddie’s still has difficulties with her leg and foot which is turned upwards, but she is able to walk on it and is otherwise happy and healthy. Eddie and Patsy live next to Bandit and the other white chickens with whom they like to communicate with through the wire fence (as seen in the photos)!

Abby, Patrick, Gertrude
Hair Sheep

Meet Abby (adult, black and white), Patrick (white lamb), and Gertrude (black lamb). They are a happy sheep family at Lancaster Farm Sanctuary. Momma sheep Abby was rescued by the Large Animal Protection Society (LAPS) from a neglectful, homesteading situation during her pregnancy. She then gave birth to Patrick and Gertrude (otherwise known as Gertie) on St. Patrick’s Day! Patrick in particular really seemed to love the camera and always has a smile.

Learn more about Lancaster Farm Sanctuary by visiting their website. Donations can be made online via their website.

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