It was a little bit warmer out today (but very, very muddy), so we went back on the farm to visit more animals!
Sam wanted to go back to the sheep barn, but first we went to see some donkeys who are currently living in one section of that barn. They were bequeathed to the sanctuary by someone who wanted them to have a good life after her passing. We were very curious about each other! They are extra fluffy at this time of year (just like me!) because of their shaggy winter coats. Gee and I got along the best.
Once back in the regular sheep section, Sam took a quick look around and spotted her best bud Adriano by the door. He’s very friendly and came over for hugs and scratches as soon as he and Sam made eye contact. He is one of the friendliest sheep in the barn and has a lot of friends, and is very loyal to the ones that he loves.
Sam then turned around, surprised to see another one of her loves: Florence. She is Adriano’s mom! They came from a really bad place and she was very shy for years. She’s an introvert like Sam and they are really good friends. She saw or heard Sam come into the barn and was waiting there for her to say hello <3 It’s always nice to know that no matter where you are, your friends will always come to find you and will stay by your side no matter what.
Anytime someone comes into the barn, it’s usually a battle for scratches among some of the more outgoing sheep. We got shoved left and right, as one sheep and then another wanted some love and attention. You basically need to be an octopus in that barn because two hands are never enough!
I got lots of kisses from lots of sheep!
Amber
Michele
William
We took a quick stop at the turkey barn, home to the lady turkeys, some chickens, and a couple roosters. Based on the way turkeys are farmed nowadays, it’s too dangerous for boys and girls to live together (they could get hurt). The ladies were very chatty and were not so certain about me being in there with them. They tend to feel a bit more moody come winter, and I don’t blame them!
Every year around Thanksgiving, the sanctuary has a special celebration just for the turkeys! While some people eat turkeys for that holiday, they feed a special vegan feast to the resident turkeys as a way of showing how thankful they are to have these animals in their lives. When the weather’s nicer and they’re not feeling as moody and broody, they enjoy meeting visitors to the farm during tour season. The turkeys will even eat grass from your hand, and like to be pet when they’re more eager for attention. You can learn a lot by getting to know a turkey; they have their personalities and mood shifts just like any of us, and are fun to get to know when you have the chance.
Pamela, and most of the other turkeys are missing parts of their beaks as a result of standard mistreatment on factory farms. It can cause permanent nerve damage when they are allowed to live a normal quality of life. Some get special diets or other care plans to help them live healthy lives, despite being set up for failure by industries that do not intend for them to live for very long. Pamela is the sweetheart of the barn, and loves pets and cuddles from the people she trusts.