in loving memory
Rainbow Bridge
Pepper
In April 2023 we adopted Pepper, an Appaloosa that was blind in one eye and suffered from wobblers disease. She had previously been starved and found with hundreds of ticks and lots of coyote bite marks. The rescue centre she with was fighting to keep her, but was facing the unfortunate pending truth that they were going to need to put her down as no one was willing to adopt her and she was fading quickly. We wanted to try and give Pepper a loving home to see if it would help her condition, and it did.
Dr. Janice couldn’t believe she was the same horse – she had gone from giving up on life and not able to walk without stumbling and going in circles, to trotting around and gaining her sassy attitude and zest for life back. She was so loving, always rubbing up and demanding hugs, and we adored her.
Sadly, being approx. 30 and Pepper did pass away over the next holiday season, but she passed after having months of safety, love and other horses by her side too. I held her as she crossed her rainbow bridge, I haven’t felt a loss like that since my mom died. We loved her so much.
For information on wobblers disease in horses please visit Is He Lame or Is He Neurologic? (Wobbler Syndrome) | AAEP
Schmidt
Schmidt, as you may have read in our animals sections, was one of 2 potbelly pigs that sat with their rescue for almost 2 ½ years. Because of age and special requirements, no one wanted to adopt them. We brought them in last Valentines Day and they have been such a great addition to the family. They had opposite personalities, Schmidt being super shy, would squeal when anyone went near him and Winston would bully Schmidt out of the food.
We spent a lot of time with these 2 so Winston would be comfortable and know that he would have plenty of food and within a few months, ended up shared lovingly with Schmidt - or maybe it was that Schmidt grew into his own and let Winston know who the real boss of the pen was! Schmidt got to the point of enjoying ear scratches from both my youngest and myself and loved the company of the bunnies and ducks. Sadly, Schmidt also crossed the rainbow bridge as his cancer progressed, but like Pepper, he had really grown and had a loving last year of life.
Rescues all over Canada are exploding with pot belly pigs. They can make great pets but often get much larger than people think and can be quite mischievous. Pigs are also very sensitive and require special medical care, but very few vets care for these magnificent creatures.
Make sure you do your research before bringing a potbelly or other mini pig breed home: 12 Things to know before adopting a mini pig (spca.bc.ca)
These 2 cornish meat chickens were total lovebirds. Never leaving each others sides. They could be seen cuddling, eating and even what appeared to be kissing together. Sadly Alberta passed away first, leaving Einstein feeling alone. Einstein, our largest rooster, was not really accepted by the other chickens and often bullied by our, wait for it, Silkie Rooster! He was just a loving giant and didn't have a mean bone in him. We decided to try and bond him with Rocky, our rooster with no feet (read about Rocky here). And boy are we glad we did! They protected each other and became the best of friends.
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Meat chickens, also known as broilers, have been bred and manipulated to grow super fast and it has caused them to pass away early due to heart and other organ issues. Most meat chickens are culled very young . But did you know that these beauties still lay a decent amount of eggs, are very gentle with kids and are excellent foster parents! They are amazing at integrating young birds into the flock! They can live a bit longer than if you monitor feed intake (if there they will devour it) and ensure they have exercise and lots of vitamins.
Alberta
& Einstein
JoJo & June
About Babydolls
The Babydoll sheep is a delightful and charming breed known for its small stature and friendly demeanor. Originating from the United Kingdom, these sheep are often recognized by their distinctive woolly coats and cute, round faces.
Babydoll sheep are primarily raised for their and wool, but their gentle nature makes them popular as pets in many households.
Babydoll sheep are generally easy to care for and thrive in various environments, them a wonderful addition to any farm or home. ​However there are some genetic issues and other concerns to be aware of including Gaucher Disease.
These 2 cuties came to our sanctuary to help 2 mamas (Mary & Lucy) that came to use through the BCSPCA. They immediately bonded and lived everyday prancing around and grazing in fields and exploring the hills.
Sadly these 2 passed away suddenly within weeks of each other. We have been unable to determine the cause, but we do know how much fun they were to have around and how much Mary & Lucy miss them.
Cheeks
