|
|
Laddie's Story
Not all the animals at the sanctuary have come from places of abuse and neglect; in fact, some of our residents have been loved for their whole lives, but face danger when they are no longer able to be cared for. Such is the case for our newest resident Laddie, a beautiful Scottish Highland Steer. When Laddie’s person was faced with having to relocate for new employment, he took special care to make sure that Laddie would find a safe home and continue to be loved for the rest of his days. Laddie stayed for a short time with Animal Outreach of Kansas (thank you Judy Carman, co-founder, for reaching out to us).
In early November, SASHA Farm board members Monte Jackson and Bob Harvie made the 27-hour long round-trip to Kansas to pick up Laddie. Laddie bravely boarded the trailer and was seemingly comfortable for the ride, keeping a full belly on the way into the sanctuary. Laddie has been welcomed by our other Highland Steer MacGregor and all the animal residents and volunteers. He is happily exploring his new home and making new friends. Laddie and all the people that have cared for him in his life may rest assured that he will be loved for all his days.
Volunteer Spotlight on John Rogers
Note to our readers: Look for more volunteer spotlights in upcoming issues. The animals already know how great our volunteers are, but we want you to know them too!
What brought you to SASHA Farm Animal Sanctuary? On July 26, 2009, my longtime employer, the Ann Arbor News, shut its doors and I found myself unemployed! I began volunteering at the Farm two days later, on July 28, 2009. Almost 8 ½ years later, and I’m still here! For the first five years I worked 5 days a week (for at least 6 hours a day) but now I take a day off during the week. In the beginning, there were fewer animals so there was less work, but as we increased the number of residents, the work increased too. I need to be busy doing something meaningful and purposeful, and I’ve found all of that at SASHA Farm.
What has been your most meaningful experience at the sanctuary? There are many! Giving our beloved cow Helen a couple more years with us by rescuing her from a fall into a feeder is the most meaningful, I think. I was alone that morning, but I somehow found a way to free her, and amazingly, she was OK, despite having fallen sometime before I arrived. I also remember bottle feeding the baby goats Ricky and Rambo, and the newborn calves Tod, Mr. Rogers (my namesake!), and Lucky; I was so grateful for the opportunity to bond with them early on, and then to watch them grow and thrive. However, I just didn’t consider that we would be going through the sad endings too. Saying goodbye is so tough. But this volunteer job has taught me this about myself: I am strong enough to handle all of this.
What is your favorite vegan dish? When I cook, I like to make lentil soup with a little tofu and corn and peas, but I really love the Lunchroom’s “Treetown Tempeh Reuben”!
If you could have dinner with any three people in the world, who would they be? Abraham Lincoln, Margaret Sanger, and Malcolm X.
What would you be doing if you weren’t here at the Farm? I’d rather be flying! I now have my own UltraLite Trike – an aircraft with a 3-bladed propeller, and I will be flying solo soon.
Please Help our Animals this Winter by Making your Year-End Donations Now
There are several ways you can make monetary donations to the Farm. It goes without saying that when you run a non-profit animal sanctuary there are many costs involved on a daily basis. One of those big demands on our budget is food. Whether it is hay, grain or bird feed, the financial cost is a substantial part of our monthly budget. We know everyone is on a different budget and that's why we have several donation options for you. Go to our website HERE and check out PayPal Giving (you will see a link on the right hand side of the page). No fee will be taken from your donation, but it does require a PayPal account. Or, just scroll down a bit and you will see a PayPal Donate button. This method does not require a PayPal account, but does charge the standard PayPal fee which will be subtracted from your donation. If you have any questions, or would like to set up a recurring donation, just send an email to info@sashafarm.org and we will be happy to work with you.
A Holiday Message to our SASHA Farm Supporters
Finally and most importantly, the SASHA Farm Board of Directors, its animal residents and our wonderful and compassionate volunteers who come rain or shine every day to care for our animals, wish to thank our supporters for all that you do. Without you, the Farm could not be the safe haven that it is for our incredible and amazing residents. Your donations and your support of our various events throughout the year allow our new residents like Laddie, Eve the pig, and Nell and Sophie the Nubian goats, to have a place they can call home forever. And for our other animals who have been here a while, such as Sheldon the sheep and the pigs June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash, and all of their very good friends, they know without a doubt they will be safe and sound and well cared for, and most importantly, loved. We have lost some animals this year and we have mourned together, but we have welcomed more and will keep doing so with your help. Thank you again for continuing to be the voice for the animals through your support of SASHA Farm. It has made 2016 a great year for our sentient beings, and we look forward to continuing our work with your indispensable partnership.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
