The Meaning of Success

Success means different things to different people. Success in its simplest form for us, is healing the animals we bring to PSGR and facilitating a chance at life that they wouldn't have had otherwise. To find good lifelong homes for them so we can continue the cycle of the work that we do. For two little lambs born in a hauling trailer at a slaughterhouse, left undiscovered for a day, the road to success was a little longer but they made it. Now, they're living on a 5 acre farm with other rescue animal friends and very loving new "parents".

"They spend their days playing together and grazing. Recently, they discovered that they can pull down the chicken wire surrounding our raised vegetable beds which has resulted in the end of our broccoli, beans and calendula but that's okay. It's already the end of the season, so they did our cleanup for us."

They have lots of new friends including rescued cats, dogs, goats and two little mini pigs. "They have become accustomed to our mini pigs, Charlotte and Olive, who come out to the back yard to lounge after meals."

"Every now and again they still come looking for a bottle, but it's hard to believe they were so small just a month ago. Instead of a bottle, now they get chin scratches and cuddles."

Even the smallest victories make us incredibly happy. Bongo and Halle, weren't a small victory, they were a pretty big one. They had a rough start but they fought their way through. Bongo even became a celebrity sporting a Seahawks jersey featured as the "12th lamb" on local news stations. Now they are healthy, happy and thriving. They have been rewarded with a safe and loving new home. To us, this is success.

"Even though the world is full of suffering, it's also full of overcoming it " -Hellen Keller

Behind the barn doors

The minute we posted a video and pictures of lambs Bongo and Halle, our newest arrivals, we knew people would be fawning over them. They're simply adorable.

They had been with us almost 2 weeks before we unleashed their cuteness on the world. They had a tough go....and we're still a little cautiously optimistic with their health but their story gives you a look behind the barn doors of what often goes into saving the youngest rescues.

Bongo and Halle didn't arrive as the happy, energetic lambs they are now. They were found by workers at a local slaughterhouse in a trailer that had been unloaded of sheep for slaughter the day before. The odds were stacked against them from the get go. Less than 24 hours old, born in a dirty trailer packed with sheep, it was unlikely they got to nurse off their mom so chances are they didn't receive any colostrum. Colostrum is essential for newborns in their first few hours, without it, they lack needed antibodies. The survival rate of lambs and goat kids is slim without colostrum and we missed the window to give them any sort of supplement. This is often the case for little ones born at the slaughterhouse.

Over the next week it was touch and go treating a variety of ailments. Tube feeding fluids, bottles off and on depending on what their systems could handle and when they would take them. Medications to help their immune systems fight against anything they were exposed to in that trailer. A lot of sleepless nights for Barbara. Barbara has a full time corporate job and has just a handful of regular volunteers, there is no staff. So when these sick lambs and kids come into the rescue, it is Barbara who creates an ICU for them in her home. It involves a lot of work, a lot of worry and waiting. Waiting to see if all of these efforts will be successful and they'll turn the corner.

Turn the corner they did.

Now, they're starting to play, starting to nibble on grass and are the best tail wagers you've ever seen. Unlike goats who often park their kids to go off and graze, lambs are always with their moms. These little lambs follow 2 legs instead of 4. You can't go anywhere on the farm without them being under your feet and just try going through a gate and leaving them on the other side. It's near impossible.

Halle meets Piper. Piper is ready to play, as always

It's all about "where's the milk?"

Saving the littlest slaughterhouse rescues is not easy, the conditions are often more than they can overcome. Every once in awhile though our efforts triumph and we get to experience the joy that these babies bring....welcome to the rescue Bongo and Halle. You already have a fan club!