It takes a village

"Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart"-Elizabeth Andrew

There is a saying "It takes a village". That could not be more true for PSGR. With a founder who works a full time corporate job, no staff and no money growing trees to be found, the rescue relies on generous volunteers, supporters and donors to enable the work that we do.

Vounteers are an essential part of the day to day operations of the farm. Laurie is a part of our small core group of volunteers and was kind enough to share her story and what keeps her returning to PSGR month after month:

"The first time I visited the rescue was in March of 2013. I kept hearing about it via a friend of a friend (Rachel, a former PSGR volunteer), and had always wanted to find out more. Rachel gave me Barbara's number and I called her one day when I was in the Maple Valley area on another errand. Even though she was busy Barbara was nice enough to give me a brief tour of the place and tell me a little about its purpose. The first animal I got to meet was Olivia the giant sheep. I'd never seen such a big sheep before! She had only just arrived and the wool was just dripping off of her. But what a gentle sweet presence she had. It really struck me that Olivia sensed she was going to be OK now.

The other two animals I remember from that day are Emile and Klondike. They were just babies then and so adorable. I met several others as well. At one point we were standing in the driveway talking and Barbara said, "I think Levi wants you to pet him". I turned slightly and sure enough, Levi the big white goat was standing quietly just behind me, waiting for some pets!

Long story short, after that visit I decided to become a volunteer. My first day as a volunteer was a doozy! I got splattered with pee (babies on my lap), milk (feeding babies while they were on my lap), poop (cleaning), and. . . hot sheep's blood. Yes, you read that right. There was a ewe there who'd recently had surgery on her foot, and Barbara needed to change the dressing on the wound. She showed me how to "rump" the ewe so she could get to work. Trouble was, when she finally got the bandage off, the blood started spurting, which was not supposed to happen. After trying a few things she said,"Laurie, could you just keep pressure on her foot for me while I go in and get the phone to call the vet to make sure I can get this under control?". So I awkwardly kept balancing this 150 lb. ewe on her rump while hanging on to her forelegs, and putting pressure on her foot to stop the bleeding, until Barbara returned and got it under control. The bandage was changed, the ewe limped off, and we both said, "whew!". The next words out of Barbara's mouth were: "Are you going to come back?" We both burst out laughing as I answered yes, because I had truly had a baptism by fire. For a city girl with zero experience handling farm animals it was quite a day!

Ever since, I've been hooked. I look forward to "going to the goats" every month, and wish I could come down once a week instead of once a month (it's a long drive from NE Seattle, alas). I love being there. It has become a sanctuary of sorts for me. Away from the city, in the beauty of the countryside, I can spend an afternoon with the friendly, curious, always entertaining, and lovable residents of the rescue and leave feeling renewed and recharged. It's lovely to work outdoors in the fresh air (even, to my surprise, through the cold and rainy winter -- and here I thought I was such a weather wimp!). I can exist entirely in the moment, whether doing my chores, comforting a frightened new arrival, snuggling with a darling baby, or just hanging out with the herd and enjoying their company. I have learned so much, not only about the animals, but also about myself. I'm glad to be a part of the amazing work Barbara and all her helpers do to give these wonderful creatures the chance to live happy and healthy lives.

I hope these words help to convey my deep gratitude and joy in volunteering at the rescue!"

-Laurie

Thank you for sharing your story Laurie, we're lucky to have you as a part of our PSGR family!

Daisy

For those of you who follow our Facebook page, you're probably familiar with Daisy. Daisy is known for having the best ears on the farm. Her ears often stick straight out to the side and she looks like she's about to take off, helicopter ears we often call them. But there is so much more to this darling little girl who is still, 5 months after her rescue, waiting for her forever home.

Daisy was rescued from a local slaughterhouse when she was just a few months old. She was rescued with 3 adults and at the time we had no other kids her age at the rescue. Daisy didn't seem to mind, she fit right in with the big goats. Daisy was friendly but a little leery of her new situation at first and who could blame her? She quickly realized she was now somewhere she would be respected and would get all the love and attention she could ever want. And we quickly learned, she can't get enough!

Daisy has truly turned out to be one of the sweetest, most affectionate goats on the farm. She will seek you out and if you don't notice her, she will gently paw you to let you know she is there and would like some attention. She would stand with you all day and let you pet her and she will follow a brush anywhere.

She is incredibly easy going, tolerant and she gets along with everyone. She'll stand patiently while you trim her toenails or wear various holiday headbands for photos. She's mindful and polite, never pushy, never noisy. She is simply, delightful.

However this precious little girl is still waiting to find her lifelong home. The time it takes for goats to be adopted once they're ready to be, varies. Part of the work we do is making sure that we are facilitating the process of finding the best "fit" for both the goat and the adopting family. Yes, the more animals we adopt out the more we can rescue, but making sure it is a positive and lasting relationship for the animals and their new families is just as important.

We know that the perfect forever home for Daisy is out there. When the day comes that she leaves us for it, she will be greatly missed but she will have found what she deserves, a family of her own to love her forever. Trust us, she will return every ounce of that love, ten fold.

Bromance

Our herd dynamic is always changing and I love seeing the friendships that form amongst the animals. In our current herd Daisy seems to have an affinity for Dove, the 3 Nubian kids stick together like glue and Amara and Calista are like two peas in a pod. Literally. They squeeze into an upside down crate top big enough for one to be together. But no friendship is as entertaining and endearing as Cowboy and Finn.

Cowboy is a dwarf cross that was rescued and bottle raised at PSGR. He is entering his senior years as a member of the PSGR resident herd. Finn, also a dwarf cross, was born at a local slaughterhouse last Christmas and was rescued with his mom Faye the day he was born. Finn, being the oldest of all the kids this past season, was always the man in charge and instigating trouble. When Finn graduated to the main herd this summer he was more of a low man on the totem pole and had some learning to do.

With mom Faye recovering from foot surgery Finn turned to Cowboy for guidance in being a "big goat". I started noticing that wherever Cowboy was, you could find Finn. When Cowboy got up to eat, Finn got up to eat. If Cowboy got a drink of water, Finn got a drink of water. If Cowboy shooed someone out of the way with a head butt, Finn would mimic his exact movements. At first I thought Cowboy was just being tolerant of this pesky little goat shadowing him. But the more I paid attention, the more I realized Cowboy seemed to realize his newfound role of mentor. If someone picks on Finn in Cowboy's presence, Cowboy is quick to come to his defense.

We will never know what draws certain animals to one another. What we do know is that Finn and Cowboy's friendship and Finn's absolute admiration of Cowboy is undeniable. I like to think that the senior members of the resident herd are passing their wisdom and roles on to the younger ones. Or maybe it's just yet another phase in an ever changing herd. Either way, there is no question, it's bromance!

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

The Road to Picture Perfect

As the wonderful women who come out to take photos for us will tell you, goats are not the easiest of photo subjects. They would rather nibble on the camera straps. Stand next to the photographer for some attention instead of in front of the camera for a picture. They're always moving, eating or looking the other way. It takes hundreds of pictures (not to mention a lot of goat herding, hand waving, can shaking and funny voice making) to get a handful of good ones. A few weeks ago PSGR friends Lilly and Emily came out with some Halloween props and their amazing photographer mom Jerrinne. When Rocket saw the props he decided to stay put and observe from the dog house.

Soon he could not resist partaking in the fun

He was drawn to Bingo's hat, obsessed is more like it

Others were simply perplexed by Bingo in his hat

Peach was quick to figure out that a tip of her head would knock her hat off

A few others found the props to be tasty new treats

Emily helped get the headbands on the goats while Lilly tried a new vantage point to help get the goats attention

Finally it worked!

Many thanks to Jerrinne, Lilly and Emily. Their spirit, photography skills and some cooperative goats made for some great Halloween fun and some picture perfect photos!

Maisey makes a darling little witch

Athena, the most photogenic girl on the farm

Olivia has passed the sheep participation on to Klondike

Sweet Mona

Our blue eyed boy Finn

"Boo" Happy Halloween from Jet and everyone at PSGR!

Chance

Everyone has their favorites. I catch myself every time I want to say "favorites" when I talk about the animals that cross our path. I guess I just feel bad, I do love them all but there are some that cement a special place in my heart. So ok, yes, favorites. Everyone has their favorites.

For me, there are "my boys", Finn, Rocket and Loki. Now a little Nubian kid we named Chance has joined their ranks.

The minute I opened the back of the truck when volunteer Janice arrived with the latest group of slaughterhouse rescues last month, my eyes went right to a little Nubian kid laying almost flat out in the back of the group. Instantly my heart melted. I asked Janice if he was ok. He certainly didn't look ok. She had picked him up off a kill pen floor and wasn't sure just what state of health he was in but he wasn't going to die there, that she knew.

We started unloading goats one by one. Once the truck was almost unloaded the little Nubian finally got up and cried out. Immediate relief. I carried him to some grass where he instantly started eating.

Chance was most likely a bottle baby. He was purchased by the slaughterhouse from a local livestock auction. The auction and slaughterhouse experience can be hard on even the most resilient animal. For these young little ones, going there can be simply devastating to them. They aren't usually handled with care or respect there and once at the slaughterhouse they can't compete with the bigger animals for the limited food and water. They are often confused and scared. Chance was clearly overwhelmed by everything he had been through and exhausted. When I finally sat down that evening he came up to me, laid his head against my shoulder and fell asleep. I was in love.

Chance, hours after he arrived, getting some much needed reassurance

I like to think the feeling is mutual. He follows me everywhere when I'm at the farm. I look down and he's always just staring up at me and he always has something to say. Always. He often talks without really opening his mouth, it is the most endearing, sweet voice. And his eyes, he has these sleepy eyes that make me melt every time I look at him.

He loves Emma and Enzo, two Nubian kids he was rescued with. They likely found eachother at the slaughterhouse and banded together, they're rarely ever apart these days. In them he has a newfound family allowing him to feel safe and at ease. These three have not stopped eating since they arrived. They're gaining weight, growing and couldn't be doing better!

Sweet little Chance bears the name of the opportunity we are able to give all of the animals at PSGR, a second chance.

Emma, Chance and Enzo

Friendship

"Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together"-Woodrow T Wilson

"Friends find the sweetest sense of happiness comes from simply being together" -Unknown

"A day spent with friends is always a day well spent" -Unknown

"Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest, it's about who came and never left your side" -Anonymous

"Friends are the sunshine of life" -John Hay

"Are we going to be friends forever?" asked Piglet "Even longer" Pooh answered -A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)

"Your heart and my heart are very, very old friends" -Hafiz

Little Mia in one of her favorite places, in the ring sling, snuggled against me. Her friendship is missed everyday.

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart" -A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)

We're Expecting!

This summer we've rescued dozens of does from a local slaughterhouse. The question we ask as we check each one in is always "Is she pregnant?" Well this summer we learned we're not so good at the guessing game. There were a number of does we thought were likely pregnant only to have pregnancy tests come back negative. Barbara even had to ask the lab "Are you sure?"

Last week much to our surprise one test came back positive! The surprising part was not that one is pregnant, in fact, we were surprised that more aren't expecting. There is no separation of does from bucks at the slaughterhouse. They're all thrown into pens together to fend for themselves. If the doe goes into heat, they're likely to be bred. So we wait 30 days from their arrival and test to see if in fact we've rescued more that just one.

Our surprise came when we learned that the expectant mother is Amelia, a skinny young Alpine cross that was rescued in July. Amelia is a real sweetheart, bright eyed and full of energy. Of all the does, she was one we least expected to have little ones on the way.

So what do we expect when we're expecting? A lot of waiting. If she was bred at the slaughterhouse, she'll kid around Christmas. Since we have no idea if she was bred there or before she was sent to auction, it could be anytime between now and then. She's receiving lots of extra groceries to help her gain weight and nourish the growing baby (or babies). We'll keep a close eye on her for signs that she could be getting close to kidding, at which time she'll move into a maternity part of the barn. The baby monitors get turned on every night and we continue to wait.

The other surprise in store....we have no idea what breed the buck was. More unknowns. What we do know though, is Amelia's little ones will never know the carelessness and fear their mother has experienced. They will know comfort and security and a lot of love from the minute they arrive in the world. They will get to live out their lives together, as a family, safe and cared for. Congratulations Amelia, we can't wait to meet your little family!

PSGR Spring & Summer '14 VIDEO

It's been a BUSY Spring and Summer at PSGR! So many wonderful lives saved, so many memorable moments. Take a look.... PSGR Spring & Summer '14.

Oh the places you'll go

"Today is your day, you're off to great places, you're off and away"-Dr. Seuss

They come and they go, some stay longer than others, not one leaves here without leaving footprints on a place in my heart. After they go we love hearing from their new family about how well they are doing.

From plans to get a dairy cow, to plans to get pedigreed Nigerian dwarf does, to adopting 3 bottle raised wethers from the rescue. How did this happen for Isaac and Amber? Rocky.

Isaac and Amber attended an open house we had this past Spring with some friends who had adopted goats from us in the past. Rocky was a standout in our group of bottle raised kids this past year. Such a love. A total lap goat. And as you can see, it was love at first meeting for these two. Even though Isaac was formerly not convinced goats should ever be a part of his life.

"When we got home, I emailed Barbara and told her we'd like to adopt Rocky and another goat that my wife liked. Somehow in one day we had gone from getting pedigreed dairy goats in another year to getting a couple rescued wethers in another month" -Issac

Two goats, Rocky and Spyder, turned into three when they couldn't resist the charm of Bode, the last Nubian kid on the farm. The three boys left us for their new home a few months ago and couldn't be doing better.

"They were so excited when they saw the pasture because it hadn't seen any goats for a few years and was four feet tall in blackberries! They went to work right away turning leaves into poop and haven't stopped since" -Isaac

My favorite part of this story is the lounge chair in the pasture big enough for all the goats to be lap goats. Every night they snuggle and get brushed before bed. Pretty sure a dairy cow wouldn't be quite the same snuggler. And as you can clearly see, any doubts Isaac had about goats are long gone.

Seeing all of our rescues adopted is rewarding but there is something special about seeing slaughterhouse rescues getting a second chance at life.

Mickey was discovered at a local slaughterhouse during a rescue. A few days old, workers were (unsuccessfully) trying to bottle raise him, he was rescued and raised at a foster home. A yearling now, this summer we paired him with Mack a gigantic 6 year old Nubian. Mack was recently returned to the rescue and lost his companion unexpectedly. The two became fast friends. When a wonderful family called looking for companions for the goat they had adopted from us 9 years ago, we thought Mickey and Mack would be a good fit. And just like our previous story, two turned into three and Kit (a Nigerian dwarf, former breeder show goat who was rescued from the slaughterhouse back in July) found her forever home too.

Dixie, Mack, Mickey and Kit

A few days after they arrived home they got to hang out with their new family at their annual Labor Day BBQ. They are settling in well with their new friend Dixie. When Dixie wanted to let her place be known to Mack, pushing him around, Mickey came to his defense, pushing Dixie around. I smiled at the thought of one year old Mickey coming to the defense of Mack, one of the biggest goats I've ever met.

Behind every rescue there are compassionate people dedicated to the rescue and healing of these animals. But it doesn't end with us. The circle would not be complete without the families that seek out rescues, that give these animals a second chance at the life they deserve. For that, we are so very grateful.

"You're off to great places, today is your day, your mountain is waiting so get on your way" -Dr. Seuss

The victory walk for Roman the llama....from the slaughterhouse, to the rescue to a new lifelong home

Little Reminders

Inspiration, motivation, a reminder...sometimes I don't know what I need but I need something. Something to reroute me back to the simple, basic, most important things in life. More and more these days it's easy to get caught up in the chaos of the world. The rat race pace, the pressure, the instant gratification of things. To loose sight of what really matters. I sometimes feel a longing for an escape from reality. The 4 legged friends I spend a lot of time with these days know nothing of the pressures and stresses of our world. Their world is the few acres on which they graze. Those of us who bring them food, scratch their cheeks and fill their water buckets. The sun that shines to take a nap in. The big tree that sprinkles leaves to eat when a breeze blows. Their basic needs are met. They don't want or need for anything more than what they have.

Observing this, it brings me clarity.

Yes, I'd love to loose 10 pounds. Make 10k more. To not feel so much pressure to be at a place in my life that I'm not. To live in a world where terrorism didn't exist. Where everyone felt safe walking in their neighborhoods. But these wonderful creatures I get to share my life with remind me that despite the reality of the world spinning around me, I have everything in my life that I need. That what is really, truly important is right in front of me every single day. Their world is an escape from the reality of mine. They are little reminders of the most important things in life.

Just Peachy

What a difference a month makes! Last month a slaughterhouse rescue of 17 goats included little Peach. A young Lamancha doe who was skin and bones when we pulled her out of a packed kill pen. She was so stressed and in shock when she arrived. It took about a week before she truly started to settle in at the rescue. To realize she was safe. To take comfort in knowing that no harm would come to her now.

Hours after being rescued

When I first met Peach it was clear she had been traumatized over what she had been through at the slaughterhouse. Not only emotionally but physically. She was so thin and lifeless. The first few weeks she was at the rescue she had run of the farm and we let her into the hay room to feast. Once she regained her energy she loved climbing the haystack, searching for the best hay she could find. She was so thin that one day she slipped between a stack bales and got wedged underneath. She was so frail that she could barely even call for help.

So thin and fragile her first few days

Now, a few weeks later, she probably wouldn't even fit between the bales. She has a hay belly! She's steadily gaining weight and obviously feeling better as she's embracing her Lamancha doe personality and pushing the young new arrivals around trying to establish herself as the Queen of her group. She is still thin, she still receives supplemental feeding but she has come so far since her rescue.

To think that this little one who takes such pleasure in the simplest of things in her new life; an abundance of food, space to browse, love and affection, almost didn't get a chance at a life filled with such things, is heartbreaking. But seeing her thrive, seeing the progress that she has made, for me, this is what our work is all about.

Looking so much better these days!

Photo bomb (far left) courtesy of Dori, resident rescue dog

Perfect Imperfection

"I cling to my imperfection, as the very essence of my being" ~Anatole France Last weekend I arrived at the rescue, sat down to put on my boots and within minutes Rocket was in my lap. He immediately started chewing his cud and enjoying a lazy Sunday morning. The funny part about this is that Rocket, long ago, passed lap goat size. But he doesn't know that. Nor does he care, I don't mind either. There is nothing quite like the unconditional love this guy exudes.

Rocket arrived as a breeder cull earlier this year. He is strikingly gorgeous. He was culled because of a imperfect teat. The farm Rocket was born on breeds for show and any imperfection is removed from the reproductive herd.

When he arrived at 6 weeks old he was quite a bit bigger than the other kids at the rescue so he went to a foster home where they had some kids his size to play with. He came back a few months later and the more time I spent with him the more fond of him I became.

He has a quiet, respectful presence but he is always near by. When all the kids descend on a pile of fresh cut browse, he doesn't go in with the crowd. He'd rather hang out with his people and nibble on what is left over later. He adores people and loves soaking up every bit of attention he can get. Every time I leave, he walks me to the gate. I like to think it's his way of thanking me for our time together that day.

His story is not one of being saved from death row at the slaughterhouse or being rescued from heartbreaking neglect. He has known nothing but compassion and comfort since he was born. PSGR provided him a place to call home so he wasn't sent to auction. So he wasn't purchased for slaughter for a small imperfection of his anatomy. We provide a safe, loving place for these breeder culls to go, we find them their lifelong homes. By doing so, one by one, little by little, we show the world, there is another way.

I often refer to Rocket as our "ambassador" goat. He lives up to this every single day. His carefree, tender spirit enriches the lives of all of us who get to share his life with him. To us, he is perfect.

Talia - A Rescue Fairytale

Cinderella...Snow White...we all know fairytales end with happily ever after. Despite the mean step mom, despite the poison apple, we rest assured that there's a happy ending ahead. When Talia was rescued from a local slaughterhouse, she was one of the thinnest goats Barbara said she has ever seen alive. The mere sight of her broke our hearts. We had hoped that with an endless amount of good food, Talia had a happily ever after waiting for her. However, her road had a few more twists and turns than we expected.

Upon rescue from the slaughterhouse she was extremely emaciated

Temporary blindness, due to a form of pink eye goats are exposed to at the slaughterhouse, was her first hurdle. She had suffered through the stress of an auction and a slaughterhouse and this only added to her stress. She would barely eat unless someone was standing there with her. The minute we walked away she would stop eating. Barbara spent countless hours cutting and holding blackberries for her. Volunteer Shawna spent evenings guiding her around to fresh grass and browse. A lot of hours were spent just standing with Talia while she ate. But temporary loss of sight became the least of her problems.

Her digestive system wasn't working the way it should. Despite trying everything we could think of, we could not get her on track for any length of time. No matter what she ate or how much, she couldn't keep the weight she desperately needed on. Vets ran a variety of tests checking for a number of different diseases, parasites, etc. Looking for any answers that would explain what was going on. All the tests came back inconclusive. We were frustrated and disappointed that we couldn't find the answers to help her. But in rescue work you don't give up. No matter how discouraged we become, we keep trying. It's just what we do.

She developed a love of canned pumpkin sandwiches. We continued with various supplements and hay and fresh browse. She stayed in her familiar quarantine area while she slowly regained her sight. Callie, a little Nigerian Dwarf who had been rescued around the same time, would make her way down to the barn where Talia was every night to be let in to spend the night with her friend.

Talia finally regained her sight and started to eat, unaccompanied. She seemed to be headed in the right direction. We let her join the main herd, she thrived being with them only to relapse again a few weeks later. In that moment, as in so many the weeks before, we were unsure of what her future held.

But as I've learned from many before her, Talia reminded me that these animals that have endured so much, can be amazingly resilient. She bounced right back from that relapse and has been improving ever since. She's always at the gate watching people move about the farm, waiting for someone to slip her a treat. She's never more than a few feet away from me when I'm out with the main herd. More often she's standing directly on the pile that I've just swept up. The best thing is, she is gaining weight and keeping it on. She's ready to find her forever home.

Talia has the brightest spirit. It is like there is a little innocent kid always smiling at you from behind her big bright eyes. She hasn't always known kindness from people, however, she put her trust in us from the minute she arrived. Now she will have a life she gets to enjoy instead of endure. A happily ever after....

Looking good!

In Memory of Mia

Tonight our sweet little Mia crossed the rainbow bridge. She had a wonderful life in the short time she was with us. The farm will not be the same without her presence.

My sweet, sweet girl, you will forever be in my heart and memories. I'm thankful I was there to spend your last day with you. You will be missed....always

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!

Life Lessons

10 Life Lessons from the PSGR herd: 1: Dream Big Finn has dreams of following in Russell Wilson's footsteps

1: Dream Big Finn has dreams of following in Russell Wilson's footsteps

2: Be the Black Sheep

3: Embrace your uniqueness Even if you're pocket sized

4: Do your homework

5: Add variety to your diet

6: Be brave, conquer new things

7: Friends are the family you choose for yourself

8: Rest is essential, no matter where you choose to do so

9: Stand your ground

10: Enjoy the simple things in life.....like sun on your face and friends by your side

Olivia - the BIG sheep

There is a constant influx of animals at the rescue. In the midst of all the coming and going there are a few permanent residents and one who always makes herself known, Olivia.

Olivia was hand raised and when her owner needed money, she was sold to a local slaughterhouse. Spotted by Barbara during a rescue (it would be impossible to miss a sheep of her size) she was rescued and joined the herd at PSGR.

Olivia in desperate need of a haircut when she arrived

A Suffolk sheep, she is the largest sheep I have ever seen. She recently let her two favorite little girls have a tea party on her back. They needed step stools she is so tall. She has a commanding presence. Despite her "could be intimidating" size, she is the most gentle soul. She greets every visitor by simply standing beside them expecting to have her head scratched. If you stop you will often receive a gentle nudge letting you know she hasn't had enough. She always wants to be in the know of whatever is happening around the farm but nothing gets her too excited. Except treats, it's the only time she talks and it's almost startling it's so loud and it's the only time she runs, now that is a sight to see!

She was clearly raised with a gentle and loving hand as we have never met a sheep with such a tender personality. She was then sold to slaughter. But because of Barbara and PSGR she was saved. The rescue has provided her a safe home to live out her life where she is simply adored.

Olivia now enjoys a yearly haircut

Feeding the Soul

Esme and Little Dove, 2 does from Friday's rescue

Rescue work isn't for the faint of heart. The conditions we rescue these animals from at the slaughterhouse are hard to think about and the condition some are in upon arrival can be shocking. I try not to think about the neglect and fear they have experienced and try and focus on the easier, happier road they now have ahead.

Friday we rescued 16 goats from a local slaughterhouse. Countless times we ask why these sweet, beautiful animals end up where they do. A number of beautiful does, a few with udders full of milk, a couple of cute young does and a darling young Nubian buck (who won't be a buck much longer!) Most were overall healthy, having been seemingly well cared for at one time. And the most beautiful fawn colored young little Lamancha. For me, it was love at first sight. But she is skin and bones, she was packed in to a kill pen at the slaughterhouse. She was terrified and stressed. She cried throughout the first night. The next day she cried anytime we left her. Today she's settling in, she's rooming with Faye, eating and enjoyed a little sun bathing.

We are these animals only hope for survival. It all takes a lot of work. Work that can be long, expensive and exhausting. At the end of a long day at the rescue I'm dirty, I'm exhausted and usually have bruises and scratches that I have no idea how I've gotten. So why do I do it?

The Animals: Goats are joyous, funny and intelligent creatures. One of the most enjoyable parts of my time at the rescue is just sitting amongst them and getting to know their unique personalities. To watch them relax and become comfortable in their surroundings and realize that after whatever ordeal they have been through, they are now safe.

The Little Ones: Every year in addition to rescuing kids and lambs born at the slaughterhouse, we take in and bottle raise a number of breeder cull kids. (Typically wether quality boys) Who by coming to us have been spared knowing what life at an auction or slaughterhouse is like. One of my very favorite things is watching their bouncy excitement when they graduate from the "nursery" in the barn and get to experience pasture (and bigger play structures) for the first time.

By providing the animals the care & love they desperately need and crave, we are rewarded with their friendship.

The people: I've met some really wonderful people by volunteering at the rescue. People who I would never have met if it wasn't for the connection of goats. Social circles that never would have crossed. From Barbara and the other volunteers that work with the rescue to the countless people who have come to adopt goats or visit the farm. We all have a connection to the goats and have therefore been opened up to a connection with each other.

I may not have thousands of dollars to help fund the rescue, I wish I did. But I have time and a lot of love to give. I choose to spend my time and open my heart to these animals, to Barbara, to the rescue. It's my happy place. My therapy. It keeps me grounded. I'm helping animals with my own hands, it's a good feeling.

Today I walked out to the field where the main herd was grazing, among them most of our new arrivals from this weekends rescue. I just stood there and watched them. They were relaxed, grazing, enjoying the sun, coming by for a scratch on the cheek. It was the most relaxed and peaceful I have felt in weeks. I imagine the same was true for them. Without us, most probably wouldn't be alive today.

So the simple answer to why I do it? Because it is the absolute best feeling. The animals, the work we do, the fresh air, the dirt. Farm life is simply - a soul feeding life. Rescue work isn't for everyone. But for those of us it is for, we're a very lucky group of people.

New friends. Lola (rescued June 2014) and Mona (rescued this past Friday)

Faye

If there was ever a goat that could be the "poster child" of what our rescue work entails, Faye would be it.

The day after Christmas last year we received a call from a local slaughterhouse that a baby goat had just been born, so volunteers rushed over and picked up mom and baby. They were a mess, caked in mud. Faye was thin, loosing her hair and in overall neglected shape. The baby on the other hand, luckily, was in perfect health aside from being covered in mud. And quite a baby he turned out to be but we'll get to that later.

Upon arrival at the rescue

Over the next few weeks we pampered Faye, giving her white shaving bedding and all the food she could possibly eat. Every time I went out to the rescue I would clean out my fridge of anything I thought Faye would eat and stopped at the store for more. She pretty much ate anything and everything those first few weeks.

She received vaccinations and treatments, everything to get her on the right track. Not long after arrival she had a thick green discharge coming from her nose. A vet visit determined she had likely had an abscessed tooth that fell out leaving an open cavity to her sinuses. Luckily, the issue cleared up on its own and didn't seem to be slowing her down. What did slow her down was she often favored one of her feet, reluctant to put weight on it. Another vet visit confirmed a bone infection in her back foot from standing in the thick, deep mud of the slaughterhouse pens. Not only did it make walking painful but the infection likely contributed to her difficulty gaining weight. The infected part of her foot was amputated. It was/is a recovery in progress.

She's getting around better these days and is getting used to putting weight on a foot that is now half gone. She's finally starting to shed the mangy coat she had when she arrived. Being brushed is her new favorite indulgence. The effort to get more weight on her continues and she still gets the contents of my fridge each week. However she's become more picky, in other words, spoiled. She likes making beds out of her hay, it's luxury bedding apparently. We tried giving her straw, she wasn't impressed.

Faye is one of the most laid back goats I've ever met. She's sweet and docile, even after all she's been through. I can't begin to imagine what she's seen in her lifetime and what she has experienced. We like to think she's living the good life now. We hope to continue her recovery and to see her adopted.

No story about Faye would be complete without mention of her baby, Finn. It's hard to describe what a character that little guy turned out to be. Full of personality and spunk and an absolutely gorgeous golden color with blue eyes. He provided us so much entertainment and love and continues to do so at his new home with the volunteers who rescued him that day and their herd of goats.

The rescue and recovery of Faye and knowing Finn was saved as well..... it's rescues like these that strengthen our resolve for the work we do.