Animals that Made a Break for it!
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Darwin!
Darwin was dumped close to Grapevine Lake outside Dallas Texas. He had mites so badly that he could not move, and when the good samaritan stopped by the side of the road, he lay motionless on top of the pile of wood shavings, food, and feces. The little guy was transported to Grapevine Animal Control and given to the Texas Rustlers Guinea Pig Shelter. He was treated for mites and kept on painkillers for a full week before he could eat solid food. The exposed flesh that was scratched open with his untrimmed claws developed a fungal infection and had to be treated. All in all, his hair fell out, and he has a few bald spots on his back, but he's all better! Hooray for kind people who care for animals!
Freedom!!
Before
After a nine-hour journey from Ohio to New York, "Freedom" the cow who captured national media attention when she escaped from a Cincinnati slaughterhouse, finally arrived at her new home. Freedom arrived at Farm Sanctuary around 5pm on April 11, 2002 and received a warm reception from Farm Sanctuary staff as well as the shelter's other rescued cattle. As soon as the back of the truck was opened, Freedom bounded into the barn that has become her permanent home. When they saw her arrive, the other Farm Sanctuary cows ran to the barn to greet Freedom. The cows mooed hellos to their famous new herd-mate, and gave her cow kisses. Freedom was quickly adopted by the shelter cattle herd, and is now roaming hundreds of acres of green pastures with her new friends. Finally, Freedom is 'home sweet home'...and safe at Farm Sanctuary.
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/adopt/rescue_freedom.htm
Now
Mack!
When John, a mechanic for the Department of Sanitation in New York City, saw a trash bag moving on top of garbage piled high in a sanitation truck, he assumed the movement was a rat. He and other workers quickly opened the triple-bagged and tightly tied bundle to release the trapped animal, but were shocked to instead find a very weak and sickly black rooster, whose tail feathers had been ripped out.
John and his coworkers named the rooster Mack, since his disturbing arrival was discovered in the back of a Mack Truck. Luckily for Mack, John's girlfriend is a Farm Sanctuary member who knew immediately to call us, and Mack was transported to our New York Shelter. He is receiving treatments for a severe respiratory infection and malnutrition, and has made the happy acquaintance of a rescued hen named Buttons, who arrived the same day. When Mack has fully recovered, he and Buttons hope to find a permanent, loving, adoptive home where they can spend their lives free from harm.
Extreme Cruelty in CA!
In October, 2003, Farm Sanctuary was alerted to a tragic case of severe farm animal cruelty. San Diego Animal Control Officers arrived on the property of a man suspected of buying and reselling diseased and wounded stockyard animals for profit. They were horrified to discover dozens of sick, injured and abused animals, but the agency did not have the facility to provide shelter for them. Officers were faced with having to euthanize the animals until Farm Sanctuary responded and committed to providing transport and emergency sanctuary for the 16 victims of this horrible cruelty who were not offered local placement in San Diego.
Housed in filthy conditions on concrete floors, the animals were surrounded by “hazardous waste...including old shotgun casings, car parts, wires and cables, various yard tools, and other miscellaneous items,” according to Daniel H. Grove, D.V.M., the attending veterinarian brought in by Animal Control to examine the animals.
Dr. Grove encountered calves, steers, pigs, goats, and kids suffering from upper respiratory infections and pneumonia, parasites, lesions, profuse diarrhea, blindness, significant lameness, and necrotic and infected bones. Some animals, disoriented and unable to see, were walking in circles; still others were unable to walk at all. Due to extensive, debilitating ailments, numerous animals were euthanized immediately.
Deprived of adequate water and confined on concrete, each pig was sore and suffering from varying degrees of lameness, and one pig was euthanized due to severe lameness and muscle atrophy. A steer suffering from similar extensive injuries was also euthanized. The most far-reaching suffering, however, involved eight baby calves confined to two concrete pens.
“In the first pen, there were six calves, all of which were breathing heavy, had moist, productive coughs, and profuse watery diarrhea. One of the calves was non-responsive and was euthanized...In the second pen there were only two calves. One was blind, circling to one direction and somewhat unresponsive. The diagnosis is still pending from the necropsy, but this animal was euthanized. The second calf in this pen had its hind leg bandaged and did not appear very lame. The bandage was removed, and the lateral claw of the hoof was missing. The joint surface was what the animal was walking on. The bone was necrotic and infected.” Shortly afterwards, this calf also had to be euthanized. .
A horse, housed with cattle in a feedlot, was suffering from an untreated wound on the right hock. The dirty and infected laceration was cleaned and bandaged, and antibiotics were administered to clear up the existing infection and prevent further infection.
All the goats were malnourished and suffering from severe respiratory infections. Some had mucous running from their noses, and one had a distended belly, according to Tammie Sandon, a Farm Sanctuary member who fostered eight goats. Another goat, who was blinded from an untreated case of pink eye, was adopted by Sandon. Click here for a news article featuring Tammie's heroic efforts for these animals.
These animals were left to suffer and die under the most cruel conditions, so the owner could sell the animals for meat if they survived. When Farm Sanctuary received the call about these suffering animals, we quickly began preparing temporary care areas at our California shelter and arranging to transport surviving animals to safety.
On October 15th, 2003, we transported the remaining animals, including 7 goats, 8 calves and one steer to our California shelter. The animals arrived after a 12 hour journey from the San Diego area, and shelter caregivers and volunteers worked until midnight to unload each animal and administer medications and treatments. After eight long hours of veterinary assessments and treatments, the animals settled into clean, straw-filled barns with fresh water and nourishing food. Several of the animals required immediate and critical medical care. One of the calves had a ruptured eye and several had lesions from untreated pink eye infections; one goat had an orange-sized abscess on his cheek and ring worm on his ear; another goat lost an eye entirely; one calf was unable to stand on his own for the first 36 hours; and all were suffering from respiratory infections, severe parasites and other ailments.
These amazing survivors have now been named by shelter staff and volunteers after some time getting to know them. The bashful and sweet young steer is Tuba. Of the eight calves only two are female, and they are Cha Cha and Jitterbug, both of whom are very spirited, fiesty and playful. The male calves ar Hopi, Fritz, Bongo, Moe, Alto and Moo. The seven goats are all males, and are named Rufus, Chili, Mayor, Geo, Pugsly, Mac, and Hombre. We are encouraged and honored to see these sensitive and special animals slowly beginning to trust people for the first time in their lives. Many hours have been spent by caregivers, interns and shelter staff patiently allowing the animals to approach at their own pace and get close enough to give timid kisses. Most of them are still quite "hand shy", no doubt because they endured so much abuse by human hands previously... but with each passing week we note that more of the animals will now allow a touch or pat before drawing away, and a couple of them have downright thrown themselves into unabashed affection!
Mario!!!
Against unbelievable odds, a newborn calf named Mario has gone from the trash heap to sanctuary. Discovered recently on a dairy farm's dead pile, tiny Mario immediately began reaching the most unlikely people.
A rendering truck driver, who arrived at the dairy farm to pick up dead cows, was horrified and distraught to find the 45-pound Jersey calf helplessly lying atop a stack of corpses, alive and healthy except for an injured leg. It was clear to the driver that Mario had been discarded not only due to the injury, but because, as a male calf, he was considered worthless by the dairy and undeserving of humane euthanasia. Though quite accustomed to the ugly side of animal agriculture, the driver was so deeply disturbed and moved by Mario's plight, that from his mobile phone, he called friends he knew could help Mario find his way to Farm Sanctuary. He then quietly and gently placed Mario on the front seat of the truck and hurried him away from the horror of the dead pile toward his new future.
The afternoon Mario arrived at our California shelter, it was evident that the injury to his right front leg was serious, and he was rushed to a local vet for x-rays and diagnosis. It was confirmed that little Mario had a fractured humorous, and determined that he would need to be seen by orthopedic specialists at UC Davis Veterinary School as soon as possible if there could be any chance of successfully repairing the leg. So, back into the van went Mario, along with a volunteer intern to ride with him in the back seat to help keep him as still as possible. Mario quickly dozed off during the trip, with his head in the volunteer's lap, seemingly aware that for the first time he was safe and would be loved and cared for.
After examining and fully assessing him, the veterinary hospital orthopedic department delivered the expected news that repairing Mario's leg would be very challenging, would require lengthy recovery and rehabilitation, and would be extremely expensive. The fracture was not a clean break and would greatly complicate things. Furthermore, there were not likely to be any guarantees that the repair would be ultimately successful. In Mario's favor, however, was the fact the he was newborn and his bones could heal quickly, and that Farm Sanctuary's shelter staff would be more than willing to spend as much time as was necessary with him on rehabilitation and treatments, and to customize his recovery environment to perfectly suit his needs. The okay to proceed with surgery was given.
Mario's rescue story quickly spread throughout the veterinary teaching hospital's large animal staff and students. In the two days required to stabilize him before surgery, people flocked around Mario's stall to meet and spend time with him, and there was no shortage of admirers anxious to give his bottle feedings.
Although there were only two surgeons assigned to Mario's procedure, a total of five surgeons assisted during his four-hour surgery when complications arose because, according to his attending veterinarian, "Everyone here was so touched by his story they wanted to do everything possible to make it work so that he would survive!"
After a total of 10 days in intensive care at the hospital, Mario was stable enough to make the trip home. Again, a volunteer rode in the back with him, and, again, Mario laid his head in her lap and slept. When they arrived at the shelter, his specially padded and restricted recovery stall was ready for its fragile and adorable guest. It took no time for Mario to snuggle in and get comfortable, and no time for the volunteers and staff to fall in love with this incredible survivor.
Mario's recovery is proceeding better than predicted. The six-inch incision on his upper leg has healed perfectly, and his appetite, attitude and spunk are wonderfully above average. There is one continuing complication with his leg, however — several tendons were damaged by the fracture. These tendons affect the muscles that control Mario's ability to pull his lower leg forward and step correctly and solidly on the hoof, so for now he must wear a splint for 12 to 14 hours a day. The splint prevents his hoof from buckling under when he steps, and our caregivers are spending two to three hours per day helping him to place the leg correctly, and flexing the tendons to speed their recovery. Mario loves "therapy time," and is generous with kisses while we put on and remove his splint. We're amazed and delighted to see him buck and run the same as any happy calf, even with his big, awkward splint.
We feel more and more confident each day that little Mario will recover completely, and continue to reach people who haven't yet realized that farm animals deserve to be protected.
Mario's health care expenses are already totaling over $2,200, and donations are urgently needed to make this emergency rescue a "happy ending" for young Mario. Please call us immediately at 607-583-2225 ext. 222 to make a donation using your credit card, mail a check to Farm Sanctuary, PO Box 150, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, or click here to make a donation using our secure online form. Mario will send thankful kisses to you for being there when he needs caring animal advocates by his side.
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/adopt/rescues_2003.htm
More Rescue Sites
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/
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