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Neptune
Neptune is a mature Comtois and he was the first big animal rescue here at the sanctuary. His previous owners decided they didn’t want him any longer and he was facing an uncertain future. In this part of the world big horses are bred specifically for meat so he was thrilled to come and live here with Miranda and Jerome. He can be a little bit bossy but he is always adorable! In the summertime, Neptune loves to spend time looking at the flowers. You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping us to care for our precious residents. Thank you for being one of…
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Phoebe
Phoebe is a young Vietnamese pot-bellied pig and she was bred to be eaten. Happily, we were able to rescue her from a premature death and she is now, as you can see, enjoying her new life in her safe forever home at the sanctuary. She was saved along with her two sisters who were subsequently rehomed and later both her mother and her father were also rescued by Miranda and Jerome. Pigs are very intelligent and also very affectionate creatures when treated kindly. Phoebe loves cuddles and head kisses! Phoebe came from a pen that was two foot thick in mud and faeces; a stagnant pool. She couldn’t reach…
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Brynn
Bryn was severely injured in an incident involving a piece of farm machinery. When he first came he was dragging his hind legs, so he had an intense course of laser therapy and physiotherapy to help him walk. All he can have now is possibly a hip brace to make his hips stronger. He is an absolute darling He is the most gentle person out there. He has the look on him that you feel you are disappearing into this soul. He is always the last to the food pot. We all feel sorry for him all the time, which he uses to his advantage. When the biscuits are being…
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Jack
Jack was rescued in November 2017 when just two weeks old. Born into the dairy industry he was destined to be killed for veal but as he was too weak he probably would have been used for dog food. Happily, he was rescued following a 12 hour round trip to collect him and bring him back to the sanctuary. He is adorable and demonstrative. If he doesn’t get what he believes to be enough cuddles he will give a nudge and chase us around the fields. He loves to be loved and especially enjoys a neck scratch and will curl up next to anyone sitting on the floor. That’s our…
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Duchess
Duchess is a gentle lady. Sadly, she was born into the dairy industry and so doesn’t remember her mother; they were separated when she was very young. As soon as she was old enough she was artificially inseminated and after carrying her baby for nine months she gave birth, only to have her child removed almost immediately so that her milk could be sold to humans. When she was unable to produce any more profit for her owners due to having a hysterectomy following a problematic calving, she was neglected and starved for so long that she became emaciated and unable to stand. It was then that she was rescued…
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Belle and Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are a happy and contented couple and the parents of Phoebe and the Friendly Family. They were saved from backyard slaughter after being bred repeatedly at every cycle. Kept in very poor conditions with inches of mud and excreta, Belle’s teats were very sore. Pregnant when she arrived she gave birth to five healthy piglets at the sanctuary. You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping us to care for our precious residents. Thank you for being one of ‘the best people’!
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Princess
Princess is a black and white Frisian born into the dairy industry. She is now ten years old. Having been bred every year and repeatedly had her calves taken away from her, she came to us as a ‘downed’ cow unable to walk. Completely collapsed in the lorry she wasn’t able to stand for about 4 hours and required emergency treatment from the vet. After hobbling off the lorry she was again unable to get to her feet for about three days. Prior to coming to our sanctuary, Princess had been starved for about six months and as a result she has anxiety issues around food. Her favourite pastimes now…
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Blake Forrest
Blake Forrest fell from a high windowsill while still very young – just a few days old. He has been hand-reared in the house at the Big V sanctuary and enjoys his new accommodation so much that he is now reluctant to leave despite the invitation of open windows on fine days! One of his favourite activities is waking the family at sunrise to demand his breakfast. He has also been known to tap out a little tune on the piano in the middle of the night! You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping us to care for our precious residents. Thank you for…
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Alf, Rudolph, Joy & Meg
Alf, Rudolf, Joy and Meg were rescued from a Christmas Turkey Sale in December 2017. Amazingly, turkeys can fly very high. Soon after their arrival at our sanctuary we were very disconcerted when we couldn’t find Rudolf for some time. We eventually located him high in a tree! Intelligent and loyal creatures, the favourite pastime of this little foursome is trying to get into the house! You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping us to care for our precious residents. Thank you for being one of ‘the best people’!
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Leya
Beautiful Leya was rescued from imminent slaughter. She was a brood mare who was bred every year and had her babies taken. She had never had any foot care, never had any training, so she is not good in hand. She was very stroppy, headstrong and arrived pregnant. We did not realise because we were told she was going to the abattoir. (They do end up being slaughtered while pregnant.) So, her previous owner, a chap who loved horses, obviously did not love them enough. Having been bred for 15 years Leya came to spend her retirement years with us. Her favourite pastime is eating and her second favourite pastime…
