Sweet Mama escaped from auction, where she was intended to be sold for slaughter after seven years in the dairy industry. She was found on a cattle farm in rural North Carolina where she gave birth to a boy, Ace, and girl, Ivy. The happy family now lives at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge. Sweet Mama was under weight and still lactating when she came to the Refuge. She wore an udder cover to stop producing milk in order for the nutrients she produces to stay in her body. She has CAE (Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis). It is a very common disease in the dairy industry since most farmers don’t test the goats. The disease effects goats as they age. At this point, Sweet Mama’s symptoms are arthritis and receives daily grain and pain medications to counteract it.
Caleb was saved from a nightmarish life at a Backyard Butcher in New York’s Hudson Valley, where he was forced to live among the remains of his friends and breathe in the harsh, burning, fumes of ammonia. When Caleb was rescued with nearly 170 other animals by Farm Sanctuary and supporting animal rescue groups, he had serve pneumonia. After recovering from his illness, Caleb had endless energy to run, jump, and play with other goat kids. His mother, Constance, did not fare as well as Caleb after her rescue. Her weakened state allowed for little mobility, so Caleb played with other kids in neighboring pens- allowing for Constance to look on. She never recovered from her aliments and sadly passed. Caleb is not alone though, once six of his little goat friends were healthy enough, they moved together, as a unit, to their new home here, at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge. Moments after arriving at The Refuge, Caleb was jumping and exploring his new home with his family.
Abandoned at Wake County Animal Control in Raleigh, North Carolina, Cain was rescued by Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge from what would be most certain death. Uncertainty surrounds Cain’s past. However, it is likely that he was purchased as a chick, due to the growing popularity of keeping backyard chickens, and then deemed as unwanted after being discovered that he was a rooster. It is illegal to have roosters within many city limits, including Raleigh. Although we do not know his past, his present and future are definitively bright. Cain is one of the most handsome roosters at The Refuge and always wins visitors over with his beautiful iridescent green feathers. Cain is currently a bachelor looking for a hen of his own, although he does enjoy spending his days flirting with the hens living across from him.
Esme was seized from a nightmarish life at a Backyard Butcher in New York’s Hudson Valley. Esme, her flock mates, and nearly 170 other animals were starved, neglected, and forced to live amongst the remains of their friends. The gruesome and heinous violence inflicted on the animals slaughtered on-site emotionally traumatized those that survived and witnessed the killings. Upon their arrival at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge (The Refuge), Esme and her flock remained uneasy around humans, the flock huddled together and moved swiftly away when approached. However, with time, love, and patience, the flock learned to trust humans. Esme remained one of the most reserved until the birth of her babies, Molly and Oliver. For the first time since she came to live at The Refuge, she is comfortable enough to approach us and accept food from our hands. Today, Esme, her six flock mates, and her babies, Molly and Oliver, reside happily at The Refuge. This is Esme, a survivor of the meat industry.
Coconut was seized from a nightmarish life at a Backyard Butcher in New York’s Hudson Valley. Coconut, her flock mates, and nearly 170 other animals were starved, neglected, and forced to live amongst the remains of their friends. The gruesome and heinous violence inflicted on the animals slaughtered on-site emotionally traumatized those that survived and witnessed the killings. Coconut suffered neglect that has permanently affected her vision. An untreated eye infection, prior to her rescue, left Coconut with vision in only one eye. Upon their arrival at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge (The Refuge), Coconut and her flock remained uneasy around humans, the flock huddled together and moved swiftly away when approached. However, with time, love, and patience, the flock has healed and learned to trust humans. Coconut, a leader in the group, was one of the first to approach people. Today, Coconut not only lives with her six flock mates, she is also a mother. She was pregnant at the time of rescue and gave birth on March 11th 2016, to Clover the lamb. The family resides happily at The Refuge. This is Coconut a survivor of the meat industry.