The Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary
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Rest in Peace - The Hoofprints on Our Hearts
If an animal dies at the Black Sheep, we dig a deep hole at the far edge of the goat paddock, and plant a tree as a memorial. Standing by the grave you can hear the calls of the ducks and the gutteral conversations of sheep and goats. The cadence of sanctuary life, of feeds and cuddles, continues around them. At night there's the dense country darkness. Long grass grows between the saplings, and the goats push their heads through the wire fence to grab sly mouthfuls. When the end comes, we miss the loving, mysterious, sometimes cantankerous creatures who lived with us. Death comes for all of us. Though the pawprints and hoofmarks our friends left on the earth are long since trodden over, they remain imprinted on our hearts. |
Dorris and her brother Horace were rescued as tiny piglets from a factory farm in October 2011. She grew into a very playful, inquisitive and friendly pig, who appeared to thoroughly enjoy life at the sanctuary - especially whenever food was involved! Sadly, long white pigs are bred to grow unnaturally large, putting enormous strain on their joints and affecting their health. Dorris was eventually euthanised after suffering an injury that affected her mobility and quality of life. She lived a very long and happy life for a pig her size and she will be greatly missed.
RIP 2022
RIP 2022
Toa arrived at the sanctuary, as a tiny, frightened wild piglet. She soon realised that humans were friends and playmates, and learned to trust us. She formed strong bonds with the older, larger pigs at the Black Sheep, and enjoyed playing in the paddock with the other pigs and goats! Sadly she was in a lot of pain towards the end of her life and euthanasia was the only option left. She was a sweet gentle pig who was loved by all.
RIP 2022 |
A friendly and confident sheep who lived a good long life at the sanctuary. His mobility unfortunately started to decline quite rapidly towards the end and he did not respond to treatments.
RIP 2021 |
Soybean was already pregnant when she arrived at the Black Sheep, and that spring she gave birth to her beautiful lamb Sorrel. Sorrel enjoyed hanging out with her Mum as they lived together in safety at the sanctuary. RIP 2021 |
Our beautiful Carla was shy but lovely. She arrived at the sanctuary as one of a group of lambs who had been raised for slaughter, but were thankfully rescued. Carla was able to live a good, long, happy life at the Sanctuary. RIP 2021 |
Lola is a beautiful ginger-haired pig who arrived at the sanctuary from a home near Levin where the people couldn't look after her any more. RIP 2021 |
Moby was a very friendly goat who came here many years ago. Affectionate and gentle, he loved cuddles. As he grew older, sadly he developed age-related health issues. He is much missed.
RIP 2020 |
Zip was rescued from the goat dairy industry as a young kid, along with his brother Merge. Most male kids are killed at a very young age, so Zip was very lucky to escape. Sadly Zip had health issues. He suffered vagus nerve damage at birth, and recovered well. However in 2019 he developed kidney failure which could not be treated successfully. We were so sorry to lose him.
RIP 2019 |
Squeaky began her days in a mobile petting zoo. Later she ended up with a pig farmer, who kept her continuously pregnant for two years, until her body was exhausted, and she was likely to be slaughtered. Fortunately she was rescued just in time, and she moved into the Black Sheep, where she is slowly learning to trust humans.
RIP 2018 |
Ivy used to live at a holiday park, tied up most of the time, with people teasing and prodding her. Not surprisingly, her owners reported that she was becoming aggressive, and they needed to find another home for her. We managed to get in touch with them, and now she is well settled into the sanctuary with the other goats. She slowly learned to trust humans., and became the matriarch of the herd until her death.
RIP 2018 |
Horace was rescued from a factory farm towards the end of 2011, along with his sister Doris. Horace was a gentle giant, and made himself thoroughly at home at the sanctuary. Doris and Toa will be gutted with his loss, he was a great ambassador with his friendly nature, his playful antics and his gentle ways. He will be greatly missed.
RIP 2018 |
Mossbeard was injured by a seagull as a lamb, but grew up to become a beautiful affectionate sheep who loved people.
RIP 2018 |
Goatee was a rescue goat who came to the sanctuary from Lindale Farm. He was a beautiful gentle soul who loved people. He knew his name and made many friends among the other goats.
RIP 2017 |
Hector the ram was due to go to the slaughterhouse, along with his friend Ethel, a black-faced sheep. Fortunately a kind person got in touch with us, and Hector and Ethel came and lived with us at the sanctuary. Hector was a splendid boy with a lot of attitude! Hector and Ethel were the first sheep to arrive at the sanctuary.
RIP 2017 |
Dave was a very friendly rooster who loved showing off his glorious plumage! Like so many roosters in Aotearoa he was unwanted because he didn't lay eggs and greeted the world each morning in a very loud voice!
RIP 2017 |
Stanley was a friendly white goat, who arrived at the Black Sheep in 2010 with his friend Hetty. Their caregivers could no longer look after them, and they had nowhere to go. Fortunately the Black Sheep was able to offer the pair a home where they could enjoy life with other goat friends. Stanley loved attention from humans when he was not playing with the other goats.
RIP 2017 |
Ms Goat was a loved longtime friend and companion, and is saldy missed by both goats and humans. Originally she had been used as a milking goat. After her caregivers went overseas, she was tethered, and seemed quite unhappy, fortunately we managed to negotiate for her come to the sanctuary, where she was a lovely friendly member of our goat herd.
RIP 2016 |
Ethel was a lovely black-faced sheep. She and Hector the ram were due to go to the slaughterhouse, but a kind person got in touch with us, and she and Hector came to live with us at the sanctuary. Ethel and Hector were the first sheep to arrive at the sanctuary.
RIP 2016 |
Our lovely Klapansi, with only three legs. The poor boy began his life as a lamb with a deformed leg, which had to be amputated. Fortunately he was able to live contentedly at the sanctuary with the other male sheep.
RIP 2016 |
Bo fell through a farm fence as a newborn lamb and was too weak to make her way back through it to her mother's side. A very kind couple rescued her, caring for her lovingly, until she found a home at the Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary – where everyone fell in love with her!
RIP 2016 |
Billy was a very affectionate and outgoing billy goat. He has always been well loved, but his previous caregiver could no longer give him a home, so it was great that we could offer this handsome boy a place. He was extremely gregarious and enjoyed contact with human friends.
RIP 2016 |
Nana, a rescued Burmese cat who died in her twenties, was one of the oldest sanctuary residents. She was a gentle yet strong-willed personality who charmed everyone she met. Confident, friendly and very interactive, she helped socialise wild kittens, taking them firmly and lovingly under her paw and enabling them to be rehomed.
RIP 2016 |
Peanut was a gentle, elderly horse who arrived at the Black Sheep as she needed a safe home for her retirement. She only had a few teeth left, but managed to eat well and enjoy life with her animal and human friends. She liked the company of Thunder the miniature horse, and the sanctuary cows.
RIP 2015 |