SHEEP

THE SANCTUARY SHEEP

The Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary is currently home to 12 lucky (white!) sheep. Many of our flock were rescued from farms as tiny lambs, while others were unwanted or abandoned pets. Although several of our sheep are quite shy, some are affectionate and love to greet you as soon as you arrive at their paddock! Ongoing care involves annual shearing and vaccinating, hoof trimming, and regular monitoring for flystrike.

We have taken in several orphaned lambs over the years, many of whom we later found loving adoptive homes for. Bottle feeding lambs can be a tiring job as it initially includes regular feeds around the clock, but it is worth every sleepless night! Lambs are energetic, lively beings who love bouncing around and playing. It has been a joy watching so many tiny lambs recover from their initial frailty to become strong, happy animals.

The Fate of Farmed Lambs

Sadly, many lambs in Aotearoa who are sick or orphaned at a young age end up dying due to lack of intervention. They are often born in the coldest months of the year, and those who arrive prematurely or are rejected by their mothers frequently freeze or starve to death before help can reach them. Even lambs who do survive these early challenges often experience only a small fraction of their natural lifespan, missing out on the years of grazing, socialising, and play that should have been theirs.
A sheep who is cared for compassionately can easily live 10–12 years, sometimes even longer. This makes it all the more heartbreaking that nearly 18 million lambs are slaughtered in Aotearoa each year before they are even one year old, their lives cut short long before they have had the chance to grow, bond, or thrive.

The Wool Industry

Farming sheep for wool is another common practice. Sheep bred for their wool often endure painful and traumatic shearing experiences. Commercial shearers frequently prioritise speed over the animal’s wellbeing, which can result in deep cuts from the sharp shears. Sheep are also highly prone to stress, so being handled roughly with little regard for their sentience takes an emotional toll on these sensitive beings. We are fortunate to have found a shearer who works gently and respectfully, recognising that our sheep are not objects but companions. Their calm approach helps create a far safer, kinder shearing experience for our flock.

Special Care for Sheep

Historically, sheep would actually shed their winter wool once a year, but humans have since bred them to grow exceptionally long and thick coats that do not shed. This has resulted in millions of sheep having to rely on human intervention in order to survive. Sheep that are not shorn in a timely manner are not only at high risk of flystrike, which is deadly when untreated, but also of becoming ‘cast’ in their full, heavy fleece. Shearing reduces, but does not eliminate the risk of flystrike, so we keep a close eye on our sheep during the summer months and check for signs a minimum of twice a day.

Introducing Orzo - A Resilient Little Lamb

Orzo was born on a farm in August 2024 — a bright, cheerful little lamb who happened to come into the world with only three and a half legs. Because he needed extra time, attention, and specialised care, the farmer reached out when Orzo was just a couple of weeks old, and we were more than happy to welcome him into the sanctuary family.

Once he arrived, we began crafting a homemade prosthetic leg to help him move more easily. Orzo took to it with remarkable speed, learning to balance, walk, and play with a confidence that surprised even us. Despite his unusual start to life, he gets around beautifully and doesn’t let anything slow him down. When he reaches full size at about two years old, he’ll be fitted with a professionally made prosthetic that will support him for many years to come.

If you’d like to support Orzo on his journey, you can sponsor him with a small monthly contribution. Your support helps provide his hay, pellets, enrichment, annual shearing and vaccinations, and the specialist care he’ll need as he grows — ensuring he enjoys the healthy, happy life he deserves.

How to Help Sheep

Sponsor a sheep or a flock of sheep at the sanctuary

Ongoing Sponsorship of
An Individual Sheep

One-off Donation for the
Care of All the Sheep

Make a general donation towards care for our sheep. Just $12-$15 buys a bail of hay!

Subscribe to our mailing list to find out about working bees where you can meet the Sanctuary sheep.

If you don't live in the lower North Island, please get in touch so we can let you know about other sanctuaries who rescue sheep.

Educate yourself - find out as much as you can about the sheep industry. For more information, contact organisations such SAFE, Farmwatch, or Wellington Animal Rights Network.
If you are driving through the country, keep an eye out for lambs and sheep who may have strayed through fences or got into trouble

Don't eat lamb or mutton!