Hearts On Noses, A Mini Pig Sanctuary

Mild Night

2012-01-21T20:10:00.001-08:00

I just got in from feeding everyone. First out to the horses with a little bucket of grain and apples , then i go into our new hay shed and get there hay for the night. Dior and lacy were both in the barn , warm and dry on nice fresh shavings. The horses have a huge walk in barn that allows them to come and go when they please. I have to come believe this is a healthier way of life giving them the ability to move around at will 24/7. This also causes a ton more work as they use it as an out house as well. Hopefully next summer we can raise the funds to put a nice shelter up and off of our new shed for them to stand out of the rain . It will save us both shavings and the extra labour to keep it clean . Lacy was a snuggle bunny today when i was in cleaning . She stood waiting for me to scratch on her and stroke her soft neck. She reached her head down to mine and held her face into my cheek , she is a lovely horse.

We had a great show of help today with Roxane , Alicia and Theresa arriving. Alicia tackled the waters and we opted to hand pail then drag the hose out, we all chipped in when we got to the big pigs waters. The pigs had peanuts in a shell for breakfast and i have noticed they are all now starting to spit out the shells where as before they all ate them. A tad spoiled me thinks... thanks for feeding the kids Roxane and Theresa and filling up the pails for tonight.

Nick was here, getting his hours done so us girls had a few things we needed him to tackle. All the gates on the paddocks i had built here are braced wrong. One by one they are starting to fail , the first one that needed reinforcing was Roscoe's. Yesterday when i went into move snow and free up ice water I couldn't get the gate to swing open so i had to climb over the fence to get out. So to my disappointment we have already had to micky mouse something on this expensive build when i moved here only two years ago. Eventually every one of the gates will have to come down and be rebuilt correctly.

Everything is still under snow and there is some deep icy patches so i chose to not let the farm pigs out today as they are so rambunctious and i sure don't need any of them falling down on ice here, especially our Rose. While sitting watching my senior herd eat tonight i could see in the snow pile a perfect water tub icicle 5 inches thick, hard to beleive it is so mild out now. And there is going to be a ton more work next week-end as the snow melts as we could only pick up what we could out there today.

Well i better go get Mouse out as she hasn't been out of here all day and then feed my inside crew, oh and then me.

Will leave you with a picture of a gate built incorrectly. The long brace should be coming from the lower hinge up. You can see the long brace is done opposite so those two pieces going from the lower hinge up may look pretty but structurally they do nothing. I have added a picture of a gate built correctly..

Winter Has Arrived

2012-01-18T12:08:00.000-08:00

Awake at 6:30 i could already see the winter robins feeding on the seed and the multiple suet cakes i have out.

The wind is up and the snow continues to beat down on us. My sister is still here helping relieve the load as i am scared to death of another painful attack . I still have all my pain meds given to me by the emergency doctor so if it does happen i will have them to get me threw .

I went out to my horses and got out there winter coats and both mares took off , silly girls its to keep you warm. Once back in there walk in barn i got them on and i am sure they are both grateful now.

Amber and Brady just left as it is Brady's birthday and he wanted to see his pigs who are being boarded here threw winter. They helped both Nancy and I clear paths , smash out ice and fill up the waters. The water is freezing over in less then two hours of putting it out there so I quickly came up behind and started feeding.

There two kids came racing for the big house and melted into the blankets so how could i put them back out there again..so i have a barricade up and wish Mouse would stop charging it. Truffles, Olive and Mouse please lay down and go to sleep for a while now.

I leave you with a picture i only took a few weeks ago...

Getting Stoned

2012-01-17T09:39:00.000-08:00

Friday at work i had to leave at noon as the pain in my side had be doubled over. Never in my life have i ever had that kind of pain and can pretty well push threw anything but i couldn't stand more then 20 minutes. I got home and took to the couch .. i could relieve the pain by drawing my legs up while resting on the couch.

Saturday Roxane and Nick arrived and pushed threw the 1 1/2 ft of snow here to clear paths , de-ice water tubs and top up waters and then feed the pigs. I stayed on the couch and started writing out a log book on how to feed every one here. Then Roxane took me into town as i was unable to get into my doctors we went to a walk in clinic. The doctor there thought it was a kidney or bladder stone and while he was telling me the pain is comparable to child birth i was thinking i knew all about stones as i did extensive research for Willy for years when he was crippled by this same ailment when he was here.

Sunday i had a decent rest and felt good so i was up as Roxane had returned and i did some menial stuff while Roxane tackled the waters again. She fed and medicated all the animals before she went home.

Yesterday i got up and took an hour here , looked on Craig List for a snow removal guy and then went out to feed the horses. The pain returned and normally i would sit down and it would leave but not this time so i came in the house.

An hour of brutal pain that i could not push down i called Carol who told me she was going to come and get me. I hung up the phone not able to wait and called 911 for an ambulance. Carol got here before they did so off too emergency we went . I can't begin to tell you the incredible unbearable pain i was in. It took me to my knees and i was throwing up as my body reacted to the pain.

I spent all day in emergency being given rounds of morphine..thank God i drifted off to sleep and away from the pain.

The Doctor there too thought it was a stone but the xray didn't show that but did show some sort of cyst on something as i was still out of it when he told me .. i can't/don't want to believe that what i wet threw yesterday could hit me again so am waiting for the specialist to return my call this morning.

My sister stayed over night and is out there in now 2 ft of snow doing what i should be doing for the kids here .

Thank God for good friends and family under brutal weather conditions coming to my rescue as well to the animals here .

Happy New Year

2012-01-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

Well we have started off with a bang as supporters from all over the world have really rescued us right back. WEE were in a ton of trouble with me not being able to find work but WEE are back on track. I borrowed a ton of cash to get us threw and thanks to my Mom as well for writing those cheques month after month for the mortgage. So many wonderful donations came in for Christmas and add up big time , big donations in memory of two great dogs and another amazing one from two awesome freinds in Ontario who have supported us since 2001.

With our Pub Night being a huge success , WEE have half filled the new hay shed with hay and won't have to worry about that for a few months here. Its still incomplete and a ton more finishing touches but is working out great so far. I need to get some more pallets but in the mean time we still need a working space inside to provide a covered area for the balance of the work needing to be done. I still need Sherman's paddock fixed and stepping up from the horses side to get hay is a tad hard to muster the strength after working hard all day. I need to figure out stairs there or get that fence removed so i can get to it easier from the other side now.

Amber and Brady's two pigs are still being boarded here as winter is no time to be moving and so this goes for the rest of the world too and finding accommodations is limited at best , especially when you have two pigs. I sure don't mind the surprise dinners as they are really a nice young couple. Last night Amber was here with a vegan sushi and i got home late and fed the kids even later but a really nice evening.

In our third winter here now as we moved here in Dec of 2009 and with the support we have received, the fundraisers , the B.C. Corrections work crew, the grant we received from The Vancouver Foundation and of course our rocking volunteers we have really accomplished so much.

Yet the thing is when your a caregiver and doing rescue work it is an on going quest to do better , help more and find a way to accomplish it all. I try really hard too be happy with how much we all have done here so far as the set up is so great but i always fall back on how it could be better for them if i just could this done or that added and like any women we all want it done now.

For this morning though all i ask is for it to hold off raining until we can get our work done and so the pigs can enjoy there time out when i am home.

I leave you with a picture of Lenny that Karena sent me . Lenny is one of our and one of two pigs that Karena adopted , clearly this pig is very happy and cozy!

Thank you all for helping is make it so.

Popeye

2011-12-29T18:12:00.001-08:00

I've been working at SAINTS for almost three weeks and i am enjoying it, i find myself eager to get there and see everyone and get the work started.

My first day i was being shown the chickens and found myself with Dionne in the shops bathroom with a chicken over the laundry tub removing a poop ball with warm water.

And because each animal there is not only a different species but they are unique in there own rights. Ziggy a little donkey, loves the cows and got the zoomies when i let him go in with his cow herd tonight. Chewy a little goat closes his eyes when you stroke his soft fur. Pete , another goat can be sneaky and can fit threw the narrowest opening if i don't get that gate closed. He has a built in natural smile, just like our pigs. Carl , the Llama does look at me like a predator anymore and has accepted my presence. He no longer walks the pasture in front of me giving me his buck toothed evil eye. And Ellie the first farm pig there is a Princess but you should of seen her duking it out with Carl the other day. A little frail goat who i am told was such a brat when she was young, is now a shop goat getting special care. She likes oatmeal cookies the best. The horses sing to you when you get there in the morning and open the barn doors.

Every day i am there i learn something new about someone and i watch over them like a mother watching every one of her kids to make sure they are okay. Hours and moments can change drastically when looking after special needs animals.

You know "they" say cows are dumb but let me share with you what i saw today. It was not a unicorn but he is to me. Popeye is but a very old white horse and was laying down much like the unicorn in this picture. A horse perhaps not long for this world and there a cow - holding her giant head into this old horses side was Emily. It was a gentle face pressing so lightly only just to make contact with her freind. And yet another giant of a cow pressing his nose to this horses nose was Percy. Were they comforting old Popeye ... were they saying we love you. It was truly one of the most endearing pictures that will forever be in my heart. I wish i had of had a camera , perhaps i will draw it one day.

Edited to add that Popeye was not any better today even after the new strong pain meds he was given.. tommorrow morning he will fly.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T20:53:00.000-08:00

Well many of you must be wondering if i dropped off from the face of the earth. Its been while since i blogged as its been a crazy last few months. Projects on going and unfinished all the while under a tremendous amount of stress with out being able to find work. Thankfully My Mom covered the mortgage here month after month while i kept believing everything would be okay. Two weeks ago i was at Moms crying as i was at the end of my rope and only a month left in the bank for the both the pigs and the house.

The phone rang and it was Carol from SAINTS also a rescue who gives home to senior animals in need with many cats and dogs and a barn full of farm animals. Her full time gal had given notice and asked if i thought i could take it on. Farm work , 8 hours a day Monday threw Friday scared the hell out of me as it takes a huge amount of physical strength to do what i must do here. Would there be anything left of me to care for my own when i got home??

Its been two weeks and i survived, because after the first two days i thought i would die LOL .

And today only Roxane and i were out here today in the pouring rain trying to do clean up for the 45 aniamls here and we were both dragging our feet. I am beat as i am sure Roxane is , but we managed.

Its Christmas and its been a ritual for years that I shopped for the animals here for there big Christmas feast on top of getting gifts for my family and the my volunteers. But because of the financial crisis WEE were in , i will have to make it up to everyone.

But Christmas not about things , its about love and there is plenty of that to go around here. And the cupboard is not bare as we have been provided for and we give our thanks !

Blessing to all my freinds and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

PUB NIGHT DEC 16th

2011-11-11T15:00:00.001-08:00

Short Blog Post or what!!!!!!!!! Trying to get newsletter ready and ready for year end tax receipts for all the donations we received this year !!

Hope you can join us!!!!!!!!

Coffee Time

2011-10-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting down by the pond having a cup of coffee and enjoying my quiet time but alas my mind races. So why not put those thoughts to my blog and up date my friends.

The intended hay storage, quarantine and volunteer shelter we won the funds to build from The Vancouver Foundation is not going as planned. The job was to start July 25th and even that was a month from my meeting with my friend and carpenter. Getting our hay for winter and at a good price is long gone and with only three walls up, and not designed the way i wanted it by late September my patience popped. He will not be back.

I got three days of work in last week and that has been my only income in over a month now. Mom is helping me pay the mortgage with the little she can afford on a pension. Resumes go out daily here .

Pam and Dave were down picking up there son to bring back to Sorrento so we were fortunate to spend a few days together again and spent the nights talking about pigs to the WEE hours. They brought there helpful hands and a carload of buckets filled to the brims with apples. Dave took a look at the build so far on the shed and between us he drew out what i needed and wanted. He has offered to come back down to do the build , how so very kind of them. I just hope they are not reeling back home with there own projects to finish before there much harsher winters, I don't want to ask too much from such wonderful friends.

B.C. Corrections finished up the drainage at the front and it has really kept the areas free of standing water, yay!! All the guys wear a red uniform, decked out in red pants , t-shirts and caps. The cook gets the stove going first thing and macaroni and fried baloney is in the wind. So when i came out wearing red joggers they all laughed as i was almost dressed like them. The next thing you know one of the guys is walking toward me with a red t shirt to put on. Ten guys waiting for me to put it on had to be told " i'm not putting in on in front of you" This of course brought guilty laughter so off to the house i went and put it on and then came outside asking "wheres my baloney?" . We all had a few laughs that day. And no , i'm not afraid of these guys there all polite and very much gentlemen when they are here. And they work hard! Too bad they didn't have any inmate carpenters on there crew at this time. ;o)

A young couple moving here from Alberta with there two pig kids in tow are in between housing so the babies are here much to everyone's delight. There complete time wasters as you can sit and watch babies all day as they are so full of life as they explore there big new world here. And of course as cute as a dickens. And Amber and Brady are really a very nice couple and have already contacted one of the pubs in town to do a pub night for us. More YAYS!

Yesterday was a busy day as we all worked to clean up the Sanctuary. All the pools have been collected and need to be put away for the season. Roxanne is one awesome volunteer and friend and she didn't leave here until almost 5 last night. I should of just fed the pigs dinner before i came in but I hadn't eaten all day and was whooped. So i took a break and ate and then went back out and got back in about 9.

Today we had visitors all the way from North Vancouver and i know they had a good time. So cute the way they gifted up two baskets of goodies for the pigs and even some apple juice for our Penny. Fresh tomatoes , crackers and popcorn they didn't miss a pigs favorites.

My boss called me but immediately told me he didn't have any work for me but they had a crab apple tree and wanted to come out this morning and bring the kids. Come on over and they did arriving with two huge tubs full of granny smith apples! Grandma came with them at 89 years and talked about the feral pigs she saw in the forests of Germany where she grew up.

Funny how life is as i was just saying on facebook we never get goodies from folks apple trees or gardens and they would prefer it to rot on the ground then to give it to us to feed pigs. I have a good weeks worth and more off apples in storage now , this is such a huge savings at 16.00 a case here in town.

Oh and Roxane came after work one night with a friend and a van full of apple and plum tree's. So while they dug and planted, Dave went around and wired them to protect them from the pigs. It may take a few years before they produce but one day the kids will find there own treasures as they used too before moving here.

Now really the best part of today started off with feeding the pigs donated fancy bread and underneath a pile of raisin bread was a lemon pie. How can one divide a pie and who would get it?? DYLAN was so cute and so very happy diving into that pie and i hope Amber and Brady share those pictures.

Two weeks ago was a hoot as Kasun wanted to have his birthday shared with the pigs here and brought a huge vegan cake with the words "Pigs like Cake too" on it. We all shared a piece and sang him happy birthday and then he went around with his Mom and spoon fed his cake to every pig here. Now that was a ton of fun, we all had such a great time.

In between the jam packed days here are two pigs in Kelowna who will be moving to Duncan on the island. Thanks to Jean over there doing the home check for these fosters who hopefully will adopt. And a 700 lb pig call needing to get off the callers property , a message is left but the call is not returned and the next thing you know someone else is calling asking me to come over and access there new 700 pig captured by the SPCA out of a river out here. Another email comes in about two more and they are big pigs too we must find them a good home at least we know they won't end up in a river. I will share a picture here of where they were , this person thought pigs liked mud and the excrement they were laying in.

Why does this world think so little of pigs? They are no different from your cats who love to lay on fresh laundry , they like clean too. They relish in soft cozy nest of hay or a cozy bed like our dogs do. There heads will come down to your leg and hold themselves there like our horse do. And pigs give good kisses too.

She Wants Us To Move This?

2011-09-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Foundation's awarded Grant for our hay storage , shelter and storage has started to be put to work now. I ordered a load of gravel/dirt for my carpenter to use to level the area . The left overs will be be moved to areas in the piggy paddocks for dry footing in our winter weather.

Rene has been back and forth a few times with truck loads of wood and more will be needed as we go here. Justin laid out the gravel and Rene started framing in the floor.

And true to my women hood when i saw how it was placed I wanted it moved. Rene, i am sure wanted to shoot me but with the help of Kasun and his two brothers Kamil and Shev who arrived the following day we all moved it and now it is perfect.

Of course now that we moved it there was gravel left where the floor isn't anymore and enter Justin who arrived to help move it again. Geeshhhhhhh women!!

Today was a GREAT day, Justin arrived to help with that gravel and by the time he got here i had already done the barn and had picked up the manure around it.

I had a freezer in the basement i never wanted and saw someone on Craig list looking for one. With Justin's help and Martin removing the doors they got it out and yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy its gone finally!!!

An hour or so later Diane arrived to trim my horses and both girls were so good for there hoof trim.

Just as we were finishing Lee arrived with a car load of fancy bread for the pigs and five boxes of big tomatoes for the pigs. YUM!!!!!!!!!

After getting lee unloaded and on her way i started to do the waters for all the pigs , filled up wallows and Justin moved the gravel to some uneven areas under the mats for the horses in the barn and used the rest to create a ramp up for them .

Can it get any better then this? It has been non stop all day here and i can't be happier !!

Victoria Yard Sale!!

2011-08-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

Lost in the chicken catch and landfill pick i am so late on sharing this awesome fundraiser put on for the pigs 100's of miles away from us.

Jenn an all around animal lover as her family and freinds pulled this together for us in Victoria on Vancouver Island. I only wish i could of attended as I love treasure hunting and it looks like a ton of treasures were there to be had.

Jean also there adding treasures , shopping and manning a table she set up for Hearts On Noses and traveling from Duncan!

Jenn and her Mom , Marie not only shared our story and gathered all these goodies we also received donations on top of the $600.00 they raised there!! WOW in one day!!!! Georgia and Lundyn, nieces of Jenn proves love is hereditary in this awesome animal loving family. One day, but weeks of hard work gathering the stuff , packing and sorting and setting up is a ton of work ! The pigs and I can't thank you all enough as we so needed this boost in our bank account.

Its About Them

2011-08-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

Gads where does the time go!!! Its already getting darker earlier and I am still looking for work yet trying to get drainage done and a shed built!! Our $5000.00 Grant money is on the way from the Vancouver Foundation but the days are racing by with none of those projects started. My carpenter was away for a while and was to start last month so I postponed ordering gravel and commencing the drainage issues as I didn't want all that mountain of rock in his way here. I can't waste any more time and have reached out to B.C. Corrections to see when the crew can come here and get going on that project.

Sending out resumes , re vamping it .. packing copies in my truck and handing them out even. Must seem weird for me to worry about money when I have $5000.00 coming in but that money cannot be used to pay the mortgage here!!

And yet my days are filled with hours of work on here and outside and it just seems never ending , one worry down and on to the 50 worries ahead of me.

I have lost count of how many times I stopped back at where those chickens were dumped . And I retrieved two potted plants sent over the edge there as I guess its in my nature to save things and I couldn't save the chickens so I will save the flowers.

There was a good deal on sheds on Craig List and I asked for a quote on buying one , two and three maybe and better if we bought more. I shared the note with Roxanne and that wonderful girl offered to pay for all of them. And then when I got an email from the builder that he needed more for them now ..a $1000.00 more . Are you kidding me?? So that all got put on the back burner as I turned my attention to getting educated on the net about ditch digging and measuring out the ditches needed ,draw it out , where they would go, tie into, drain off too , figuring out how much I would need if the ditch was 14x 20 and then get prices on gravel, drainage pipe and there goes another day.

Before we were allowed to go to the dump Roxanne and I set up the tent I had here so we had somewhere dry to put all of our pickings. It was all in pieces and we were so tired from the week before and working hard all day in the rain on the pigs paddocks. It was a brain teaser for sure and my remark of " I don't like this game " sent us into hysterically laughter.

I was very lucky when Roxanne came into my life as she is game to work like I do here and will tackle any challenge. Last Saturday after three of us did all the pigs paddocks and the horses Rox and I headed to Roses house. The front end of that house was not level and leaning forward and one of the walls was buckled opened. We nailed it back together and added a few strapping boards across and then we lifted that house and put two more blocks under it.

Hearts On Noses is getting good exposure on the net thanks to Facebook and the work I am doing for pigs in the USA. With that brings emails of pigs needing new homes and it took me three days to place two pigs in New Hampshire and one in New York. Pulling to all together long distance took so many hours on here to make sure the pigs were going to great homes and checking them all out. Normally I would just forward those messages on to other Sanctuaries in there State but both families had been turned down and were desperate. A few pictures on Facebook along with the pigs bio and I had good homes offered by some really great friends on there.

We had a nice article in the local paper this past Tuesday , our first one since relocating here Dec 2009. And the day after CBC Early morning show called and I did a 6 minute radio interview at 6am in the morning. And then someone sent me a link and our little article was on the Province website as well?? So far no calls of support or volunteers and no donations from the exposure but lets hope something does come of it all for the pigs here.

My Mom is 88 and still drives and will come out here every other week to spend two days here. Same day B.C. Tel arrived to run new lines and while talking to that crew Mom told me a cousin and a friend were popping by. After a very long tour and one they really enjoyed as it last four hours my cousin said to me " if this is what makes me happy". I have had this said to me before and I really have to gather my thoughts for this one as I am at a loss of how to reply to that. In my mind I am reeling and thinking ARE YOU NUTS!!!!!!! Did you think I wanted to work my ass of 24/7 have no life to save other peoples pigs they HAD to have and won't make one sacrifice in there lives to make it work but expect me to do it !!! Having to listen to the freaking excuses people make such as "we can never leave to go on trips" when I can't even leave to go out for dinner???

I calm my mind and tell a story instead " to see a pig like Panda buck and spin in pure joy when he realizes he is no longer imprisoned like he was before we rescued him as he realizes he can come and go from his house into his yard anytime he wants , that is what makes me happy". To see him roll in happiness in his simple bed of hay and for him to know there will not be rats crawling all over him and chewing on his ears and tail. For him to know there will be good food presented to him twice a day. In other words what I should of said to her was "this is not about my happiness" .

There is a 12 year old pig on my mind now that cannot go with his family to there new place and two pigs who will be boarded here for a month while that family awaits the availability of there new home. A pig in New York no longer wanted. A Dog run donated but in Coquitlam that needs to find a way here . Materials to order , wood to count so I know what we have. Pond bugs who emerge from the pond as dragon fly’s who can't get out from the net and I better get off here as we have a big day here tomorrow with little help to do it.

At least the weather is with us and the mud is behind us for a while. The pigs are all enjoying there days laying in the sun and cooling off in pools or wallows.

Chickens Are Not Trash

2011-07-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a Grant from the Vancouver Foundation my mind is filled with gathering help and materials to stretch the $5000.00. Note this money can only be spent on the projects we requested it for. Drainage, shelter and storage. So a letter went off to the landfill asking for permission to pick the site for usable lumber, I was given permission to be on site for 4 days at 8am every morning and wearing all the appropriate safety gear. My first morning would be Tuesday as i got in a few hours at the shop on Monday.

Monday coming home from work i pass by a very rural stretch and noticed a teeny rooster at the side of the road. I turned around and parked and counted seven birds down below the incline. Three roosters and three hens along with a young baby. When the big gold rooster saw me he lead his flock further into the bush so i came home to seek out a game plan and the hows on face book.

The forest here is lush, with a creak running in the back of the lush area , moss laden ground with majestic cedars and evergreens mixed in with others in various stages of decay, toppled over by wind and lightening strikes.

From the road to get down is about a 50 ft incline and it is also where more then one passerby has tossed over there garbage. A discarded Tv is smashed over and frames the center of a tree stump. There is glass everywhere , old tires , yard waste and seven chickens.

The following day Roxanne and I picked at the dump for five hours and i was exhausted but i went back to the chicken site with a pail of feed , crates , dishes, water , string and set my trap. I called out to these birds and the young rooster came out first , two roosters are missing. I set the trap knowing if they don't go in during the day i will have to close it up at night so they don't get cornered by wildlife.

The following day the trap has been disturbed , i see another feed pail. This sets me back as i didn't feed the birds outside the trap when i set it up. To eat they would have to go in. Some one else with a good heart has fed the birds so i shut the door,i don't see the baby anymore.

Roxanne has helped me two days in a row at the dump and we were both so tired. Pulling pieces of plywood from under the weight of tossed timber is labor intensive but we go into hysterical laughter at the stupidest things because we are so giddy. We are getting some good stuff!

We return to the dump on Wednesday and then I go back to check on the chickens. I beg Roxanne to come back with me after dinner to see if we can net the remaining birds. I know chickens will not move in the dark but when we get back there the young rooster is up a tree . Two hens are settling in but my attempt with the net failed and they retreat into the bush. The pretty little white one with feathers on her head is back alone in the bush.

In the morning i push myself to return to the dump and get home and unload then return to the chickens. The white one is gone and so is the rooster. I live in the middle of bear country but i returned that night with a flashlight as the two hens had to be saved as something was getting them and yet in the back of my mind i had hoped they returned to where they came from and were not dumped. But as i went threw the bush i saw the flutter of a huge wing span and not more then four feet in front of me was an owl on top the rooster that had been up the tree the night before. I can't see the hens and know not to alert the owl even if i did find them so i have no choice but to leave.

Friday is my last day at the dump and i am wasted but i don't stop with my load i go right to the chicken site without stopping and I can't see them anywhere. I walked threw the bush for over an hour , i thought i heard them ..but i don't think I will ever stop hearing them. I went back later before i fed the pigs dinner and there was no sign of them. Scattered feed was untouched so not even the wild birds dare into this part of the forest now.

I took a sign with me and put it up on a dead tree for all to read. "Shame on who ever dumped this chickens here along with the garbage. I tried to catch them for a week, but the Owl was better at it then I was"

I pulled all my gear out of there and cried all the way home.

HAY!!!!!!!!!

2011-07-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

My horses and I are very glad to see sunshine today as we hope our hay farmers will be able to get there grass cut soon. I have spent a ton of money on a ton of hay my girls leave scattered all over the pasture. Of course this last batch of hay bought is last years and a ton coarser then what my girls need. They are on the back pasture every other night and the grass is rich here so they are a tad spoiled. I can't let them on it every day as we need to share that grass with the pigs too!! They are on pasture but the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

The first load i brought home and put away was hauled back out again the next day and added to all the pigs sheds. Pretty expensive hay for bedding!!! The pigs pick at it too so it is all good and i hope this sunshine lasts a few more days so i go buy fresh hay for my girls.

Not much help down here so every day i put in long hours working outside. Roxanne gave up two days this long week-end to help here. My washing machine died so she found a good one on Craig List so off we went to get it Friday. On the way back i spotted a little Scottish Terrier on a mission where he shouldn't be so i pulled over and grabbed him . Not neutered but his tags had his name and number so the family was reunited back here a few hours later. Harvey's family were very happy and left with a gentle ear full on getting him neutered and a few horror stories to encourage them to keep him under better guard.

The pools are out for the pigs and more coming thanks to Roxanne finding a bargain on ten pink ones.

I have had to padlock the gates when i leave as stuff is walking off the property to my shock here. Went to grab one of those metal rakes to spread gravel and not only did they take one they took the two that i had. It has to be someone who i welcomed threw those gates at one time so it is sickening to think they came back only to steal from the pigs when i am out shopping for them.

On a good note i got to work another day for the guys as Andre was sick and when i came home to my locked gates there were three huge bags of blankets left for them! YAYYYYYYYY!!

Yesterday Flower although timid was a few feet away from me when i rounded the house to get something. I sat down in the sun and suggested she join me and if she did I would tell her a story. Flower came and laid down a few feet away from me so after my story i came in and grabbed her a blanket. I look at this picture and see a pretty pig who is at peace with her surroundings and that means the world to me and washes these tired old bones away.

Natural Hoof Care

2011-06-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago a friend from the old neighborhood stopped me as i was closing the front gates. Diane jogging by was telling me she moved too and was just around the corner from me. The best part was her offer to donate the trimming of my horses hooves! My horses haven't had shoes on for years and either has a saddle as i just don't have time any more and where we live is not an area of open meadows or safe accessible trails. And when Dior had her seizure last summer it sort of clinched that idea , although i do believe that was caused from sleep deprivation as she refused to lay down to rest when we moved here.

Anyhow its always a little uncomfortable to let someone you know and like that you won't be needing them for next trim, but due to my economic situation the offer is too good to refuse . And still i was hesitant to book the new appointment as would Diane be as good as the other and would she be as nice to my horses?

Dior is easy to halter but Lacy is a brat and can give me the run around and my gosh it is really the only thing i ask them to do any more and that is to accept the halter for trims every 6- 8 weeks .

I tossed a knitted belt from a friend over my neck and used this instead of giving the horses a heads up by walking out with a halter. I got Dior no problem and Diane went to work . Now Dior has been refusing to lift a rear leg and i do believe it is pain related although she gallops and tears around here. She gets down for a roll and stretches out for a sleep but there is something going on with her hip or back as she backs up awkward . Anyhow Diane persisted she would do her whether she picked up her foot or not and she did. She dug around the ground where that hoof was planted and exposed the hoof and Dior finally got that foot trimmed.

Lacy is a challenge and she went to walk away from me but this time as she took a few steps and for one second stopped this is where i called out GOOD Girl and low and behold she planted her stop and i got the halter on her in seconds.

While trimming Lacy and sharing her story with Diane she was about to finish one hoof when Lacy nickered into my hands. Never in our lives together has she done this and for a second it felt like a ghost of an old friend must of been standing right next to her because it was so loving. A response to Diane's work which is a different style , i don't now but it was wonderful.

Not sure why the link doesn't show you on my blog as it does in my edit . Diane Kubas and her email address is
hooffetish@yahoo.com.

This is the link to Diane's website and i can 't tell you what an amazing experience for two loved horses and how a routine trim was not so routine after all.

The Sun Is Shining!

2011-06-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

The mud is finally drying up and is being replaced by lush green grass. The birds are singing and even the fish are enjoying the warmth of the sun. The frogs are chirping and croaking the night away and i actually just had to stop typing here for a minute to remove one that somehow was in between my open patio doors. A little tree frog is now hopping away from his glass prison.

The pools are out for the pigs and the horses are splashing away at there water tank. The wallow is already being used by the pigs to cool off in and keep biting bugs away. I will have to pull out the fly masks for the horses now and the sunscreen for my white pigs.

Reports trickle in from time to time from our pig families who adopted from us and all the kids are doing great. Pam and Dave who have now added the fifth to there herd tell us they were in the basement and heard the pitter patter of little feet upstairs. Rocko one of the two they saved end of last summer trotted up the pig ramp and came into the house all by his self. Now this may sound odd to a dog family , but for a pig to do this is indeed a day for celebration. Scary ramps and unfamiliar smells keep a pig timid but safe for this pray species. So when Rocko was found in the 'big house' he was rewarded with many treats in hopes he repeats his visit again soon.

Cassandra has a huge swelling over her eye and we hope that meds will bring down what we hope is an abscess, if not off to the vet she will go. She is a little pig and a senior one so putting her under is something i will try and avert if at all possible.

Tuskers also a senior pig is showing signs of arthritic changes and is on pain killers now . I need an army of help here soon as i need that shed lowered to make it easier for him to walk out now. A load of wood chips would also help out by raising the land around the shed , so what ever comes first.

Penny still needs my help but i have never seen her tail wag so much before. Every day i drop the holding pen over her and help her out and we are good for another 12-24 hours. The tumours are getting bigger and it is more difficult for me but her pretty face removes what we see from her behind.

Well i better get out there and get the pigs apples ready for breakfast. I don't normally feed apples in the morning but with this warm weather produce will not last as long in my shed . And it is a perfect meal as it is a juicy treat to start out there day.

Just Saying..

2011-05-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

Gads its been forever since i last posted here or even looked at any one's blogs. And i am behind at least a month in emails , have year end to do and my office is a mess again.

I really haven't had a break for over two weeks here as the guys called me back to the shop to cover for Andre who is taking a two week course. It was far busier then it was when i was there part time and hope they can bring me back. The search for work continues and yet the phone is not ringing. There are so many looking for work the competition is fierce and with the kids out of school makes it even tougher.

Volunteers have been down and every Saturday for the last 3 weeks has left me alone with either my sister or with Josh , a grade 9 student. Thankfully he returned on Mothers Day to help me for a few hours as he alerted me to the flood in the basement. So much for my two weeks wage as half of it was spent before i even started as the sump pump packed it in. But we pailed for four hours and saved the furnace so it could of been a ton worse.

The Burnaby Pathfinders returned for a Sunday work out and as usual there smiles lite up both the pigs and mine day. They planted a few privacy bushes for me, swept the driveway, helped load the truck for a dump run, fixed fences and picked up manure from the horses pasture. The highlight for me is wrap up time when the kids race in all directions to the animals they have connected with to hand out love and goodies. Great bunch of girls and of course reflects the Team Leaders .

Donations are down, we have lost quite a few sponsors and we are desperate for fundraisers. I boldly have been asking if anyone can help us , put out a donation tin or hold a bottle drive or car wash for us. My money is gone and with no job and no unemployment insurance we are in trouble. I repeat my mantra "we will be okay, we will be okay".. A huge sum has been spent and my money has run out that I took out to carry us all threw this move and rebuild. Not being able to find work was inconceivable as surely the economy would be better by now I thought. UGHHHHHHHHHH The pigs have money for feed and vetting it is my contribution of the mortgage etc that is in trouble.

If you could add a blurb on any networking sources you have the pigs and I would appreciate it. If anyone could hold a carwash or bottle drive or put a tin out it would really help carry us until I find work!!

The work doesn't stop however and the countless emails asking for advice with behavior is mixed in with pigs needing new homes. And we were here for another little one last week who was picked up by Pam and Dave from Sorrento again. One little house pig has taken over her new home already, has experienced her first mud wallow and has crawled into the hearts of my friends.

The birds have returned and i took time out yesterday to watch the Swallows for a few minutes. This is a bird who loves to fly. If you have a minute stop and watch them as they play on the wind and you will see what i see. The Robins and Chickadees are forever on a mission seeking out food or a place to nest. The Swallows of course are on the same mission but take delight in the freedom of flight.

Hearts On Noses has an article in a Polish publication this month so if anyone can translate the article for me by even reading it out loud to me drop me a line!!

Our Easter Wrap

2011-04-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

Long week-ends are normally pretty quiet and volunteers are busy with family and get aways. So Saturday morning when 9 am arrived and no one was here i wasn't surprised. As i got off this chair to get out there and feed the horses and then the pigs , there was a car out front!!! Carly and Sam had arrived and got to work right away. A few minutes later Erica and her boyfriend arrived here as first timers and that was a great surprise. Next came Carolyne our bunny loving friend and we were rocking out there!!!

What a crazy month it has been for weather , i woke up to snow covering the Grass one morning and by noon sunny and beautiful. Which was the case when Pam m from Sorrento came to visit. We didn't work our visit away this time we spent time talking past midnight and petting and treating the pigs all day.

Roxanne was away but remember our garage sale? She brought us a ton of great stuff and one of the bags she arrived with , while i was digging in i was so excited! She started to explain she had bagged these all up and that we might get so much a bag for them. HAZELNUTS .. oh my i couldn't help myself to say "pigs love hazelnuts" !!! So when Pam was here all the pigs were treated with those and hey Rocky your Panda Man crunches them down too!!! For a pig who couldn't eat an apple when he arrived he sure has come a long ways.

Donna our popcorn girl who we don't get to see too often supports us by coming to all our sales and with two large bags of popped corn. The pigs had there party too Donna!!

Saturday Lee and Laura always arrive and donate produce for us and arrived with pears and oven dried bread, bagels and fancy breads for the pigs. Laura was back again later with a car full of fresh buns so although not the most nutritional treat , the pigs love it!!! It also stretches our food budget , can you believe the price of carrots right now??

I have been busy net working for five baby pigs in North Carolina who fell off the slaughter truck and were scooped up by the police. Sitting in a shelter down there facing auction to the highest bidder . And a Sanctuary in Florida in a crisis trying to move 180 pigs to there new farm before the county steps in. I try not to stretch myself so thin but i must try and help these animals even if it is only networking and trying to pull people together to help them all.

All the animals are doing great and have been enjoying the sunny days and the tasty tender grass coming back again. The horses are looking a little rough and i really need to get a brush on both of them. Tippy the turtle has been out and about for the week as i need to do her tank and that will be my big job today.

Happy Easter everyone and keep the ham on the pigs please!!

Garage Sale Tally

2011-04-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

Our Garage Sale was a total success!

We had some really great stuff , quality items both new and used and we have safely packed away everything left over for the next one.

Thank you so much to everyone who traveled way out here to bring us such great pieces and to those of you helped by coming to the sale, helping us set up and take down, selling , buying and spreading the word!! The pigs even have a popcorn treat waiting for them here. Friends of the pigs were back here at the farm doing waters and pen work while we were working the sale so it couldn’t of gone any better then this!

Some extra stress occurred Sunday when Moms 16 ½ year old dog wandered off in unfamiliar surroundings in our garage sale mayhem. We were setting up again before opening and all of a sudden it was , where is the dog? Nancy walked one way and i walked the other thinking she was just a few houses over. Then we jumped in our trucks , an hour later nothing. I suggested before we went out again we make signs and get them up while we are searching. We had signs up all over and thankfully a wonderful family had brought her to safety at animal control. The old pooch had her tags on but we were in Mission not at her Maple Ridge home. Moms little dog went to church!!! She must of just hooked up with someone walking by and kept on going. That family saw our signs after getting her to animal control and again reached out to the shelter to update them with a contact number. When she arrived back at the sale she was no worse for wear and seemed to be quite happy for her little adventure. A little dog who never would leave my Moms side , did, so we must never take things for granted as the “never would do this “ does happen.

We made 2x the average garage sale figure then we normally do and brought in over $800.00!!!!

The past week was a busy one with getting all of our garage sale stuff over to my sisters, the tables and in this rain. Also making sure i had all the feed and produce well stocked as there would be no time for running back and forth to town to do that too. I also had been contacted by the SPCA in Power River that a little pig was there and i got the word out on face book. Paula one of our volunteers who moved over to the island saw my post and luck would have it they were now ready for a little pig of there own. I came home to a great update that Leonard was safe and sound at his new home and that he loves peanuts!! Can't wait for pictures!!!

The picture is our Comet , taking a break last week before this rain front came in.

Your Always On My Mind

2011-03-28T14:49:00.001-07:00

October 19, 1993 to March 23, 2003

Few of us grew up with the faithful family pig that inspired us to get one of our own when we were grown. Our love for this unique critter was cultivated not by a childhood pal but by a special pig that more often than not landed in our laps by accident or a chance encounter. Some might call if fate.

Through this first little pig that found a way into our hearts and home, many of us came to love and appreciate all pigs. Many times that special first pig soon found itself sharing their home and human family with many other pigs. Not because more pigs were needed but because more pigs were needing and there was nowhere else for them to turn.

It was through the love inspired by that first exceptional pig that gave so many others a chance at life that they otherwise would not have had. A domino effect was created and the lives of countless pigs and people were changed. Some of these new pig parents found themselves with sanctuaries, others offering help and advise to pigs and pig people in need, some were driven to rescue the most desperate, and many others generously give of their hard earned resources and time. A chosen few find themselves doing it all. Most can trace the beginnings of this calling to a single pig.

Many of these “first pigs” gave up being the sole recipient of the love that they had searched for. Precious time that would have been spent with them had to shared. This is to honor one of those special pigs that was sent where he was needed most. This pig that made such a difference in the heart of the woman that loved him that she could never ignore the plight of the rest. All who needed sanctuary found it with her and her Willy at Hearts On Noses.

Thank you, Willy and Janice for helping us all to remember those special first pigs in our lives: the ones who will always live on in our hearts. To remind us not to let them go overlooked when we are pulled in so many directions. We all owe them a special debt. The price is almost unbearable when the time comes to say Good-Bye. But we look at those that are left; living their lives in peace and comfort and safety and know that it is worth it. They are the ultimate tribute to Willy and all those like him.

Written by Lorelei L. Pulliam

Marching Along

2011-03-24T13:12:00.001-07:00

My sister just left and we spent the morning picking/raking manure from the big pasture the horses use. We could of spent all day out there but she was also picking up another truck load of garage sale items. I had quite a few truck loads and tons of quality new and used items. An awesome couple who closed there store sent us a few van loads of there merchandise so this is going to be good!! And friends are still bringing me stuff so i think we are going to need more tables!!

The Garage Sale is April 2 and 3rd at 33470 12th in Mission. Please join us if you can!!

Notice i am home in the middle of the week again? I did get that job and spent one of the worst 3 1/2 days of my life there. Not a friendly place by any means and a service manager who needs to be replaced. Oh well that's life and it was too far away anyhow.

Yesterday was sunny and beautiful and the pigs have been spending full days out every other day as i switch herds. Erin brought over a nice donation of fresh cut lettuce and a hug bag of buns. So the pigs all had a salad appetiser before there meal and were surprised to see me serving them three rounds when i came back with there apples for desert.

Rose was feeling might frisky and went into a spin and buck that had her chasing me behind a tree. And later charged me from behind and gave me a nice hip check before veering off. Spring is in the air and everyone is feeling giddy for it.

I got the tax receipts out a little earlier then normal and the newsletters went out a week later. If your missing yours , you should of received yours by now no matter where you are so please get a hold of me! And if you would like to see our newsletter on line drop me an email and i will email you the link. Its a PDF file and i am not sure how to change that into one i can post here.

Oh and an amazing show of help here last Saturday , we had 9 of us here working!!! How cool is that!!! Lots of extra stuff got done , all the broken rakes replaced with new and more gravel moved.

Its been a few weeks since i posted but someone dumped a little dog here. This was the Wednesday prior to me starting that job from Hell. My sister loading up stuff again called out to me that someone was here with a little dog. There are only a few people who come with there dogs that Buddy knows so i quickly ran out there to see. No cars out front and Buddy was standing by the side of the house watching this little gray fluff ball going across the back pasture.

It took a few minutes to gather her up into my arms and her little pink tongue was hanging out a mile. Within the hour i had called Animal Control out here and the SPCA to let them know i found a dog. I also put a huge sign out front and a notice at our community mail box. At the time i thought it would be a matter of hours before there rightful owner would be out looking for this little fluff. Once we got to check her out she had clearly not been taken care of. The mats were like thick crusts under her senior clouded girl eyes. Her ears were infected and her teeth must of been painful too. It only took me 24 hours to know this little dog needed to be groomed but it would be safe to have her vetted first and that would require blood work to start.

A wet and rainy day when she arrived her coat was dry and my fencing secure , some one must of put her over the fence. This little dog needed a professional senior dog rescue and that is exactly what i had to do. She got what she needed from my friends and is in a "foster to adopt" home now getting everything a little pick me up dog needs. No one called to claim her and i wonder if she had been much loved by a senior before and the kids got rid of her.

Well a stopped for a bit here as Judy and Pat arrived with a car load of nice things for the sale, a beautiful painting!! And I need to eat something and get off my feet before i feed dinner to them all.

It Will Be Okay

2011-03-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

If you think i am bad now at updating my blog well its going to get worse!! I start full time work March 14th and this may kill me. I have been on line since 6:30 am as i am most days and return to the net after i feed in the evening to try and keep up. Emails of pigs needing homes, pigs wanted, behavior problems and medical issues are only some of the correspondence i take care of daily. Friends who are helping me and friends who want to help , new friends who want to visit and great advise of how to reach out for more. Keeping us active on the blog, facebook, and various pig lists to keep our work out there and a website that is still sooooooooooooooo dated. Tweet now and requests to respond to some "link" site is not going to happen LOL In fact i am not sure how any of this is going to happen now..

BUT , never start a sentence with 'but ' if i don't go back to work i am going to loose everything as my money has run out! The pigs are moved , houses purchased, the fences are safe and the paddocks are complete. The well has been repaired and tons of gravel have been moved. Now , how is the rest of it going to get done if i am at work ??? BUT ..there i go again, I will not have to worry about getting the mortgage and taxes paid .

Five days left i need to get my newsletters out as i mailed the tax receipts out early for a change, get my paper work in order for year end and deworm all my pigs.

I need a large shed built , more gravel brought in , drainage done and then bark mulch. How is this going to happen now?? Even if i hired a crew who is going to manage them while i am at work? I can't be in both places at once and there is no partner - no right hand , no one who knows my pigs and no one who knows what i need done . Oh , but i don't have to worry about paying the mortgage ..

Stress , one worry is removed and it is replaced by another and once again i push threw all of it by telling myself it will be okay it will be okay. It will be okay , won't it???

Did you know i still have stuff to unpack and all of my pictures and paintings are still leaning up against the walls?

I better get going here as my sister will be here at 1:00 to load up her truck with some garage sale boxes as that is coming up fast too.

If anyone has some free time and wants to help the crazy pig lady , please a few hours a month can make such a huge difference in what i can do for them here.

Oh Mouses picture ?? This is what she did to a brand new box of Kleenex and somehow it depicts how i feel this morning.

Happy Pigs - glückliche Schweine in intakter Natur - by Well TV Internat...

2011-02-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

SNOW and more snow!!! Having my first cup of coffee and am not looking forward to the shoveling i will be doing this morning. I need to be able to get my feed wagon to the pigs and they need to be able to get out of there houses !! Paths cleared for feeding, to there waters and to a potty corner. And what about my driveway?? lol And my horses??? I see them with there winter coats on standing in the middle of it all when they could be standing under cover in the open barn. If your into driving in this come on over , i sure could use a hand!!

So much gong on right now with getting organized for our newsletter. All the great articles are in and my freinds in Edmonton have put it together , will print and ship it out so i can mail them out with the tax receipts.

Yesterday i had the added fun of a washing machine hose coming off with already a heap of laundry to do i will keep on with that too. This old house has a few quirks one of them being the washing machine dumps from a hose onto my driveway and into the pasture. Have you ever heard of such a thing in this day?? Anyhow when the weather is cold i don't do laundry as the water will turn not only my driveway into a ice rink but an area of the pasture. I sure don't want my horses falling on ice i created from laods of wash.

I was notified of another pig this time brought into Animal Control in Chilliwak , this is about an hour from me. I was already snow bound but we got lucky with a gal on the island who wanted to adopt. Jean had already done a home check for HONS so this gal was pre-approved! The family sprang into action and made the trek over here and brought this little girl home. A little pig much like our Cotton but i have a gut instinct this little pig was shipped from Ontario , something i worked on about 4 years ago. She looks like she was used as a breeding sow , i worry about the babies now and where is the male ? The peeps who brought her in said they found her and she sat there waiting for her peeps to find her, but no one came looking.

Karena who fostered Lenny for us has turned into a God send and a foster failure. Not only did she fall in love with this big hunk, she agreed to foster another! Charlie moved in and followed the same path as Lenny , and gets to stay where he is too ! Karena also is a jewelery rep and to help us is donating 20% of her sales to Hearts On Noses until the end of March!

http://mysilpada.ca/sites/karena.harvey/private/content/home.jsf Copy and paste into your browser and i will try and figure out how to add a link here when i finish.

I start full time work in March and have landed myself a great job. Snow kept me from my interview so we did it over the phone. Negotiated a wage and hours and i start March 14th. Its an hour away but when you live in the boonies and want to make a decent wage your going to have to travel.

I saw a great shed we need desperately on Craig List and the seller even offered to donate it !!!!!!!! How incredible kind and generous but i need manpower to work from that site as it will need some dismantling of an over hang and a crane truck to get it too us. Me thinks it will not go threw the driveway but if i can get them to set it down in the pasture maybe i could get the Pen guys here to move it for me. Can i orchestrate this all in less then two weeks??? I have to go look at it and determine if it can be moved but can't go anywhere in this weather.

I will also hope I can get some volunteer help here as shoppers once a week to pick up feed and transport out here . I know what it is like working full time and trying to do all this alone here 6 1/2 days a week. I am older now and there are more pigs here then ever, keep your fingers crossed everything will fall together.

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT!!

2011-02-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

See Charlie’s cute picture!!! We were contacted last week about Charlie needing a new home as the folks after 8 years are moving and will not be taking Charlie with them. When I went to see Charlie , he did not look like he did in this picture. Tusks over grown, hooves in terrible shape with a dew claw sticking strait out !! YIKES!! Charlie was also under weight and his house had no bedding n it at all to keep him warm. Charlie went to the vets yesterday to get all fixed up and from there was transported into a wonderful foster home. Last night Charlie slept in a deep pile of straw after being welcomed into foster care by Karena with a nice bowl of peaches. Charlie needs a sponsor and a home. Keep your trotters crossed jean is doing a home check for us on Sunday.

Also see some cool news below!!

http://bissell.promo.eprize.com/mvpcontest/gallery?id=42640 Vote for Hoover!

Yes you have to sign up to vote and I normally don’t participate in voting things as we don’t have a huge following verses the cat and dog lovers . But some one entered us out of the goodness of there hearts so we will go for it!!

http://jasonda.com/valentines-animal-postcards

This is pretty nifty of two friends who sponsor Winnie and Casanova here!! Free download of valentines!!

****GARAGE SALE****

April 3 and 4th In Maple Ridge!!!

We are collecting good stuff now and Ebaying choice items ( see Willmyheart seller id on Ebay ) to help raise funds for the kids here. I am getting ready to list a Hudson Bay wool blanket which is highly collectible , I think this item would do better on Ebay. We shall see!!

Please let me know if you can help our sale be successful!! 604-462-0958 or email us!! Drop off’s and pick ups can be arranged for good stuff.

HONS In Vermont!!!

2011-02-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

Swine salvation
By JOSH STILTS, Reformer Staff

Volunteers lead an approximately 900-pound boar to a trailer at the Retreat Farm in Brattleboro. (Zachary P. Stephens/Reformer)
Wednesday, February 2 2011

BRATTLEBORO - Five large orphaned pigs from Windham County found a new home after volunteers from across the United States and Canada worked together to rescue them from the slaughterhouse.

When members of the Hearts on Noses webpage, a pig rescue group, heard that some pigs that could no longer be cared for were going up for auction, they decided to contact local veterinarians and animal rescue groups.

The Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in Willow, N.Y., worked tirelessly to find the animals a home after the caretaker of the Brattleboro Retreat Farm agreed to postpone the pigs' potential sale.

Hours before the deadline, Gia Martin, who owns a farm in Valatie, N.Y., saw a post on Facebook that a potential home in North Carolina had fallen through, said she would be able to provide a temporary home for the animals.

"I have the barn space and as long as donations keep coming in, I'll be able to keep them," Martin said.

Loading the four females pigs was relatively easy, she said. The boar, however, had overgrown hooves and was unstable when standing for long periods of time.

People attempted to move him four times with no success onto a trailer to join the other pigs, but they were unable to coax him to move more than 10 to 15 feet, to the edge of his living area.

On Friday, eight volunteers struggled for more than an hour to get the roughly 900-pound pig loaded onto a trailer.

The boar, nicknamed Big Poppa, pushed
Advertisement
EarthShare
back with all his might as the volunteers tempted him with apples and tried to use plastic boards to move him up the ramp.

Shelia Hyslop, sanctuary manager for the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, said the five pigs will serve as advocates for other animal rescues.

"It's ironic we're spending so much time and energy on these pigs when 120,000 are slaughtered for food in the U.S. each year," Hyslop said. "But we feel they deserve a chance to live."

Hyslop said she wasn't sure of Big Poppa's condition before the pigs arrived and planned to merely assess his situation.

"The fact that he got up so quickly on his own suggested his spirit is still strong," she said. "His legs aren't good but it's tough to tell if it's from his arthritis or hooves."

Local veterinarian Dr. Steven Major, who has worked with the Brattleboro Retreat Farm for more than 22 years, disagreed with the decision to try and save the boar.

"The most humane thing to do to this pig would be to put it down," Major said. "It isn't likely to be productive to keep an old arthritic boar going."

He added that the Retreat Farm has always taken excellent care of its animals.

"If he was in really bad shape, he would have given up entirely when we were moving him," Hyslop said in response to Major's comments. "He only half-way laid down when we were trying to move him. With better hoof treatment and a stricter diet, he should be able to live another five or six years."

She guessed that each of the pigs is about 5 years old and through donations from more than a dozen states and British Columbia, Canada, roughly $540 was raised to support the rescue. Elana Kirshenbaum, program director of the Woodstock Farm, said she fielded calls from all over the U.S., trying to find the five pigs a permanent home and will continue to do so.

"We have a huge crisis in this country with domestic animals such as cats and dogs," Kirshenbaum said. "Farm animals are even more difficult to place."

Josh Stilts can be reached at jstilts@reformer.com, or 802-254-2311 ext. 273.

Karmavore Party !!!!

2011-01-30T20:15:00.001-08:00

See the coverage by our talented photographer Melissa Fowler who braved the night with her picture taking while not feeling great and very much under the weather.

Click on the link below to see the party!! Or copy and paste in your browser.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissafowler/sets/72157625943009866/

KARMAVORE FUNDRAISER JAN 23RD

2011-01-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

karmaTALK
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Sarah Kramer | Jan 23 Fundraiser Event
Join international bestselling vegan cookbook superstar, Sarah Kramer, at Karmavore on Jan 23 from 6-8pm, for an amazing fundraiser event for animals!

Proceeds from the event will benefit the following charities:

Hearts on Noses Pig Sanctuary
A home to pigs who have been injured, abused, neglected and abandoned, located in Mission, BC.

BC Poodle and Small Dog Rescue
A rescue group based out of Victoria, BC, mainly focused on rescue of poodles and poodle-mixes, but will never say no to saving other small breed dogs in need!

Tickets to the event cost only $25.00, and include all the following!

* Meet and greet Sarah Kramer in person with signings
* Meet Janice from Hearts on Noses Pig Sanctuary
* 1 copy of Sarah Kramer's 2011 Go Vegan Calendar
* Vegan Hors d'oeuvres
* A Yummy Baked Vegan Good from Karmavore's New Deli (croissant or cupcake)
* Silent Auction
* Exclusive Sale Event
* 50/50 Draw
* 1 FREE Ticket to Karmavore Gift Card Raffle
* 1 FREE Karmavore Store Coupon
* PLUS, a lifetime of good karma for helping the animals!

Based out of the Metro Vancouver area in British Columbia Canada, Karmavore Vegan Shop brings you vegan product reviews, updates from our store, animal rights news, and more!

My Tinsel

2011-01-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful day!!

This morning while catching up on here and checking out face book the sun shine caught my eyes . As it touched the large shrub beside my pond , she lit up the snow on the tips of her foliage. The light danced and flickered like tinsel and this drew me outside.

Buddy and I got out there after chasing two house pigs out into the snow too potty. I gathered up some hay and carried it out to a nice sunny spot for the horses. There is nothing more beautiful then horses, as there color is spectacular this time of year . Fuzzy coats are thick in winter growth against the snow as i allow this natural occurrence with my horses. I only put there blankets back on to warm up two wet horses last night. Perfect timing for them as we wake up to our arrival of snow .

After watching the horses we went out back to the gate that takes us beyond the fenced area of our property. Behind it and down below is a creek that also feeds into my neighbors pond. I can see my neighbors white geese enjoying there morning swim with her Muscovy ducks and i smiled when i saw a wild mallard peeking out from behind the flock.

Buddy and I climbed down and plowed threw the thickets of brush and salmon berry bushes as we headed to the water. Buddy leaped over the creek and i considered following him over as i still haven't been on that side of the
water. However I chose to save that adventure, for another day.

Suzy's Story

2011-01-02T19:15:00.001-08:00

When i loose one , i need to write and speak for them and share there story. We didn't get to make a story , we didn't get to even know each other. I never saw your tail wag , i was cheated , you were cheated in that i never got to see you enjoy life here. You came here hurt and i couldn't fix you. You came here to be saved, rescued from the cruel world you left behind and I took your life.

I am angry that you weren't taken care of. I am angry that the powers involved didn't see this and set me up for the heart break of only to loose you and with my hand doing so in two short months.

I am sorry , i am so sorry sweet Suzy.

I am not sorry you came into my life. I am not sorry for hearing your gentle oofs when you knew i was coming to you. I am not sorry i got to feel the gentleness in the way you took treats and food from my hands. I am not sorry that i had to get you special things to eat because you were special. I am not sorry for cleaning your eyes and fussing over you. I am not sorry for kissing you and kissing you. I am not sorry i stayed up with you all night to keep you covered. I am not sorry for tucking you in and gave you nice pink wool blankets . I am not sorry i held you up so you could eat your noodles , drink your water and juice. I am not sorry on Christmas morning for feeding you pretzels and fruit loops. I am not sorry for when we played get your nose and get your ear. I am not sorry for stroking your face and feeling your softness in and out. I am not sorry for telling you that i loved you so very much. And i am not sorry for removing your pain.

I will never forget you Suzy, we did have a story after all. And still, i am so sorry our story has ended so soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

2010-12-31T15:33:00.000-08:00

So much for my dog being in the bedroom, Cotton has moved in and so Buddy
is just being watched, played with more and walked more. It is all i can manage to do right now. I can't have my dog not with me. Here are some after Christmas dinner pictures for you.

Suzy has been going down hill and yesterday i had this mad cap idea that her mass looked bigger, could it just be an abscess? I do this all the time when I have already made vet appointment. And based on my experiences with pigs I should know better then to sway from what i know and what i want it it to be. Of course it is not just an abscess, something less life threatening and with totally different symptoms. It is natural i guess when facing a possibility of euthanasia , it just sucks to have to make these decisions.

I called my Farm Call vet, Herman Geerstema came out yesterday and he arrived just after 6 to see my Suzy. Together we moved her onto a blanket and laid her down in the lower part of a crate. Placed her on a wagon and we took her for a ride to Penny's large shed. I had already fixed it up for her , moving all the straw and laying down a carpet. She had to get out of the little house she was in, as she wasn't getting up to go outside potty. And of course this makes it easier for the vet to get a good look at her , with more elbow room and lighting.

Her leg or foot is okay , it is not broken and yet there is a mass on it causing her enough pain to stop going out every morning. She stopped eating her peanuts for breakfast, and the normal piggy pellets. At first i thought she was just refusing the new food here as it has been a struggle right off the start to get her to eat.

Herman suggested we ex-ray her and although this is another expense, it would help Ken on the day of our appointment for surgery to see what he is up against. And it would answer the question of should i let her go now. Poor little girl did her best to get away from us and she struggled to her feet to go out the door. This was after many pictures were taken and moving her little self around for better angles. I wanted her to stand up and use those legs as my heart and mind are still on her tomorrows.

Herman will email those pictures to Ken so he will have a chance to view them on Jan 10th.

After I fed the crew outside, smashed out the ice for drinking water, thawed the stupid hose to the sump pump and then i fed Suzy. I had an old tin of chicken soup in the back of the cupboard and added baby carrots. And i went to the store and bought eggs as although i try to be vegan , i just don't know what else to offer her that will have her get some nutrition into her,to keep her weight on and for her to be interested in eating what i offer. The tins of sardines i had for the turtle weren't tossed either and i forgot about them way in the back of my cupboard. Suzy ate with gusto and we do quite good laying down. I gave her some pain meds and repeated this ritual this morning. I tried beans of every variety and she doesn't like them.

So this will be an estimated cost of last nights call to be well over 600.00 and i know the surgery will be another 2500.00 . WE really need some surprise donations to come in. After everything we put threw last night , i simply couldn't let her go after all that and i just have to try.

Suzy is adorable and lets me kiss her and rub her eyes. Even Herman mentioned that she was a cute pig , not everyone see's them for who they are. She is darn cute and answers me with every word and she ah ah ah's in a piggy way of letting you know just how she feels. I have to try.

Look at her hip ...and her cute sweet face

Edited to add at 9:50 and after feeding. I tucked everybody in and closed the shed door on Penny and Suzy. Penny gave the door a thump and it sprang open. Penny is quite restless so she must be in heat and i walked in Suzy was getting up. Was she going to make a break for it too?? Any how filled me with hope , it wasn't much but she stood for a while and then she settled back down and is all tucked in again.

Christmas Wrapping

2010-12-28T20:55:00.000-08:00

Is it too late to say Merry Christmas?? LOL I guess we are all leaning to the Happy New Year now ;o)

Mom was here for a few days so we could share Christmas Eve together and open presents in the morning. We have done this for years after Dad died and then my Mark .

Mom and i went out at about 1 when the rain stopped to cheer up the pigs with there Christmas goodies!! We passed out the 'fun food' and took pictures of everyone having there Christmas goodies. Some not vegan but i can't hurt peoples good intentions when they bring treats for the pigs.

Lenny is in foster and Karena is awesome. She writes me an update every day and i a so happy for Lenny to land in love they way he has. She loves on him, gets him cheerios and covers him up every night. He is under a heat lamp and lots of straw. But Lenny did not snap out of his depression and he was on and off his food, moving his bed.. unsettled and now a snotty nose. Tomorrow we call for our farm call Vet Dr Herman Geertsema , so we can get him on some meds.

Suzy who arrived over a month ago is failing now. She arrived with a limp and was getting up every morning to potty. A few days after arrival i rushed out when i saw her out and realized she has a large mass over the right hip area. Now either she has been really kicked hard and is suffering from a mass of fractures or there is a tumor in there.

Suzy came from a place where she had no warmth and no shelter and her fight to survive was constant. I believe now that she is warm and safe , the adrenaline to survive that kept her strong is wading now. It has been a battle to get her to eat , anything. And Christmas fixings worked well for two days. But she is a worry and i want to bring her in the shed with Penny but do i stress her out in order to do that and hurt her more? And then there is my surgeon Dr Ken Mcquisten who is out of the country until January 6th. My appointment is on the 10th , will she make it until then or will i have to call Herman to let her go? .

I have been giving her a variety of pain meds but she did best on the homeopathic one so i have been giving her arnica twice a day. And i crawled into the house to get her to move out as i see no signs of her being outside to potty. I had been hand feeding her at night but i still thought she was getting up.

Going vegan i had given all my tuna and canned salmon to Mom that i had in the house accept for one tin in case of a sick pig. Tonight i went out armed with a can of peaches and a tin of salmon. Suzy went to get up when i gave her a mouthful and this time when i went to help her she didn't get mad. She ate with gusto and wanted more. She ate all of it and when i came back with apple slices she was still standing up in her house. I really hope she is starting to feel better with a little help from homeopathy.

Well i hope everyone had a great Christmas , i got an awesome pair of boots from Dave and Pam. Lots of goodies from my sister like two new brooms for the barn and slippers and pj's for me. Mom gave us kids some money so i am going to get a new vacuum.

Pre Christmas STRESS

2010-12-23T15:54:00.000-08:00

Is every one ready for Christmas??? I'm not , me and my big mouth of lets have it here means dog hair, cat hair and pig bristles along with dust balls the size of a bunny have got to go. And what am i doing , oh sitting here waiting for the rain to let up so I can feed the pigs without them getting too wet while there eating.

I spent all day yesterday wrapping presents , ALL DAY!! Well no true i spent an hour in a frenzy as i couldn't find some things i bought and thought i was loosing my mind. The little bag was found ( pre -screaming) behind the laundry basket.

Buddy is doing well and is getting the program around here down to a tee. I still need to fix and out side space for him when he prefers to be when the pigs are out but that will come. I am off now until Jan 5th and he actually seems happier with all the attention he has been getting. In fact he was so pooped out from a nice long walk the day before he slept in until 11 all stretched out on my bed.

Well i better getting going here , me being here is not getting anything cleaned dusted or put away!!

Dealing With The Cards Dealt

2010-12-17T12:14:00.000-08:00

One day five years ago an offer of some free hay had me heading out to check it out one morning. Jingle at 15 years old came along for the ride. From the email I gathered from what they briefly said they were moving and as i drove long i wondered why they didn't need the hay where they were going. I even went as far to question and wonder what they did with there animals and if they were giving them up. I also thought, I hope they don't have any dogs. It always hurts my heart for the animals being torn away from what they know , moved from there home and families.

On arriving i saw three dogs and during the conversation with the donor he told me they were moving to Australia and i exclaimed "but what are you going to do with your dogs?". Sadly the three dogs would be separated and the big one had still not found a home. This is how i got Buddy.

Buddy is unlike any dog that has lived with me. He prefers his own company and appreciates a good love when he asks for it. He likes to be on my bed but not when i am in it. He is a bit of a loner and prefers to do things on his own. He doesn't follow me around when i am outside working for example. Unlike my other dogs who would lay in front of the barn as i did chores and then followed me into the house when I was done. Buddy does and is where he wants to be it really makes no difference to him where i am. As long as i am there when he wants me to be.

When Buddy arrived at 2 years old he chased the pigs , chased the horses and scared my cats. He would learn, but it was a long process and my gentle Buddy, BUDDY , and then BUDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY would escalate sometimes. Trying different techniques to teach him , changed very little of his behavior.

Buddy had not ever been dried off and i know this because when i dried his feet his lips with snarl and he would growl at me. It took a lot of guts to teach this dog as he was big and bending over to do this put my face next to his. Every chance i got i touched his toes, held his paws when he laid down and eventually he got used to it.

When he is on my bed and i would go in and lay down to cuddle i questioned if his voice was a growl or if he was talking. But when a friend came to stay with me and leaned up on the couch he was laying on and he growled i knew his growls were exactly that.

He was here when Rose was brought in as a baby. He seemed taken with her and took on an almost protective nature. They played together, chewed toys , he let her sleep with him and on him. With me always watching the big dog and reminding him to be gentle with her . They were great friends.

But as Buddy got older as did Rose i watched a new behavior emerge. One of an Alpha dog who when Rose would come to greet him as she did since she was little, Buddy would get rigid. He would stand tall and his body language clearly sent a message to me that he was ready to take her on. Don't presume here because i rescue pigs i know nothing about anything else , i know aggressive body language i don't care who it is man or mouse. I kept a watchful eye on Buddy and would bark out the words "out" when i saw him do this. I had no control over Rose this way but I did with the dog and to prevent something terrible it was the dog who needed to move away from the situation.

If you go look back at my movie with then Bacon and Buddy, you can see what i see coming from my dog.

One summer day i heard Rose scream on the front porch and running out there was my dog and a pig whose face was bleeding. I didn't see it happen but i knew it was a dog bite and once again i questioned my keeping such a dog at a Sanctuary for rescued pigs. Pigs will duke it out and over the years when i have found one of my pigs with a scratch or two i have looked and wondered if it was my dog or not. And i have heard the horror stories of dogs killing pigs at Sanctuaries and i know what damage a dog can do to a pig as i have one here without an ear. I am always telling people never ever leave your dogs and pigs together unsupervised.

Last night when i got home from work i greeted Buddy in the driveway. I came in and Cotton followed Buddy right back out the door . A few minutes later i heard a blood curdling scream from a little pig . I rushed outside and saw the two separate and saw blood gushing from the pigs snout. I immediately called the dog in exclaiming "WHAT DID YOU DO????"?? That question carried so much in it you have no idea. My mind raced with how our lives just took a huge change, will i need to euthanize this dog , give him up , get a kennel a muzzle. I was using my hands to direct my dog and told him to get in here and get in my bedroom. And up on my bed a dog looked back at me with "don't you touch me" . His fur was raised and his eyes were black , this dog scared me but called him to follow and pointed to the pig and told him NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO now get back in my bedroom and i shut the door to attend to the pig.

I got him settled and cried my heart out for a little pig who was brought here to be safe only to be attacked by my dog. And my dog .. what of his life now and how it will change.

Needing help and totally upset i looked towards a rescue forum only to be met with judgment and no thought to my experience with multi species. I for some stupid reason thought the people on there would be nice to me and offer up some kind of assurances or a home or help for my dog. Over the edge now and sobbing hysterically i edited all my words and shut this computer down.

This morning because I am high strung and an emotional Italian I have decided to CALM down and manage my dog. Last’s night ordeal sent me over the edge with working and coming home and getting back in here after 9 the night before to still feeding the inside crew and then me.. menopause and no sleep add’s to the mix of emotions.

I bring an animal in here to be safe and he gets hurt here … but the pigs duke it out and get hurt too so I don’t look at that pig any differently I just keep an eye out for the problems and remove them before they are one.

I have a dog who I will never trust. I just talked to a friend and she gave me an out if I needed one as she would take him soooooooooo now I have done musical chairs this morning with dog and pigs and will have to be way more aggressive with my watch. In order for Buddy to live his life out with me without being a danger to anybody here I can never forget what happened last night.

My bedroom will become his room , simple as that and I will buy a muzzle even though no one has suggested this to me it will make me feel better to have this option available at times.

Today Buddy found his front porch gated, his dish and water in my bedroom, also gated. He is NOT ever to be trusted with the pigs again. And no matter what i do I will be criticized mostly by dog people because there are more of them and they are who they are and love there dogs. And no doubt pig people will be on the other side of the fence saying get rid of the dog.

The decisions i have come to this morning were founded by someone who loves them both equally , this is my torment. All of our lives changed last night and in order to keep everyone safe precautions have been taken. Buddy's life will be the most dramatic change but verses the options It is the only one i can make. As an animal lover and to give him a life here unless i can truly find a better one for him somewhere else. Yes i would give him up ..

I am more educated now thanks to him, about him, then I will ever be now .. and he will never be the dog I ever wanted him to be and that’s just the way it is as I have a pig here who has the same issues and I manage him. Sucks but that the cards dealt to me and my dog.

Lenny

2010-12-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

Two years ago a family sent me an email about there house pig Lenny who was getting cranky with the grand kids and was no longer wanted. I always ask for pictures of a pig being given up, both to use to find them a home with and to see the pigs overall condition . This pig was only two years old and a time in a pigs life where he is coming of age into maturity , one that we all associate with kids and the terrible two's. It is the same of pigs, at two for many of them they want to be boss now. Also add being over weight, and his vision getting worse and worse as the fat closes over his eyes. It would be enough to make me cranky.

At the time i had listed the acreage and sent them back a letter suggesting they build Lenny a yard with a outside house. That this is how there pig would be living if he came in here. And i offered to come over and work with them and share some of the techniques i use for behavior issues. This pig was also a house pig and wanted nothing of going down the ramp to go outside. Maybe the ramp was to steep for the now two year old fat blind pig, and babies do all sorts of things at a young age they will not do once they get older. I offered to give Lenny a home once i moved but i was not spending any money on putting up new pens for incoming pigs when i needed that money to be spent on pens for all of us when we moved. I wrote a nice long letter and never heard back from them.

A year later , I think i had been out here a few months when a lady called me for help with a pig she took in. It was just basic care information and wouldn't you know it , the pig she had was Lenny.

Where does the time go? And here we are again a year later only to receive a call from now this lady who no longer can care for Lenny. And she knows he is not happy where he is and asks if i can take him. I simply can't take in any more pigs here right now but there is no hurry to get him out as he has a nice yard and a good house and spring is a better time to be moving pigs any where. But that changed in a matter of weeks and the new message on my machine turned Lenny into a emergency, i had to get him out now.

24 hours after my plea on facebook Karena offered up a stall in her barn and agreed to foster him until spring. They also had a nice house in a pen but felt Lenny would have more company with her horses in the barn. So yesterday morning in the pouring rain I loaded my truck once again with a crate, blocking boards , treats , a bucket, dolly, food and blankets.

Lenny was confined in his house and we placed the crate with the door open at his doorway. Then i climbed in with a herding board and a bucket. We didn't have much room and Lenny is a big boy , but i moved quietly and slowly blocking him , creating a shoot to the crate. I suggested that he could go in all by his self , that he was gong on an adventure. The he need not worry as he would be safe, but needed to be very brave. Lenny moved towards me and i allowed that using the board and with the bucket ready in my other hand he put himself in a perfect position. Gently placing the bucket over Lenny's head he moved back wards to get away from it and backed right into the crate.

And Lenny was on his way to the new digs within 30 minutes which was spent mostly on setting up time, so I could do this without scaring him.

As we were all pulling out the lady reached threw my window in the truck and gave me a kiss , no one has ever done that when i am taking there pigs. And i turned into a bowl of jelly as i followed the horse trailer out.

I was concerned about Karena's horse's being scared to death of there new barn buddy and for two reasons i grabbed a bag full of Lenny's hay bedding before we left. Some hay for his new bed to bring him comfort at his new place and to sack out the horse's. I suggested to Karena she toss in a hand full of Lenny's bedding in there stalls to get them used to his scent.

I laughed when Karena updated me after i left that she did that very thing , and her horses simply ate it LOL. That went well, and i only wish we had a
picture of three gentle horses reaching over there barn stall doors to try and reach Lenny and welcome him home.

Saturday Night Action

2010-12-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

Last year i talked to a young man who had acquired a pig from his boss at work. Apparently the pig was shipped from a Texas Breeder (UGH) and became unwanted not too long after. I am sure this would of been somewhere around $1000.00 in cost after the purchase, medical records and transportation costs on top of the 30 day quarantine for one very scared little baby who had been yanked away from his mom. Note that the breeder shipped this pig unaltered. GRRRRRRRRRRR

Anyhow i do remember trying to get the breeders name out of the guy after giving him an hour of my time to help him care for this baby. He was too call me back, but never did. And he didn't want him either and the next family who took him in loved him, got him neutered and he had a real family for a little while..

Yesterday was join up for Volunteers here as it is every Saturday and only my sister arrived to help. After working outside for several hours we came inside so she could help me put plastic up on some windows in here to try and lower my heating bills here.

By 2 Nancy took off and i sat down here to catch up on emails and the phone rang. The SPCA had a pig in a eviction crises and while talking to them i saw a email from the family pleading for help.

Dec 1 late afternoon a Mom with her baby answers the door to the landlords. Facing eviction as the economy has taken the toll on this family and they are struggling to get back on there feet. The husband finally gets a job and is working 14 hour days and is not home when Mom lets the landlords in. Once she let them in they were allowed to throw her out. I wasn't there but i can imagine the mayhem that ensued from there and this is when the pig bolted out the door in the commotion and took refuge under the porch. And i spoke to both of the family members and i can tell you i cried along with both of them on the phone.

About 20 minutes from here i jumped in the truck to go to the house to see if the pig was still there as the landlords were threatening to take care of the situation in an unfavorable way. A little silver and white pig under the porch trying to keep warm in the hay and the blankets the family took over there. The family was unable to get the little traumatized friend and no where to take him they starting reaching out for help once they found help for themselves. I was able to figure out a game plan and spent a few hours back here trying to rally up help to pull rescue off. NO way could i leave this baby pig out there in this cold one night and at the risk of being eaten.

I called Carol at SAINTS and she rounded up two friends and we headed out here in the dark with flashlights , crate, hay bale string and a portable pen. I saw some fencing and some crates there we could use to pen in the porch. We would go in quiet so this little guy didn't bolt from under our trap. Quietly we placed pallets and wire pen, then secured it with the twine to the deck supports. I placed the crate where i figured the pig came and went as this is key to the way a pig travels. It is was easier to get the pig to go in a direction they know , then in one they have never been even in this situation.

Pigs are more like any feral animal when it comes to trapping them . And out of the 100 plus pigs i have known in my life not one of them will walk into a crate on there own. With or without food!!

Then two of us crawled under the 24" crawlspace and with a light broom i brought we took turns in herding the little boy as he had quite a bit of room under there to retreat too then we did. I cracked my head good on one of the supports under there and i still don't know what one of my hands sunk into. With no place to go as we were positioned well and as best as we could lying down under there he went for the crate, and with one little push we had him.

We were all back here by about an hour and a half later and the girls carried the crate into the great room here and i opened the crate door. He strutted right out tail wagging a mile a minute. He explored all over here and up down the hallway to the kitchen and back while we fed him treats and laughed about our Saturday night adventure.

All the kids needed to be fed here now and my day starting at 6:30 am unthawing a sump pump hose again ended with me starving and exhausted falling to the couch by 9.

This pig and I could really use a sponsor now if any one can help us. He will spent the winter in here as there are no empty piggy paddocks and tossing him in with any body right now is not a good option for this soft little house pig.

He is under a pile of blankets a few feet away from me and snoring every so lightly.

Help Arrived Just In Time

2010-11-20T07:41:00.000-08:00

Last year a gal contacted me by email asking if i could use a volunteer for a week . After a phone call between us Dayna arrived for a week only to spend two weeks and we worked hard and had a ball. Dayna flew in from Edmonton again and stayed for a week promising to return in the summer for a longer period of time. The days flew by and while i was at work Dayna would figure out our meals and took care of my inside work for both me and Hearts On Noses. In fact when i went to work in the morning Dayna stuffed my lunch she made under my arm with a "have a nice day"!

I was able to pick up truck loads of hay on two nights on the way home from work and this makes a huge difference to have help here when i get home to put it away. And then again help and company to feed all the pigs after made the work here so much lighter. Knowing i have a good stock of hay here for both the pigs and the horses feels good.

Thank you Dayna for coming to help me here and for my bat box and my piggy stuffy on top of everything you did for us here.

Friday being Dayna's last night here, arrived Pam and Dave from Sorrento to help me again. Coming home from work with a truck load and seeing there truck parked in the driveway put a big smile on my face. So many of my favorite friends all under the same roof was a hoot. We all dived into a big pot of vegan chili Dayna had prepared and we all crashed for an early start to drive Dayna to the airport in the morning.

Saturday we dived into clean up and moved gravel and by 2 i was so tired. Paul a new volunteer was awesome as was Taryn who returned as promised from helping us the week-end before. Alisha took care of all the water and dishes and my sister took care of the horses. Sunday Dave tackled some much needed repairs here and Pam and i took care of the stack of pools needing washed out and put away and well just things that get put on the back burner are done now too. Dylan's door way was too big on his shed and letting too much draft inside so Dave fixed him up just in time for the snow I see outside this morning.

It was so quiet here when every one left and although i was pretty tired a lot of worry about little things needing done has removed a lot of weight i was carrying. And because of that help I wasn't worn down and had energy to load up on straw on the way home from work one night. It wasn't raining so i had to take advantage of that and grab it while i could and put it away so i would have it for my day off yesterday.

Friday morning at 8:30 a class from Douglas Collage Vet tech course arrived to see the pigs first hand and get a chance to examine one or two. Of course i let Roscoe out wanting these young people to meet a big pig up close and personal and show these young minds what these big pigs were like if allowed to live past the age of slaughter . Panda our pig who will be neutered on Monday gave them a show of a boar in action in more ways then one. They may never look at rotini the same way again. And Penny allowed the stethoscopes to monitor her with out leaving her nest of blankets during all of it.

When everyone left i started moving straw into the pigs houses and fixing a few door way flaps as i went. I was done about 3 and came in to warm up for an hour before i had to feed dinner. This is just another one of the jobs here that is a ton of work but knowing the pigs are all warm and cozy gives me as much comfort as it does to them when its done. This will need to repeated about every three weeks now threw winter.

I woke up at 6 this morning and it is still blowing pretty hard out there. There is about an inch of snow on the ground and there is chairs down and umbrellas blown everywhere . I doubt anyone is coming to help today so I will do what i can and carry on again tomorrow. And i really don't care for this moment as i know all the pigs are warm and have full bellies still from last nights dinner and that is all that matters .

Pigs Who Need US!!

2010-11-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

What a brutal couple of weeks its been here with all this rain! We have moved 60 yards of gravel to create a solid base in some of the wetter areas and still have 20 yards left to go. And with this when you raise the ground in one area you create water problems in another, as the water travels to the next paddock. Drainage is needed big time and i pray we get our grant request from the Vancouver Foundation to help us with this.

The gravel is a sand mix which is giving some solid footing however it is also where i am feeding some of the pigs. My concern is the sand they will get on there noses , i don't want any obstructions caused by sand being swallowed. I have got to get the bark mulch down.

The SPCA contacted me regarding a neglect case. A little pig with out adequate shelter has been seen huddled up next to the house under eaves trying to get out of the weather. She dug her self a barrow trying to create a nest for herself and if she hadn't arrived here that hole would of been nothing more then a wallow by now. Suzy is here and is in an emotional mix of depression right now and is resting warm and comfortable for the first time in a long time. She is refusing food left in her bowl but the sprinkled do-nut was met with enthusiasm as was the hand fed sliced apples last night. One of her rear legs may require medical care as she is favoring it and cries from her house had me race outside but it is her trying to right herself from laying on her side. She needs a bigger shelter and one i can throw wall to wall carpet under her hay so her hooves have something to grab onto to make it easier to get up. I do this for the senior pigs too as hind ends weaken from old age.

Two more pigs need new homes and both here in the lower mainland. One little girl after being attacked by dogs was brought into be euthanized. But good people at the clinic nurses her back to health and her rescuer reaches out to me now to find her a good home. This Delta Piggy sporting her Princess garb at the clinic here.

Then there is Lenny who has gone from a house pig to a farm not far from here who simply needs more then his new family can give him. He gets up to potty, eats and then goes back to bed. He is a big boy that needs someone special too work him out of his depression and spend some time with him and show him a new world.

Well off to do a pumpkin run, wish me luck!!

The Cost Is Mine And There's.

2010-10-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

I knew something had happened at the pond when i came home from work Thursday and my fish weren't in there spot for dinner. Friday morning the pond looked empty but i needed to do water and dishes for the pigs and i went to work here.

Before i go out a facebook message tells me of a pig being advertised for free and i send out a message to Jean on the Island.

I scrubbed all there dishes, the water tubs and a few pools i left out to use as a water catch and a wash basin for the trays and dishes. I did the horses big live stock tank too and was pleased by late afternoon all my kids had fresh waters.

The sun was out and because i had all day to do this i enjoyed the day here while spending time with all the pigs. Instead of rushing by to get the job done i stopped to love on my babies. And Roscoe and i spent a glorious few hours going for our walk around the acreage. Out back he found some lush grass and i found a huge rock to sit on and watched him graze as his long tail wagged continuously.

I came in the house about 3 and was wet and tired and had a quick shower , made something to eat and had a rest before it was time to feed them all. A few hours later i came in here to sit down for a few minutes i looked out the window and to my horror there was a blue heron standing in my pond fishing.

Saturday is join up for volunteers and by 9:30 it was obvious it was just me and my sister. Nancy would do stalls and would work half her time out there for the horses and join me in the pigs pen work after. By 1:00 we were out of steam and the pasture still needs more clean up and the largest piggy pen is left as well as Roscoe's.

Sunday i was expecting visitors as well as someone new who wrote me about helping. I haven't been off the property since last Tuesday except to go to work and needed to restock the pigs supplies. The animals here are no different from your cats or dogs who need to go out early . The only difference here is there are 45 animals here - 41 of them outside who are expecting breakfast at the crack of dawn. My work out there starts right away which is why i book all visits in the morning.

A surprise from Chris who has five hours left on his community hours i got him started on the big piggy pen and i worked in the yard and on Roscoe's. And as i did i also i fretted over the pond and how i would have to net it now. Once my visitors left i would race to get the net in town at the pond supply store. I would add livestock wire first to save the remaining fish while i left here as Chris would only be here until noon.

By 11:00 and none of my visitors here yet , i made the decision to go to town now and get the net so Chris would still be here to let my visitors know i would be back and his presence would keep the herons away. If my visitors arrived on time once the tour was done i could race back to town to get produce for the pigs for our week ahead.

I got back at almost noon and Chris offered one more hour to help and so i raced against the clock to get this project completed as i expected to have to stop to greet my guests. I had to cut down all the bull rushes and remove them from the pond. Remove all the boulders holding the wire down , remove and roll up the wire and prepare to drape the net without it laying in the water.

Chris left and i worked as fast and hard as i could as there was a huge mess in my yard now that needed to be cleaned up and at 1:45 is when my morning visitors arrived here.

I am tired now and so are the pigs that are out and yet the peanut butter and jam sandwiches are distributed. Carpets for the inside kids put away and apples were much appreciated. I can't barely walk now as i have been on my feet for three days working here and i am out of steam physically and emotionally. I try to be gracious and friendly but i was so tired and no way could i now get to town to buy a weeks worth of produce needed for the pigs.

I had two hours to rest before feeding dinner and i haven't eaten all day .. and when i do feed the pigs i am exhausted. And Soda only added to my day by bumping me out of the way at the gate when i went into feed. She is in heat and food is the furthest thing she desires. I chased her around for about two hours in between feeding everyone and no way is she going back in. She is in a pen with 11 others and its pretty hard to get a pig in without letting the entire herd out for a free for all at 9 o'clock

And during the day i am fighting the emotions in the store and here while i work and tell the pigs stories to my visitors i want to cry my heart out for my fish who i didn't protect here. I am watching the birds who arrive to the pond for a drink or a splash trying to get to it. And if i find a bird caught up in this net i will loose it.

Once back in the house i sat here and Jean has contacted a family we placed a pig earlier this year and they have agreed to love this one off of facebook too.

Its Monday and i need a day off but i have inside work that needs to get looked at... and its 9 so i better return some calls here and then get out and feed the kids.

Bits And Pieces

2010-10-10T11:44:00.000-07:00

Where do i start , its been a while!!!

Lets see i contacted B.C.Corrections to see if i could get a crew here to move the rest of the gravel. They arrived last Friday and all new faces except for one and every one of them reached out to shake my hand , how nice of them all. They worked so hard and got it all moved. Some of the guys trimmed some low branches and dragged them off into the bush for me and they even blew off this long driveway.

I will need another load of gravel or two and then i will bring in the bark mulch. And yes i will see if i can get the guys back here for that too.

Pam and Dave report in on there new charges and judging from the behavior of Bossy Boots and new boy Rocco making kissy face at the fence we think he is not neutered. And on top of Bossy pushing her way around and heading up the ramp in any attempt to get to him almost clinches it. A few pictures it is hard to tell by looking at him but yes it appears he may still have one nut in there. ( judging the classic look of 'elephant skin' in between his legs on one side)

I never even thought to look at Rocco when we were loading as there previous keepers wrote he was neutered. Easy to assume when in the time he as been with them he showed no interest that way in his mate i guess. Perhaps these precious pigs had a mutual understanding of her pain.. and he closed himself off from those urges.

Angel is pretty crippled up and we agree its time to call the vet in now as they have had enough time to settle in there. The vet there admits his knowledge is limited but he is a good man and listens to Pam's concerns and acts on them with the utmost safety and care. Rocco has two incisions from someones previous attempt,(poor baby) but this vet skillfully neuters Pam and Dave's boy. A script is left for Angel and we hope this brings her comfort , time will tell.

I just got off the phone from someone whose family is loosing the acreage and they have a pig. His name is Lenny and at about 4 years old is in her words not living a good life there anyhow. The family who had Lenny originally had contacted me a little less then two years ago. I begged them to keep him as i was in the middle of listing my acreage at that time. I never heard back from them after my email to them and the next time i heard about Lenny was when this lady called me for some help in his care. Poor Lenny needs a forever home now.. one that will love him and give him what he needs. I will go down there tomorrow and get a picture of him to share and i will try and find a good home for him. sigh...

And a call like that removes the flow of writing for me as there is someone I am worried about now.

Happy Thanks Giving everyone!!

Rain and Kisses

2010-09-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the sad picture of a piggy needing a home a few months ago? Oh so fat and laying in a garden box .. look at the love she is getting now from my dear freind Pam and Dave.

I drink my first cup off coffee here at my desk which over looks the pond. I look for her every morning but my big gold fish has not returned to the surface to eat for weeks now and her friends have regained there trust in my movement again.

It appears a year has almost gone by since i moved here and we are still not ready for our second winter. There is a large pile of gravel that needs to be moved and frankly I'm going to need a ton more. And then on top of that must lay hog fuel which is the less expensive form of bark mulch. All the sheds need bedding added and for sure one roof needs to be replaced or at the very least tarped. Panda needs to be neutered in the following months as he has lost some of that fat and there is the worry of Penny ..Penny can't poop at all as i have been aiding her months now.

We go in spurts here from fabulous help to none at all and in the middle of that stretch is not enough. I wonder if those who arrive on those fab days think this is the way it is here all the time, for those who wonder no its not.

I did pick up part time work and the job is mine as long as i can get the numbers up. Part time could lead into more hours but right now it is only covering half of what i need to pay the mortgage , tel , hydro and cable. If anyone needs some auto glass work or residential windows replaced our mobile crew covers a lot of ground so please email me. The security if these few hours is also security for the pigs here.

Short post .. the rainy season has returned and its not raining now so i am heading to town to fill up my truck and stock up for the week.

Cathy???

2010-09-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

You left a message on my answering machine but didn't leave a number to call you back.

Help Delivered

2010-09-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

Over a month ago someone brought to my attention two pigs being given away on Craig List and I immediately contacted the keeper of these pigs requesting him to remove the ad and give me control over placing there pigs. Thankfully he removed the ad and agreed to work with us.

Face book was something I hear about and had many invites to join but i put it off as it would only add to the amount of things i had to do in a day. But if not for Face book i would of missed out on meeting some great people and one pig and then two more pigs might of missed out on finding a great home.

Some rescuers have a small fleet of volunteers able to rotate attendance and every facet of the rescue is covered from book keeping to fund raising. I am not so fortunate but the pigs friends around me are worth there weight in gold.

Alexandra works for a cement company and she went to her boss to ask for help for us. Friday night a dump truck with trailer dropped off two loads of gravel for the pigs paddocks.

Pam and Dave drove from Sorrento to help me for the week-end and they arrived Friday as well. We fed the pigs and talked until 1:30 in the morning and then woke up on Saturday and began moving the gravel.

Melissa, Dylan and Sue who each sponsor a pig drove out from downtown Vancouver with bags full of treats for the pigs and then the girls scrubbed piggy dishes and filled all the tubs with fresh water. Dylan helped out with the gravel.

Mike arrived to use up some of his hours he needed to get in and he started to move gravel into Roscoe's area as well.

I had started picking and raking piggy poops and then Lee and Laurie arrived to help me. They unloaded a car full of apples and treats first , broke down my cardboard and then refilled there car with our recycling. Then they took off and called out they would be back and they did and with lunch for everyone.

Can it get any better then this???????????

Meanwhile Jean on the island is working on a grant proposal for the pigs and a random visit by two friends who just happen to also sponsor 4 pigs arrived with a van full of produce!

Its a PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!! and so much is getting done!!! I wish i had of taken pictures and thankfully Melissa took a few and shared.

When work was done for general animal care then all of us jumped in and were moving gravel. Everyone body stayed as long as they could and it was just short of a full day. By 5;30 Pam and I were tripping over our feet and no way could i tip one more wheel barrow. Down to the Mill Pub for dinner and another night that ended late as we talked about pigs as we all could forever.

Sunday morning we drove about 40 minutes east of here but on the way home for Dave and Pam we stopped and picked up those Craig List pigs and off they went heading into paradise.

Last night Jean and I worked on the grant with emails and long distance telephone calls and completed it this morning.

Pam and Dave have reported in a few times updating me on the pigs progress in there new home and not without a few medical challenges. They are loved deeply already and have gone from scant bedding to heat lamps, blankets and deep nest of fresh hay. Both pigs are eating well and have felt the sun on there faces today and love in there new surroundings.

An extraordinary week-end and to all of you who made all of this possible from all corners of B.C. to another thank you so very very much.

Pond Wars

2010-09-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

When I first came to look at this place i saw the pond and noticed the few gold fish still alive in it. I worried as the past seller must of left them behind and was the current renter feeding them ? This was too be the beginning of my emotional attachment as even when i returned for a second look in desperation to find a place i had bought fish flakes to ride along with my Realtor.

When i bought i knew i had several more responsibilities in the way of fish and bought only the best fish food and learned about winter and summer feeding.

A few weeks ago i also learned about this weird creepy bugs attached to some of my bulrushes were empty shells of the pond bugs who emerged as beautiful dragon flies. A magic pond ..

And my seven large fish, turned into 14 large fish and and so on. Last week i stopped counting at 39 babies swimming around. This brought a new dilemma of how big my pond was, and how many fish it could adequately support. And as a rescuer this only means i will eventually need to find good homes for some of these fish. Everything I do is reflected from my work with animals as clearly as the fish in the water. And my mind filters threw the process of adoption such as who hangs out with each other, is there pond sufficient and is it protected from predators?

My little pond is very close to the house and surrounded by all these pigs. I smugly thought we were safe here.

Several years ago gathering up and sorting donations for an upcoming garage sale, I pulled out two decoy ducks. Ducks which will lure other ducks in , who will see there mates and join them at what must be a good food source only to be blasted out of the sky. These ducks would be retired to my Moms garden until last week-end.

Mom arrived on Thursday to spend the night and brought the ducks with her and we released them into the pond. We smiled in delight watching the ducks sail away threw the grass in my little pond.

Monday morning i was sitting at my desk and happened to see the flash of large white wings at my pond. Flying out there in bare feet i scared the large crane and it jolted my biggest gold fish out of his mouth. Screaming "you killed my big one" i cupped the big fish in my hands. She MOVED so i put her back in the pond and thanked God for her life and hoped she would survive her ordeal.

My heart pounding i sprang into action to get a make shift scare crow out there and searched the Internet for ideas on how to protect my fish. I was sick about it, and with them all in hiding the days before me would tell me how many that big bird swallowed before i saw her. The whole ordeal knocked the wind out of me and i mourned as i would for any of my friends in trouble or killed all day. I never left this window and and that bird came back as i saw her shadow overhead and saw her pattern change in flight when she saw my scarecrow first and then me running back out there. At 6:30 that same day a heron flew in and i just happened to look up from the tv and scared her away.

Why now!!!!!!!!!!! Why after all these months are these birds flying in here!!!!!!!! THE DARN DECOY DUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMDAWG """"DECOY"""". These big birds flying over head did see these plastic bills and seeking out good fishing saw two in my pond doing just that. Sick that i did this to my fish i got them the hell out of there.

Yesterday I spent all morning putting chicken wire around the edge of the pond. As both these big birds landed and then walked in. I also flew into town to the pond supply place to buy what ever i needed but they were closed. I ended up going to a few Loonie Stores to buy some whirly things i had seen before. Hoping the movement of these things would keep these birds at bay.

My big fish was laying at the bottom of the pond this morning and i can see torn scales on her from where that big bird's beak had a grip on her. An hour later she is swimming again and i should be working on my grant right now. But i do love them all and my fish are as dear to me as any of the animals here and i pray she makes it.

Sheep Wag Tails too

2010-09-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

The only thing different is how we treat them...

Jack Of Hearts

2010-08-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

Hearts On Noses goes to various events trying to raise awareness of there work and ultimately funds to support it. I have always worked full time and am currently looking again after moving and now must as my insurance has run out. When I attend these events it takes a huge sacrifice and adds to the work load to pull it off. There is is only so many hours in two days off and when the first day off is catching up on routine piggy paddock clean up the second day is left for buying what ever is required for the work week ahead. Not any different from any body else except my extended family who must be cared for consists of 45 large animals. It will take truck loads of groceries , truck loads of hay and of course i will also have to put it all away.

Now in between I will fit in my own groceries, if there is room in the truck or return to town again for me after. Like any one else i will do a little clean up as things go in the fridge , things will be tossed and this goes for my feed room too. Most will take a garbage bag out, I will fill up my pick up truck after i tear down the cardboard boxes and gather up all the empty feed bags, tie it down or tarp as required by the tipping station.

Some say " well i do some of that after work at night". I feed 45 animals when i get home from work at night. There also will always be someone here who needs special care, special food and several who will need meds or supplements. The amount of time can suck up 2 1/2 hours every night.

I am also running the charity here which consumes the same amount of time as any small business would with paperwork, accounting , filing and customer service for people and pigs in need.

Now where am i going with all of this well when i do an event and it sucks up all the time i need to do everything else it has to be done after work at night. So for a week or so after work I am picking up hay and then putting it away and apologizing to every animal here who is weeing, whinnying, meowing and whining for there dinner. Everything will be set back and it will be a peanut butter sandwich for dinner for a few nights for me.

One of those nights after such a week-end event i left work and headed to the grocery store and planned on the way home to feed first and then put groceries away.

I pulled in the driveway and when i got out of my truck I heard a pig oofing very excitably to my left. This was the voice of a little pig not one of my big pigs who live in that direction so my first thought was "who got out"? All the pigs are safe in paddocks when i am not home.

Out from behind the house emerged one very excited little piglet and one I did not know. Gone are the days of emotions like panic as when your doing rescue your life is full of constant surprises. So when it registered this was a new pig i hoped when i went to grab a bag of apples to entice him with that he had arrived here alone.

This baby boy pig was not neutered and in a state of excitement having landed in a place full of girly pigs , some who weren't spayed due to age or health reasons. He was literally "foaming at the mouth" and racing from one paddock to another! He didn't want my apple offering, it was girls he wanted!!!

His capture on the two acres would require some help and thankfully back then i had a good volunteer who brought her husband along for the fun. We got this little pig corralled in a corner while he made advances at one of the girls . Tacked up a sheet of plywood to keep him there and then went and got a crate. Once in the crate with no empty pens i went to the barn and prepared water, food and a hay nest for the little tyke. The horse's would have to eat outside for a few weeks until i could get him neutered, accommodations, a house and a pen.

Once we got him settled in and some space between him and his desires , Jack Of Hearts was welcomed home. 2 hours have gone by and i still have to put groceries away and i have another mouth to feed.

I never found out who dropped him off here or what his story was but he is one of the Noses now.

And events i still try to fit in, but catch up is brutal.

Tea Cup Pig

2010-08-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

Four years ago a family wrote me after they had visited friends who were raising pigs for slaughter. They left after there visit with the runt of the litter fearing he would get trampled to death by the other pigs in his pen. They brought him home to there suburban home and fixed him a cozy place in the kids play house and then looked for a home for him and emailed me.

And what luck for this little pig as i actually had a great family who wanted to adopt a pot belly pig and were keen on a farm pig too. They visited the Sanctuary a few times and with pre-adotpion approved I did the home check too. I made several recommendations on the pen and care and little baby Roscoe would surely move there. In fact the night before his arrival i supplied the hay , the water dishes and a baby portable pen to be used.. He was just a baby and still only Tea Cup size ;o))

Contracts signed with a promise from the family to have him neutered before 3 months old as these pigs grow up fast and he was too teeny at this time. Two months later i began my phone calls at about every two weeks urging them to get him done. My last call just prior to Christmas was met with a strong promise from the family that i wouldn't need to worry, that baby Roscoe would be taken care of.

A few months later i was on the road and realized i was driving right by where Roscoe lived. A hot sunny day i pulled over and jumped out of the truck and me with no treats grabbed hand fulls of lush grass and walked up towards his enclosure on this 5 acre property.

The family was outside and the women seeing my arm full of grass asked me "do pigs like grass"? This was a HUGE red flag for me as that comment alone told me many things about how this pig was living. Gads them not knowing if he liked grass meant they never gave him hay at least to sleep on because then they would know he would eat it all and this also told me he never got out of the pen. Because if he was out on this rich grass he would be eating mouth fulls of the stuff and they would see that.

And as i walked by the man i asked him if he had Roscoe neutered and his reply was a 'nope" and i felt the anger welling up in me.

Roscoe now 4 1/2 months old was laying in knee deep mud in the same small pen big enough for a pot bellied pig not an animal 3x times that size.No hay for bedding and his water trough was bone dry. He welcomed the grass i brought him and now i was really mad.

Not pulling any punches i exclaimed this pig was not living like a companion animal , " you didn't even know if he liked grass??? " and no water , this pen is too small for him and don't you ever let him out???? I was met with "well we were thinking bout getting rid of him" .. and my reply " I'll be taking care of that!!"

I got to tell you when Roscoe and I go for walks around the acreage he follows me like any good dog would. Stopping to nibble now and then and then brushing his big self next to me as if he needs to confirm I am here for him and this brings him comfort as he expresses his love . He will dash off to explore on any given day but return to me 15 minutes later to confirm i am indeed here, like a child would do with his Mom. He welcomes me each time with throaty hello's and we catch up on news from when he last left my side.

His is huge and this picture shows you just how big he is in front of my friend Karen's truck. In person however the only thing big about Roscoe to me is his inquisitive nature and the security he needs from me when his big self gently brushes my side.

Will add pix later as Blogger is giving me some grief here ..

New GEICO Commercial - Piggy

2010-08-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

Why Do Canadian Farm Animal Sanctuary’s Struggle?

2010-08-02T12:30:00.001-07:00

Americans gave more than $307.65 billion to their favorite causes despite the economic conditions in 2008. Total giving, when adjusted for inflation, was down 5.7 percent, the largest drop recorded since the group began keeping track of America’s charitable contributions. Many had expected a sharper decline in giving with the recession. It’s important to keep in mind that despite the downturn, giving still totaled $307 billion and individual giving continues to be in the 82 percent of total giving range.
USA as of February 2009, the United States has a total resident population of 305 million Areas: 9,161,923 SQ KM

Canadians donated a total of $10.0 billion in 2007, up from $8.9 billion in 2004. In 2007, the average donation was $437, compared with $400 in 2004. These increases were not adjusted for inflation.

As of April 1, 2009, Canada's population was an estimated 33,592,700,
Area: 9,093,507 SQ KM

The area per SQ KM is comparable; however the population base is substantially different therefore the donation base is over whelming compared to ours. This of course means more foundations, more grants , bigger industries and more people giving .
Pigs particularly have a stigma attached to them that they are dirty animals. Consider we say ‘sweat like a pig” or “messy like a pig sty” and ‘dirty or stink like a pig”. Pigs have no sweat glands and require shade or mud wallows to cool of in during the hot seasons. Pigs if given a choice will not relieve themselves where they eat or sleep. All animals are as dirty as there keeper is. And pigs have no scent at all once altered .
Even most ridged animal lovers can’t relate to pigs as companion animals and are prone to give to cat and dog rescues as that is who they can identify with the Spot or Fluffy because they have one laying on there beds. Compared to our USA counterparts and the difference in the population once again more will have pigs as pets so most Sanctuaries do quite well there.
Also Sanctuaries who also have a feline or canine population will draw the public support and quite often funds the farm animals in there care. For those of us specializing in one species such as horse’s , chickens , cows or pigs are struggling to fund there operation and are stagnant in growth and the inability to do more.
At January 1, Canadian hog producers had an estimated 11.6 million hogs on their farms. To the average person a pig is a pig, big or small.
Finally I will share a recent experience with a Brownie Leader who wanted her group the visit the Sanctuary but didn’t want her daughter to refuse pork when she left here. In her words she had enough trouble getting her to eat as it was. I have to also realize that this is not an isolated incident and that many simply do not want to face what they eat.

A Garden Rose

2010-07-31T22:29:00.000-07:00

And where else would one find such a beautiful Rose? The last picture is a little movie if you click onto it. ;o)

Cranky Jan

2010-07-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

I have become addicted to Face book LOL One of the gals husband i met on there calls it "Crackbook"..he may have something there.

Face book is a flurry of like minded people all doing there part for every walk of life imaginable.. of course the opposite is true too and there much shared and posted not for the sensitive soul. So many videos of under cover investigations of slaughter houses and things done to animals that belong in horror movies not in real life. Our world is a cesspool of evilness and in reality a handful of us against it. Daily posts of dogs with days to live unless a miracle occurs and its usually rescue.. some pictures haunt you.. Like the two pigs at Kern Shelter in California who killed the two pigs we were all working on and then killed another a few days later,how do you go on? You go on for the next one ..

You read articles about a barn housing 2400 pigs in it where the owner stopped feeding them until the stench of death brought the mounties. How this horrific act of cruelty will go unpunished and a petition to gain justice for these souls barley made it to 1000 signatures. I am angry that millions of people saw it and half of them complained about acts of cruelty at some time in there lives and why these scum of the earth go unpunished. Nothing happens to these sickos because we can't even get 1200 people (HALF OF THE PIGS WHO DIED) to sign it. And if everyone got the big picture here it is about ALL acts of cruelty not just about my beloved pigs.

Two more pigs 45 minutes east of me were stopped short of being slaughtered by the family who never intended on keeping them this long. The free ad on Craig List is brought to my attention and I plead with the family to give me two weeks. I ask them to take down the advertisement and I begin working for two pigs i don't know.

There as cute as a dickens and almost carbon copies of the pigs we found a home for in Kelowna last month. Thankfully Pam and Dave opened there hearts and there home to another pair of needy souls. Transport to Sorrento is being firmed up and hopefully will go down smoothly on Tuesday.

I don't think anyone is coming to help tomorrow and i have been kept busy all week with keeping the pigs cool. Wallows and pools filled with fresh water just about every day , the rain was refreshing last night. And having a truck again and getting caught up with what one needs to do to feed , bed and hay all the animals here. Every load in, is a load to the dump with empty boxes and feed bags...

The night before while watching Roscoe it occurred to me that i have built one hell of a personal petting zoo for myself here and perhaps i should throw in the towel by trying to stay righteous and start selling tickets at the gates and get some money in here. I get some really awesome surprise donations here and sponsorship is key. But i have already spent everything i have and so much still needs to be done before winter sets in . This place must be set up so i can manage it threw winter while working full time.

Cries of the Rooster

2010-07-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

Morning arrives and the sun reaches threw the curtains of evergreens here. I hear the Roosters song, his calls fade off in the distance and his cries are haunting. Is he mourning the loss of one of his hens or is he grieving the birth of his sons whose golden presence will be removed when discovered ? He stands tall with the gentle breeze passing threw his feathers , is it our God who touches him now? He cocks his head and listens until he can hear no more and from deep within him he cries towards the sky. janice louise Gillett

George's Story

2010-07-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

George arrived in a wire crate in the back of a van a few years ago. The women who contacted me told me a co worker needed him looked after for a few weeks when she lost her job. Story is, she never came back for him. Now this women was reaching out to me to take George and we corresponded by email a few times.

According to this women George was neutered and his house had three sides made up of pieces of leaning plywood with hay inside. My thought was "only three sides?" How did he keep warm in the winter?

To my surprise at about 5 one night a van was outside my driveway. I looked in the back of the van and saw a little pig peering up at me from his confines. I immediatly assured him he would be safe here and knowing he would smell the others I added for him not to worry that i would not let the others get him. I assured him , there was good food here. This would be very important for any pig arriving at my gates to know.

And all the while doing this i was evaluating his condition. He had the distinctive look of a boar , a pig who is not neutered doesn't have that rounded look a neutered male would have in the face. And as I blurted out "he's not neutered" his tusks caught my eyes. Anger swelling up in me i asked her if the tusk on the other side of his face was going threw his cheek too.

Mad now all i wanted to do was get that pig unloaded and crate carried to the empty paddock, and her off my property. She was not as strong as i was and this helped reach my boiling point inside as had of she let me know she was coming and couldn't do this i might of been able to have help here. I wanted that pig out of that crate and all this stop and starting was wasted energy on lifting him and setting him down and adding more stress to this pig.

Once out of the crate her added hay for his comfort must of come out of his old house and its filthy dusty condition would of provided no warmth from where he lived. A dried up french loaf of bread was tossed to him by this women and promises to send some financial support for his care. The offer of a rotten wet bale of hay was declined and i could barley speak to her at this point as she walked up my driveway and back into her van and out of our lives forever.

The following morning volunteers arrived and George rolled over for a belly rub immediately. Giving himself to us this way only hours after arriving showed such trust in his new caregivers. While laying down i fed the wire between his cheek and his tusk and ended his torment in 8 seconds. Blood gushed from his wound and the release of that pressure, the tusk was in threw his mouth almost 1 1/2 inches.

Tusks do not grow over night, this growth took between 1 and 2 years. It would of started rubbing on his cheek when he laid down. Then within a few months it would of started to put pressure on his face causing a white scuff mark up and down his cheeks as he opened and closed his mouth to eat. The pain of it pushing into his face would of started a few months later and as it grew the tusk would tear into his flesh opening the wound wider as he chewed. By the time he arrived this little pig was not able to naturally open his mouth to eat as those tusks and the pain prevented him from being able to do so.

For the first few days with me he refused carrots, every pig loves carrots! Poor George suffering from the inability to eat them , refused them because of the pain it would cause him to eat . It took 3 days for him to realized he could chew and open his mouth all the way without searing pain.

If you click on the picture in the blog it opens the size. You can see how the tusk has rubbed his cheek white from simple opening and then chewing his food. That was the better of the two sides, the other one was right threw his cheek and into his mouth. Basically speared by his own tusk. He has two deep dimples from where they penetrated his flesh. Not all tusks will grow into the cheek, you see it happen a lot with over fed pigs as well as the ones growing inward . (I keep tusks trimmed to prevent them being hung up in wire fencing . And remember when you do trim , trim so the tusks are still poking just outside of the lips and NOT to the gum line. Tusk trimmed incorrectly can cause them to grow into the face or upward into the roof of the mouth. Also NEVER EVER let anyone use breaking pliers to do tusks either. The lower tusks are part of the jaw and more pigs have died this way from hairline fractures. Infection is almost immediate and then death. Jiggley Wire saw only.)

George who comes into the house and manages the stairs only as a pig who was used to doing this at some point in his life. He likes to be covered with blankets, takes his treats so very gently and all of this again is learned from his past experiences. Someone at some point was very good to this pig , but why did they not care about his tomorrows??

Gorgeous George has been threw many experience in his life before arriving here and ones that might of left any one of us with some severe emotional baggage. George however did not loose the goodness within him and is not bitter or angry with humans who betrayed him so terribly. He was able to hold onto his gentle soul and he has flourished.

When your approach George he looks up into your heart with an innocence from his deep brown eyes. They twinkle back at you, and a soft touch to his bristles will have him almost fall over as he lays on his side for a good belly rub. He sings in a rhythmic piggy chant as he oof oof oof's in delight. As he lays all stretched out from deep inside of him a little heavenly whine every now and then in response to shear pleasure that has arrived in his life.

I am so happy your here George so the love in you is free and received with as much pleasure as it is to give it back to you.

Pictures Speak A thousand Words

2010-06-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

There Is Much Good

2010-06-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

An amazing donation was handed to me by both Clare and Jenn who travel a long ways to get here and help when they can. Young and beautiful girls who look like a million bucks in rubber boots. They work at a trendy bar down town Vancouver and cashed in there tips for the animals here. How cool is that!!!!!!!

Lee continues to pick up produce for the pigs weekly and her donations are really helping keeping our costs down. She arrives with a smile on her face and ready to listen to my woes and always bring apples when i need them the most. Last night she brought ten water melons, some bread treats and kiwi. On top of her offerings she too left me a generous donation last night.

Saturday mornings as you all know is designated clean up for the animals here and once again i hope some one beside my sister will arrive to help. Yesterday she offered to pick up 230 lbs apples for me and 50 lbs of carrots so now we have enough produce here to keep the pigs in produce for the week.

The motor on my truck has packed it in again. I bought that truck with a new rebuilt just put in, replaced it a few years later and now this one is gone. Must be a factory reject as now they can't find one to put in the darn thing and if they do I am looking at another 3000.00. I simply can't be without a truck here so i am pushed into the market to look for another used one.

I have been with out transportation all week here but that has made me deal with the office work inside and i feel a weight lifted somewhat from getting caught up again.

I also spend about 3-4 hours every morning here returning emails. I get approx 65 emails a day here and many require a great deal of thought to reply. Questions ranging everywhere from how do you trim a pigs hooves to what should i feed. I suppose if my website was more up to date and addressed some of these questions it would save me a ton of time. And most information is on the net but if you don't know what to look for your not going to find the help there. And it is for the pigs everywhere that i do this , it is what i do.

I also keep Hearts On Noses out there any way that i can and down loading a movie onto utube last week netted a surprise sponsor for Tuskers!! A kind person saw our movie and went to the website and is sending us 25.00 a month! All the way from Texas. I told Tusker's some one saw his picture and picked him from all the pigs in the world to choose from to support. I am sure he smiled at me when he wagged his tail in response.

Yesterday while laying in the sun with Penny I saw her beautiful brown eye look at me. I didn't need to pull the fat folds away, she opened her eyes and looked at me. "I told you" i exclaimed and she "oofed" in agreement. Meaning once she lost some weight and took off that old suit she would feel so much better and see the blue sky's of summer again. Little things i whispered into her ears at night when i tuck her in.

Pam reports Daphne is settling in and taking over the place, fat blind or not. This over fed unwanted pig in Kamloops found a great home after repeatably posting her picture on face book trying to find her a home. Pam is like us and couldn't turn away from the sad picture of this pig and even though this pig is far from perfect,to Pam and Dave she is . Fed hog grower all her life she is about 300 lbs and totally over weight and huge besides all the extra fat she is wearing. But she has landed in pig paradise and is blooming now as she learns what it is like to be loved.

Muddy Waters

2010-06-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

Every time i go to sit down its late and I still need to feed the kids inside like my dog Buddy and the cats, Luke and Patou.

The last few weeks have been exhausting with the garage sale Mom and my sister and I put on to start. We made 350.00 and that is including the 1.35 in the donation tin. We were supported by two friends who drove a hell of a long way to come, Marion and Donna thank you so much. Donna also brought along 30 bags of popcorn and the pigs had there party with it last night.

The first day of the sale a Mission Brownie Team leader stopped in to tell me 14 kids were loaded with apples standing at the gates of the Sanctuary. I did need to go back and check on the animals anyhow so i raced back here to give them a tour and then raced back again. Pigs had breakfast before i left and lucky them they had lunch too ;o)

The rain is brutal and some of the pigs areas are so muddy you can't tell where the poop or the mud ended. To muddy too push filled wheel barrows threw i simply park it outside the paddocks and then heave over a 54" fence. Tonight my shoulders are killing me.

Thankfully Carolyne and Alex joined my sister and I with the work here today as i wasn't at my strongest.

CDART which stands for Canadian Disaster Animal Rescue Team arrived at around lunch time to go over our itinerary for an October Pig Handling Course.
Deb, Heather and Cheryl and I ate lunch, belly rubbed pigs and went over our rescue plans if and when needed. It feels good to have a team like this in your corner as they have been for many years now. If we ever have to be evacuated they are ready for us in Kelowna , but will have an immediate plan to get us out of here and somewhere temporarily if needed.

My truck has been giving me trouble and i did make to buy hay on that one sunny day we had last week. After picking it up yesterday from the shop, today it sounds worse then ever. I need to make a dump run and more critical is i am out of everything for the pigs. No produce , no breakfast and maybe one night of dinner and we need shavings.

The guys from B.C. Regional Corrections were here three times this week and the perimeter fencing is done. As some of the guys were finishing that up the rest of the crew was cleaning up bush and trimming low branches. Tons of work done and we have been discussing the mud issues and where to start digging ditches. The place is really coming together with the help of this crew and it is really looking good. My dog Buddy loves these guys and awakes early in the morning to go look out the window. He wants out so excited and returns to the house disappointed a few minutes later when there not out there.

My friend Jean lost two of her dog kids a week apart , i can't imagine the sorrow .. Oliver lost his life after a sitter let him off leash at the beach and that 16 year old dog never recovered after the shock of almost drowning. Belle after emergency vet care came home and drifted away in Jeans arms the day after. Another friend prepares to help her senior cross over in the next few days.. all loved tremendously.

My unemployment insurance ran out so the search for work is on me..i do have an idea here lets hope it sells once completed.

Well my eyes are ready to close and i better get the rest of us fed , have a good night everyone.

GARAGE SALE JUNE 5 AND 6

2010-06-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

GARAGE SALE FUND RAISER FOR HEARTS ON NOSES

NOTE : THIS IS NOT AT THE SANCTUARY

Where: 33470 -12th Ave., Mission

When : Saturday 9-4 June 5
Sunday 9-1 June 6

We have been collecting for a year again friends. Assorted vintage books , paintings , lamps, china and glass ware. Craft stuff , pet stuff including horses tack and pony winter blankets.

We are also asking for donations of quality stuff we can re sell but ask that clothes, computer stuff incl books, foot ware, ski stuff , magazines and plastics be left behind.

Contact Janice if you have some good stuff and hope to see you there!!

Volunteers

2010-05-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

The long week-end was really quiet except for two families who visited here. I had started the pen work on Friday so when no one came to help Saturday morning at least I had a jump on it. I worked every day for about 5 hours raking , pushing wheel barrows and then doing fresh waters for every one. Its really all the physical labor I can manage and normally come in around 2: 30 eat, shower and take a couple of hours before I go out and feed dinner to everyone. It takesme four days to do the pen work by myself.

Penny is having trouble again and watching her strain is heart breaking. Every day sometimes twice a day I try and help her before I get cleaned up and then again just before I go to bed. By Thursday night she welcomed my assistance and laid there while I cleaned her out. A new diet , I keep trying and have seen positive results for my sweet kissy girl.

Tuesday morning the guys would return from B.C. Corrections I left here at 7:30 to head into town to buy another roll of fencing and a load of 2x 4’s so they could continue there work here. The perimeter fencing is almost done now and the animals will be safe from getting out and into trouble. So I was back by 9 and I pretty well spent the morning following the crew around , getting extension cords out , finding hardware to use back and forth from one end to the other side of the pasture . And then putting them all away when they leave. Other then that I took the day pretty easy and considered this my day off.

Wednesday after the crew left I went to town to get feed , another roll of wire , the food for me and it was 4 when I got home. It took about an hour to get everything put away . Cleaning up the feed room as I unloaded and getting the wire off my truck and then putting the groceries away. Had something to eat a break and back out for dinners for the kids.

Thursday the guys weren’t coming but it wasn’t raining so off to Pitt Meadows I went to pick up a load of bedding for the pigs . I got home and added hay to all the pigs houses , put the rest of it away and I was done by 1 but tired as moving hay is heavy work again and pushing it one bale a time by wheel barrow to each house . Once you get in the sheds you pull it apart to fluff it up and see how much more required if needed.

Friday the guys are back and I am in the house at just before 2.00 after putting all my tools , nails ect away. I am going to eat and do nothing more until dinner for the kids. I didn’t want to do anything too heavy today so I am in good form for tomorrow mornings piggy clean up.

Two weeks has gone by with no one helping with the animals care here , i really need to find some loyal animal lovers who want to help me do this before i go back to work full time.

There has been no fundraisers since December by Karmavore and the relocation and setting everything up safe again has been costly and is on going. 100ft of wire fencing is 247.50 and i have purchased 4 rolls now , this price does not include the posts and 2 x 4s. I have spent and put everything i have into this from the property to the pen work ,now fencing and i still need outside lighting and tons of bark mulch.

During the pen work for Panda i have missing my Dads level, a battery charger, a drill, fencing hammer and several spades. During the work here for the fencing tools break and a tape measure, a shovel and a few rakes need to be replaced. I also bought two new wheel barrow tires at a cost of 45.00 each, 50ft hose to attach to the 100ft one so i can reach all the paddocks for waters.

Several of the sheds need work, new roofs , new floors , door work required and all of this will have me back at the lumber yard. And oh who is going to do the work, some one else i will need to hire who will rob me blind when i'm not looking??

Long and short of this post is to answer inquiring minds as to what i do here all day as i am not working at a full time job. When i do work i am not a carpenter or a farm worker and no way can i take anything that involves labor as i have to keep my physical strength for here. Working 4-5 hours a day at heavy work is all i can do and is only 60% of the job i do here.

I need help to do this , there has to be some one out there who can help me .

Saturday morning and its raining out , the work will be hard as mud/manure is heavy and difficult to push a wheel barrow threw. I know my sister is coming..

Edited to add my sister is the only help who arrived here so there is still two days of pen work to do.

Pro's and Con's

2010-05-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

Burnaby Pathfinders returned to the Sanctuary Saturday morning and took care of the animals in so many ways. The girls took turns at chores like raking manure , scrubbing out water tubs , moving brush and even replaced a tire on one of the wheel barrows. I can't say enough about the girls and the team leaders here as they attack every project with a smile on there face and nothing is too much for them to handle. I see a bright future for these girls as the life skills they learn with this organization is clearly building a solid foundation for there tomorrows. Just before they must leave time is set aside to spend with the animals too. Treats and love shared with everyone and watching two little girls tossing treats over there backs to keep big Rose off of there's is an image that makes me smile and one i won't ever forget.

Community Service has sent me someone new and Nick tackled my wood pile and got almost all of it organized out front and that eye sore out of the way. Now everything is separated , easy to get too and i know what i have under that pile.

My sister was here and she did the barn and raked the pasture of manure! Then a surprise visit by both Carolyne our bunny girl, and Alex who arrived with her dog little dog Sophie. They finished up the last two piggy paddocks , thank goodness !! And what a treat it was to just sit around after and visit in the sun, and then take little Sophie for a walk around the acreage.

B.C. Corrections has a work program for low profile offenders and i have hired about ten guys and they have been down here every day since last Wednesday. They removed all the salmon berry brush that was climbing over the 8ft fence line on the acreage out back. Posts and wire needs to be replaced and we will reuse what we can. I also needed boards put down on the bottom of the entire fence line to keep snouties from rooting under and ending up at my neighbors for dinner. This will also bring safety to the animals here and not make it so easy for black bears to climb over. When you look out back you see the forest now and we have added some square footage too as the fence is being moved back about 40-50 ft in some places. This gives the pigs some natural habitat to explore and shade for my horses.

I do let out some of the pigs when the guys are here and of course Buddy and some of my more professional moochers set up camp around the cook as he prepares lunch for the crew. What they did in life to have them end up where they are is none of my business but i will tell you they are polite, respectful and mindful of me and the animals here. Sharing there lunch and left overs , petting pigs and horses is a common sight. And my dog Buddy is exhausted when they leave. ;o)

So this morning Mom has baked two large apple pies and she will arrive with her gift for our working crew this morning. A small diversion from prison life with a token of our appreciation , what could be better but a slice of Moms apple pie.

The pigs we placed are doing well in there new homes and have spoken to both families. Polly and Anna's Mom called worried because one of the pigs wouldn't eat dinner one night. The following morning that pig got up and headed out with new Mom tailing her. And that took her right to the shed where the chicken feed is kept and lead her to the bag she had got into the day before.

Daphne the over fed girl is learning all about love and trust at her new home as the fat has left her blind and deaf. Pretty scary for a pig to be moved some where new and not having sight to see where she landed. But her new family is proving to her she is safe now and she can root to her content if she wants too.

Lugar ( 3 legged Shepard) is still missing on the island and now another dog( boxer) is missing in Langley who needs medication.

Following these stories and the pet rabbit slaughter at the Victoria University and then watching the CBC footage taken at a Calgary horse slaughter plant is enough to make any one sick. If one of those horses or rabbits was in your back yard you would be facing Animal Cruelty charges. But animal production plants and government agencies are clearly above the law. A handful of us in this cesspool of sickness has me wondering if we will ever evolve into a compassionate society.

An up close shot of our cute Panda Man and new guy Sherman checking out where he has moved too.

We are grateful to all of you who have helped me create Sanctuary, where our residents are safe and surrounded by love here.

The Three Pigs

2010-05-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

Over a month ago a gal contacted me who had just moved into a rental property in Langley. Two pigs had been left behind and in a matter of weeks her call regarding care went to i might keep them to i have to get rid of them. I assured her i would take care of them to just give me some time to try and find them a home. Her life also fell apart as did her marriage and the pigs were abandoned once again. Enter Karen who adopted two of our pigs a few years ago jumps to my emergencies for transport agreed to foster them for a confident two weeks max. Just how many pigs can i take care of by myself during the week, i have 40 here now? Miracles do happen and an email came in from our out reach and networking, these two pigs were wanted by a family outside of Kelowna. Home check and vet references aced , Karen transported the kids on monday to there forever home. These two girls have some pretty nice artwork in there heated house complete with automatic water stations and hay nesting materials.

About two months ago a family contacted me from Kamloops. They had a 4 year old female house pig who was tying them down. They could never go any where because of there pig. Not only was this pig over fed she was massive thanks to the hog grower she was fed. Fat blind and huge i didn't think i would ever find her a home and wondered where i would put her here. Its hard enough to find good homes for pot bellied pigs here never mind a huge one. Her one and only picture supplied by her family is one of a fat depressed pig. Awwwww but the wonders of technology and face book i posted that picture and met many new pig friends. Daphene arrived with her frying pan for a dinner dish and her blankets to her new forever home in Sorrento on Monday. This fat blind cranky pig wasn't allowed on the grass at her old place and she doesn't know it yet but she has been transported to paradise. There she goes with her little step brother in pursuit on grass like any pig needs.

What to feed?

2010-05-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while a conversation about feed comes into play. I have addressed the issue on my website and it really needs to be updated. The topic makes me crazy and on my website i have basically said:

"Pigs are just that, pigs. You would not feed cat food to your dog nor should you feed dog food to your pig. People way smarter then us have scientifically developed feed which contain the correct nutritional value , minerals and vitamins they need.
Over feeding or feeding the wrong food can cause so many medical problems I can't begin to address them all here.
Pigs who develop too much fat around the head causes blindness as the fat closes in over their eyes. They will also go deaf as the fat smothers everything.

Too little feed or the incorrect one will not keep your pig small, it will just cause development problems and you will have a starving pig in varied stages of malnutrition. "

Sadly many still think they are doing right as they have followed advise from the feed stores and they may be the biggest problem here. Some people take there jobs seriously and educated themselves so they can represent the product they merchandise on behalf of the animals they stock food for, some do not. I think some merchandisers will sell you anything to make the sale for various reasons. Maybe they don't bring the correct feed in, they can't be bothered too or they make more money selling you a bag of cheap rabbit pellets then they would on a bag of specialized feed.

The base for many of the grazing farm animal feeds is the same, for example it maybe hay based or alfalfa based. It will have added selenium,vitamins and minerals for example to support the species it is being milled for. What i am saying here is that you may see many of the same things listed on your feed bags from one animal to the next. However the ratios for different species is totally different , these feeds are NOT the same or good enough.

I can't get my head around how people can buy hog grower , horse pellets , rabbit pellets or chicken feed for there pigs. The key clue here is what it is being milled for and states that right on the bag. It is being formulated for that specific species ONLY.

Your pigs need the correct nutritional value and the ratio of food , vitamin and mineral content to keep your animal healthy. Everything you eat or you feed your animal should be about optimum health for long life. This equals good skeleton growth to organs and what the feed is formulated to do.

A low protein diet formulated for rabbits for example is the wrong feed ratio requirements for a pig.

Hog Grower is milled to

increase speed growth

for these doomed pigs to ready for slaughter. Do not ever feed your pet pot bellied pigs this formula.

Rabbit food is high protein do not be fooled that thinking a 12% protein designed for rabbits is a low protein diet for pigs because it is only 12%. Same as horse, chicken or big pig feed. These percentages are calculated ratios for the specific breed. Rabbit feed is too high of a protein no matter what percentage it is as that percentage is calculated by what is required for rabbits not pigs. Not only will this add fat it will cause liver and kidneys to work harder to filter /process incorrect feed ratios.

Also i will point out here that pot bellied pigs are prone to kidney stones and the feed has additives to help alleviate the probability of your pigs getting them. Male pigs die from blocked urinary tracts every day , it is why feeding the correct food and protein levels for the correct species is so important.

Please buy your pot bellied pig feed that is being milled for pot bellied pigs. It took years for scientists, professors , nutritionists , behaviorists and veterinarians to come up with the right formula to keep your pot bellied pigs at optimum health.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2010-05-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

Leading up to Saturday our join up for volunteers wasn't looking too promising. In fact after 9;00 am that morning and looking out side with the rain coming down i feared no one was coming. I couldn't of been more wrong and surprised. Two new friends Clare and Jenn arrived with gloves and rubber boots and proceeded with doing all the dishes and doing waters. Kelly who is a long time piggy friend rounded up three friends and attacked the pasture, the barn and took out a fence that opened the acreage up even more. Mitch who is doing community hours is a a HUGE help and while i do one lane of the piggy paddocks he is doing all the rest. Alex and Sophie( pooch) arrive and even more gets done! By 1;00 we were all soaked, dirty, proud and happy!!

The pigs were spoiled with gifts of peanuts, raisins, grapes, carrots, apples , and celery. So they had breakfast, snacks and lunch!! lol

Meanwhile Marty was busy putting the finishing touches on Pandas paddock and our little fat man worked off some calories pacing and chewing on his new digs. Just so you all know one pigs paddock cost the Sanctuary over $2000.00. His impeding neuter will be another 600.00. Thank goodness Marty got the shed Panda called home since he arrived renovated and moved or that would of been another added expense.

Jane a new friend and teacher arrived with a BIG surprise a few weeks ago. With Tory starting his journey to Heaven i am only now catching up. Thankfully Panda has been sponsored by her Div 3 class at Harry Sayers Elementary School who put on an Easter egg( plastic eggs) hunt to benefit Elizabeth's Wildlife Center and us! How cool is that and i am looking forward to there visit here in the near future!

Alex and I came in the house and looked up some remedies for her pooch and alone at 4 i finally did three nights of dishes. Cheryl arrived 20 minutes into them with a case of vegan dog biscuits for Buddy and the pigs. A visit lead her into helping me feed the pigs and by 8 i was alone and starving.

I love it when people ask me what i do with my time...every day i work for the pigs ..every minute of every day.

Two pigs left behind in Langley were rounded up by Karen who has two of our pigs and helps me with transport all the time. And our good fortune carry's on with receiving an email from someone wonderful in Kelowna who wants to adopt them. Deb of CritterCare and CDART did the home check for us and me thinks these two pigs will be traveling to there new home on Monday.

We are still searching for a home for a pig in Kamloops and every day I worry when two girly pigs, who are on borrowed time at a California Shelter. And Lugar a missing dog who you can read about on Jeans Blog " My Life with Critters" that you can find on blogs that i follow here.

I am having problems with my system and will try pictures later ...

pigs and more pigs

2010-04-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

Since Tortillas crossing it took me a few days to get moving again after that long struggle to try and keep Tory with me longer. And poor Panda man being stuck in that shed is sucking the energy out of me everyday. I have lost track of how many guys i have had down here and the quest to get it finished is still before me.

So with Tory's paddock empty i wasn't really ready to put a pig in there but Panda wins over what i am ready for. So i got the water dish filled and raked up some of his bedding and out walked Panda into the sun. We casually walked up pasture and past the horses who were eating there hay. About 45 minutes of meandering Panda caught scent of unspayed Cassandra. It took a while to coax him around but he followed chomping and foaming at the mouth all the way. The fence fighting with his neighbor Don Juan started right away and the two of them raced back and forth up there fence lines. Panda alive with the scent of the females here was so fired up he was beside himself. Hunks of the wood on the bottom rails were ripped right off by his agitated self . He rooted his water dish and then cooled himself off by rolling in the wet soil he rooted up.

I couldn't stand to watch him and came in the house hoping he would settle down in a few hours. My sister stopped by a few hours later and when she came in the house i asked her did you see Panda Man? How could she miss him??? Then she looked out the window and said " he looks like he is in the pen next door".

Fearing a huge fight already in progress i leaped to my feet and we raced outside to get him out of there. That fat pig climbed over the fence, in his quest to get to lady Cassandra!!! Nancy and I got him out of there just in time to see Don poke his head out the door way to see what all the commotion was about. Panda followed us all the way back to his shed and i have never seen a pig more happy to be home. He tossed himself into his straw in sheer exhaustion. Pandas pen must be fortified.

I had 14 little kids visit from a Day care Centre so that was fun, cute little kids in pink, piglet t's and hand crafted piggy masks. Patsy had prepared little juice box lunches for them all so they had lunch here on the picnic tables. Casanova, Winnie and Dylan circled the camp for left overs.

Yesterday afternoon i received a call from Jeff who I met when he reached out to me to home his lone piggy. He worked long hours and is a single dad with shared custody of his daughter. At the time i was at the old place and was doing my best to not take in any more pigs and after his visit he understood and could see i already had enough on my plate and left me with a nice donation.

The reason for his call was in desperation, his home had burnt down that very day and he needed Sherman the piggy out of there. So today Sherman arrived and he wagged his tail and according to Jeff he has never seen his pig so alive!! My tears of sorrow for this little pig have been replaced by thoughts of his good
fortune at arriving here today. This little 4 1/2 year old ,one eared piggy moving into Tortillas paddock seemed so right.

Tortilla Flys

2010-04-17T14:55:00.001-07:00

March 23,2003 is a significant date for two reasons. Willy my beloved first pig would be going to heaven, and secondly because this is the same day 9 year old Tortilla arrived.

Going back and forth from Willy to Tortilla had me ask him for a kiss too and unlike Willy’s gentle Eskimo kiss , Tory just about knocked me over. The following day Tortilla was in his house and I was sobbing over Willy and talking out loud to Tory about how I understood what it is like to loose someone you love. Tortilla’s human father had succumbed to cancer so he would be grieving too. With tears streaming down my face Tortilla came roaring out of his house towards me and me trying to get up and give him back my reaction he went flying over the water dish and got away. Welcome home Tortilla.

I tried to give Tortilla little things he had been used too when he had his family. Spending nights in the big house and getting peoples food on occasion and covering him with blankets on the couch.

Tortilla took a long time for him to accept me, and I accepted that he would always be his Dads pig but this was totally different when it came to my Mom. Tory came to life when my Mom would come over as she cooed “Tory its Grandma , your Grandma’s boy aren’t you” . His eyes would get bright and his nose would be raised to her with a waggy tail.

Tortilla’s heart also was with his horses. I have pictures and movies of him laying with them, getting nuzzled by Dior and grazing together. Last year when he was notably slower he still will walk all the way out to the pasture to be with them , if he was close to his herd he was happy. When I moved all of us here I made sure his paddock would back onto the horses fence, by the barn so he could always be near them. And when we moved Tortilla into the shed to care for him Dior would poke her head threw the opening of the top portion of the barn door. She felt the same way about him as she looked over to her friend.

Last night for his dinner I brought out ice cream and pears his favorite. Tortilla could not hold himself up and rested on his side . I hand fed orange slices and I cupped my hand under his face to catch the pieces that would fall out the other side so I could pop them back in there. We had a good rhythm going some times. And while I fed him we talked about old times.

And I told him if he could get up I would stop all of this so if he wasn’t ready he better try. But this morning he could barley swallow a sliver of a piece pizza and I found the second little piece under his cheek later .no struggle this morning to try and get it back in his mouth.

I told Tortilla that Willy told me it was like a warm rush when he flew to heaven. And that Willy said pigs do have wings and Tortilla got really still and quiet when I shared this vital information. I told him he was a good good pig and that I loved him so much . I reminded him of how perfect he is , perfect nose , perfect ears , nice bristles and a kissable snouty.

And I took off my ball cap and gave him a gentle kiss this morning. My sister and a good friend Jane surrounded him while Tortilla got sedated and I went threw what I had already told him that I would be right here as the doctor gave him something to make him all sleepy , it wouldn’t hurt and then he would fly. That he would see his Dad there , something I promised him a long time ago. You will see your Dad again Tory , your going to see your Dad.

.

My words to a friend this morning..

2010-04-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

It will take a miracle now.. and I found a post on my blog from almost a year ago when Tory started to have trouble. My hope that meds are going to help old age or quite possible a pig full of cancer are getting dim. I couldn’t bare to turn him over yesterday..his cries are pathetic when I reposition his head for feeding. Cries from a pig who is hurting or week grumbling from a pig like all pigs who hate to be handled like this.

Last night he just about came unglued when I brought him spaghetti.. but once the food is gone is succumbs to his weakness. I helped my best dog friend down at 16 years old when she too could no longer get up.. I took her to McDonalds and she loved her ice cream and hamburger but then laid down in the truck with that glazed look in her eyes.. then we went to the vets.. I didn’t put her threw all of this perhaps this answers my self in what I am to do to day…crying…

Tory

2010-04-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

Tortilla is no better and no worse.. tomorrow will tell much as then he would have been on all these antibiotics for at least three days. I added a new one last night... He is resting comfy on a stack of blankets in Penny's house. Between me checking on him every hour he has the close company of another pig. He is never alone...

I have gone threw the morning with the norm, Meds to Tory, jucie and apples. Carrots for all the pigs breakfast except for Panda Man i took some pellets and a cut up apple. Hopefully his pen and house will be ready for Saturday. And one of the guys is here working on that and yet it feels so quiet here . I have reponded to emails and net worked for two pigs. Did the dishes and handed a extra carrot to Mouse. I talked to Wayne my shed guy on the phone for a little bit too and Mouse is now oofing behind me. The sun is out , the birds are singing and the water fall in the pond creates a ripple in the water, There is movement, sound and light.

I went down stairs and got the fly masks for the horses and gave them a good brush. No need for halters and lead ropes , my two girls stand in a row waiting for me to love on them. Brushing there beautiful mane and tails out, with a reward of alflafa for being so good after.

And as i went threw all of these rituals if you will today , it felt like i did them all in a trance. My heart is heavy with worry for Tortilla and even though with all this going on around me my decisions regarding him are mine and it can be quite lonely.

This is Good Exercise

2010-04-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

Thursday morning breakfast ends at Tortillas paddock, a 16 1/2 year old who needs help getting up sometimes. I gave him a lift but he weebled and bobbed and then crashed to ground. Unlike a cat or dog who might just lay there a pig screams out in panic.. unable to get up i hoisted him up and repeated this about ten times. Unable to leave him..what am i to do? Thankfully Leanne arrived to do trim horse's hooves and she helped me load Tortilla into the lower section of a crate and onto a wheel cart. We then rolled him into Penny's big shed and got him bedded down. Exhausted he fell to sleep. Tortilla is a healthy weight at oh about 170 lbs.

What can you do for a senior pig who looses the ability to use his hind end? Well a few calls to the vet and correspondence to a friend who is a vet in the states and an email to another friend who is a homeopathic. I covered every approach here ..

Two days of diet change, one night of pain killers and on going homeopathic remedies. This mornings shock was finding Tortilla laying in a pool of blood and urine soaked cement. How he got out of his confines , but he did get up too poop and then that is when all hell broke loose for him. Thankfully the blood was a cut foot not something internal.. poor guy. What luck this would occur on a Saturday morning when help would arrive and help me get this big boy cleaned up, cozy and securely penned.

The rest of the day pretty well went the same way. A new guy doing community hours with farm experience was a blessing as he got started on the big pigs paddocks and pretty well did them all. Alex and Cesar arrived and could only stay and hour driving all this way from Surrey to rake poop too. Melissa and Sue came to help for the day and for the first time so got to work on the waters after they helped me with Tortilla until the well stopped providing us with water.

On the phone with the well repair guy i see Rose charge Mouse, enter my racing after a farm pig with one boot on and one boot off. Telephone flying in the air and falling to pieces and my well guy is still on the phone after i retrieve it and put it back together. lol.

Two guys i hired to start bush whacking started yesterday at 10am. I had to go get groceries so confirmed with them they would be here when i got back so i left pigs out and the house open. I got home at 3 , no guys, pigs out , house open, tools everywhere. No note , no call..but a brand new pitch fork bent beyond repair and tucked behind the other .. they arrive at 11:30 today to commence work. ARE YOU FRICKING KIDDING ME?????????

My sister worked with Sterling who has one more day left here doing the barn and the pasture work for the horses.

Oh and did i mention Panda man chewed a hole in the shed and ripped a few boards off so he could see what was going on here? I went out there with boards when i was ready to collapse and then realized his window had a wire fence wall in front of it. Fine leave it then until a few hours later when i saw him sticking his foot threw it so then i went and grabbed my hammer.

During which time Scotch who is in love with my horses has been chased out of the pasture three times. The carpenter arrived to look over the pen work i need done for Wilbe and comments "that's good exercise". Yea..okay like i need more exercise. But he is a good guy and unbelievable he knows what he is talking about!! They will be back tomorrow with materials and reinforcements!!

I got in at 4, took a break which was networking to try and find homes for two more pigs , ate bread, then went back out to start to feed at 6 and I am back in the house at 8 telling you all how my day went.. no the last few days..wait last week was crazy too..um i don't think the week before was any different.

With out words and what we are saying..

2010-04-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

I don't have a degree in animal behavior but what i do have, as any one would who loves animals is an understanding of them from our own personal experiences. I also believe when our life force becomes interwoven with them we heighten our empathic abilities. There fore the opposite will be true too, the more we connect with them works both ways.

My belief is that animals use verbal and telepathic skills to communicate and there basic survival skills are honed by watching body language whether they are prey or predator. We do too, perhaps on a more unconscious level.

I bet there isn't a person reading this who hasn't said in conversation something like "she knew exactly what i was saying" or "he knew i was getting the bath water ready for him". How do they know from filling the tub up for us one night to filling it up for them on another ? We didn't say anything out loud yet... but they know as soon as we turn the water on. Because they are watching us and they master our moves, our reactions and our feelings as it is instinctual to them to do so. Emotionally setting ourselves up to wash a dog who doesn't like to get in the bath triggers emotions, excited energy -they see and feel that.

I felt a need to share this as a subtle reminder occurred over the last week or so. Don Juan, a pig i have had over a year had suddenly got angry with me before we all moved here and just after selling the acreage. I was an emotional mess , crying and stressed. I know this is why he acted like he was going to bite my foot that day and the fight was on. How he perceived my weakness and how it effected him emotionally was yet to be learned.

Tusker's is an unaltered male pig because of medical reasons. His tusks grow thick and fast and i have to wire trim them about every 1 1/2 years. He is a timid pig and every time i do this it sets us back again a little as trust is lost between us. I trapped him in his safe place, his house. And then grab him so he is sitting on his bottom and my helper being Jane this time sawed the tusks off. I hate scaring them this way and put it off as long as i can.

I do procrastinate when it comes to scaring my pigs.. and doing tusks and hooves will do that too them so I appreciated Jane having the guts to help and the push I needed to do it. Tusker's looks ten years younger to me and seems happier but isn't that how i feel because its done and i don't have to worry about it anymore? I thought of it every time I was near him and that is no good for him or me. He feels better because I feel better, harmony restored between us and he can feel secure gain. He will no longer feel my worry when i see him and he sees me.

Its really stupid of me not to realize this as well as the obvious physical need. How or what we do, think or feel will effect our charges, because we portray our emotions physically and emotionally.

Its really common sense, isn’t it? If we were around some one sad day after day , that would consume us too. It would effect us, it would be hard to be around it and we might want to escape from it. How we would deal with that on an emotional level is uncertain,we might want to push it away and get angry. I am thinking of Don Juan now. My sadness and stress , the feelings of uncertainty triggered the same emotions in him. His reaction, was distrust and instability so to protect himself he wanted the weak link in the herd out. That was me.

My lesson learned is if i am putting something off that needs to be done isn't helping me or my charges.. get it done I will feel better and so will they.

And how i feel can be interpreted so many ways by the animals or people around me when instincts to survive kick in. They are as complex as us emotionally but have fine tuned and heightened their sixth sense.

Rose my big pig could be trusted around the little pigs until last month. Penny was out enjoying her day and Rose and i met her around back during a little walk. Warning Rose to not touch her and a flash picture of her charging her in my mind is exactly what happened next. I was so mad at her i chased her home, but did i in fact show her to do that in my minds eye with what i thought and pictured? Why didn't she listen to my words??? Because I spoke to her using her language.. one not of words.

Introducing Willbe( pronounced Will Be)

2010-03-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

I left here at 9: 15 this morning and just sat down after peeling my clothes off that were soaked to my underwear.

This pig was in a cement water hole in a barn, just big enough for him to turn around in. His ears resemble that of a panda bear caused by rats and biting flies eating away the top half of his ears off.

To my horror this morning looking for a reaction of a waggy tail he turned around and showed me, he had no tail as its been chewed right off.

He is not neutered and too obese for surgery. And although his life will be rich here, its going to take some time. Right now the stress of needing a pen built right away is on me. A house big enough for him as the one he is in is so far away from the herd, and so unstable it troubles me.

He is a chatty boy and cute as a dickens and i am exhausted. And his name ..well that is all he came with his precious self.

Burnaby Pathfinders Rock

2010-03-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Sheri contacted me , a Team Leader for The Power Rangers they wanted to return to the sanctuary to help. We booked the day and 15 girls would arrive with three team leaders at about 11:00 am.

Nancy and Brent hit the pasture with wheelbarrows and manure forks and Jane and i got to feed everybody breakfast. Thanks to my Mom and Erin we had bags and bags of healthy greens to fill up every body's bowls. Then Jane tackled dishes and waters and Brent's Mom took on one section of piggy paddocks. I took on another row and thankfully Alex and Cesar arrived and they worked on the heaviest work in the bigger paddocks in the last section.

The Team arrived and Rose and Comet greeted the girls and were very excited at the gates as the aroma aroused the pigs keen senses. In each members hands gripped a bag of piggy goodies and also presented me with a wonderful donation.

We handed out a few treats but the girls were here to work we would spend more quality time with the pigs after. I recognized a few faces and a few of the girls were also looking for ones they remembered. I was deeply touched when two different girls asked where Barney was. I lost Barney in 2006 but what a testament to his existence here as his presence is remembered with delight and love by these girls too.

The work accomplished by these young adults is amazing and i walked around last night at least three times to take in their accomplishments over and over again. And they enjoyed themselves in doing it. I could hear chatter and laughter threw out the day.

I am sure they would tell you the best time for them was sharing there gifts with the animals here and the treats they were able to hand out to them. And the quiet time when pigs were soaking up the attention with gentle hands, love and quiet voices.

There are 25 pictures on my facebook page but here are a few of my favorites!

Love A Plenty

2010-03-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

Jean visited from Croften on Tuesday and arrived here with treats for all the pigs and especially for the babies she helped bring into this world. Two years ago Jean had agreed to foster two adults for us and within three weeks two pigs would turn into 12 with the birth of Soda and Scotches babies. Can you imagine looking after all those little babies?? In May, Jean would be in the stages of retiring to the Island and the pigs were moved to the Sanctuary.

Planning for her arrival i had all of her kids out running free to explore the acreage. Jean's face was lite up by the time she got to my door as her babies heard her voice and came running to the gate to great her.

We took a bazillion pictures ..

Bits and Peices..

2010-03-22T19:49:00.000-07:00

Another busy week has flown by with a little help from the guy i was buying a trailer from. I saw this 7ft x 12ft single axle trailer on Craig List for $500.00. I can't get my truck to where the hay storage is here so i got myself storage on wheels. If i ever get it insured and learn to pull it i could go buy my hay with it. Have them load it and bring it back home. No loading and unloading. I have to make things easier for me any way i can. And if i get something else built one day on this side of the barn , that i can unload during winter without getting stuck in the mud then this can be used for something else or sold again. Anyhow this guy messed up two days for me telling me he was coming with it and never showed up.

Then when he did show up it was full of crap and CLEARLY was used as a little grow op complete with insulation, plastic covering the walls, a vent and a mini breaker box. An afternoon wasted arguing with him while we both cleaned it up and coming to agreement that he would come back the next day to fix this thing and only then he would get the rest of his money. Surprised the heck out of me when he did return the next day with the materials to do it. lol

Lots of emails from people back and forth who want to visit the Sanctuary. I book all visits in the morning so please do not get my email that says that , then ask me if it is okay to come in the afternoon. My afternoons are much different from your afternoons. And don't get me wrong, I love anyone who wants to come and see the pigs and love on them and visit. But my time is allocated by the animals routine and the work to maintain this sanctuary. What is accomplished daily here doesn't happen by me blinking my eyes. I don't get to do what I want in a day so pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee don't ask.

Lots of pigs needing new homes right now. One in Kamloops breaks both of our hearts. She is a full figured house pig who is tying her family down. They don't want her any more. They want the freedom of the burden she is on them. They can't go anywhere because of her and after i say either can i they still ask if i can take her. These people are killing me... She will need someone special, who will dry the tears from her eyes and fill her heart with hope and all the love in the world.

Two abandoned in Langley and the new tenant wants them gone. Thankfully Lisa at SARS spread the word and asked around and someone gave us a really good lead. So we may have a really nice home for them and there two chickens.

But in preparation of them possibly arriving, i changed the lives of three of our pigs here. I spoke to each of them about pigs needing a home , just like what happened to them.

Some of these paddocks were designed with adjoining gates with pigs who get along well with each other. One or both pens have housing suitable for 4-5 pigs. I don't like to force pigs to join up and would rather they do it on there own. Jack of Hearts had his own HUGE pen along side of George and Pebbles. They also have the same size paddock and a brand new big house. Thursday morning i closed the gate and locked Jack out of his yard. By evening i sat here watching him. Little baby standing at the fence looking threw the boards at the house he couldn't get too. Pebbles and George had gone to bed and i watched Jack go over to the doorway and he pushed some of the spilt straw out front on the ground with his nose. No doubt he was thinking and checking if he could sleep there. Then he poked his head in there house , then he went in and came right out again. A minute later he tested it again and went in for the night.

The next day i told him he was a big boy now and thanked Pebbles and George for taking him under there wing and keeping him warm all night. The three of them are small pigs as far as pigs go and they look so darn cute standing in a row looking out at me. The Three Amigos..

Well i better go , Mouse has been in here twice to get me and Buddy is giving me the heavy sigh treatment a dog will do to get ones attention. lol Mouse gets several meals a day to get her weight up and well Buddy and I are hungry.

Oh and here are the rain covers Wayne built for the pigs here!!

Pigs Of Course

2010-03-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

Well our newsletters are out and anyone who would like to get one please drop me a line!!

My focus for the newsletter is of course to bring all of our friends up to date and even though there are five pages it is never enough room to cover everything. That is because i normally can't fit in the time to do more then one a year when working full time and would actually have to take time off of work to do them. With help from both Dayna and Jean writing for us and Dayna getting them printed for me is a huge help. So we are going to try and aim for twice a year this go around. Please if anyone has some suggestions or input for our next one bring it on!!

The newsletter is also our one and only steady form of advertising the Sanctuary covering everything from our dreams to our basic needs. We still have many pigs who need sponsors to defray our produce costs every month. Right now we are feeding approximately 70 lbs of produce a day. While you shop next time look at the cost of the produce your buying and you'll understand some of the expense of running a farm animal sanctuary here in B.C.

And if you have a fruit or nut bearing tree gather the goodies up , email your friends ask them about there over flow in there gardens and if you have room plant some seeds . Round it up and surprise the caretaker with goodies for the animals so they can save there money for on going veterinarian needs.

I would also really love to plant some fruit and nut trees here so if you have any connections let me know!

Its pouring rain out there today and its been a wild week from t-shirt weather to snow! What a tease with all that warm weather we had and things were starting to dry up.. now more mud again.

When Mouse moved in here i fixed her a spot by the patio door in the great room which is where my office is. Although there is a TV in here i find myself in the front room of this house in the evenings as it feels more cozy. The pictures of Mouse suggests she feels the same way, although the sound clip of her is probably more explanatory. The front room is also just off the kitchen.

What surprises me most about Mouse is she was never a pig who came inside in all the years of living back at the old place. She was always rather timid and still is. But she drinks out of the dog dish with out tipping it over unlike my two regular house pigs do and she will lick a plate clean with out flipping it and sending it crashing once done. I wouldn't give Winnie or Casa a reg plate to eat off of and they have more house experience then Mouse ever did.

I also want to reach out to those of you who are still eating meat or using animal by products. I bet there are millions out here who are tossing around the vegan thing and know it is right and want to start but it is so easy to stay in a comfort zone and don't really know where to begin.

Start today and remove one animal from your plate. And of course lets start with piglets and keep Pork off your fork!!

Sunny Days..

2010-03-06T19:10:00.001-08:00

Well I spent a grueling week after doing the straw and writing for the newsletter. Running out of ink, printing receipts and then getting an offer by Dayna to print our newsletters, RIGHT ON!!! A huge saving for the pigs never mind one major chore of running to Pitt Meadows twice to get them done. All the way from Alberta!!! And then Nancy and i spending four hours stuffing envelopes and Mom who picked up more stamps on the way out and then mailed them all. Done... whewwwwwwwwwww

Wayne who i had purchased two sheds from arrived with two big surprises. He framed two rain shelters that cover two piggy paddocks each. And he was very clever at how he built them and they way they fit in. I should of taken pictures will get on that tomorrow. We have an offer of tin for the roof and i can't decide if i want something clear or not. So the sun and light can shine threw... anyhow he even had poly cut to use in the mean time. VERY cool and they look really good too. Professional!!

Another fun day was a visit from friends with a big bag of hazelnuts. the pigs masterfully spit out the shell in a split second and chew the nut . It was pretty neat when we treated the Super Wee's , to hear all 12 pigs crunching at the same time. LOL

Mouse had me worried as she threw up two weeks in a row so her diet has been changed and 8 days now with out any problems. She is out every day all day if i let her.

High Speedy Penny is in the feed room before i can move , so different for the pig who lived in the carport who i would pull the blankets off, to get her up. She is fast!!

I watched Casanova spin and buck in his paddock again yesterday. So cute to see the adult pigs feel so happy that they do that. George was laying on his side in the middle of the yard today sun bathing. He got his belly rubbed!! And trying to lay out the 12 trays tonight with 12 pigs getting in your way and Rickey who wouldn't budge from my leg. I had to laugh , i even playfully patted him with the cookie sheet and stuck to me LOL Silly pigs..

And Roscoe looking up at Jane and giving her a gentle rub with his big head , and my Rose who bucks after i tell her she is beautiful and almost knocks me over. I tell her "its NOT funny" and i know the way her tail is wagging she is laughing at me. So i tell her " that's not funny ha ha Rose!!!"

Nancy and Jane were here today and Nancy worked for the horses and Jane and I worked for the pigs. I raked and tipped wheel barrows while Jane scrubbed and got fresh waters. One more volunteer and it all would of all got done and less work for every one too. Jane and i went till about 2 as i just couldn't do any more.

Dior has learned how to pull the boards out and let her self in the yard and Lacy stands back waiting for her to do it. There like bad kids and race galloping in like big cheeky brats. Last night i nailed all the boards so when i need to drive in next time with hay I will to pull them out. I need that fence line replaced its only a matter of time before she takes out the flimsy gate .

All the pigs need to be dewormed so that is on my mind and has to get done. We will fix a bazillion jelly sandwiches and lace them all with meds.

The weather has just been beautiful and the pasture is littered with Robins every day. I heard my first coyote kiyi here tonight and it sounded wonderful as did the chatter of squirrel over the neighbors way. Hard to believe there calling for snow next week LOL could of worn a t shirt out there today.

2010-02-21T20:37:00.000-08:00

Mom arrived to stay for a few days on Friday afternoon. She lives about 20 minutes from here and is 87 years old. She pulls in with her dog Nicky and the budgie my sister found at her complex two weeks before. So in came the over night bag , the dog and the bird lol

Saturday my sister arrived to try and help a little with a bad shoulder and my new friend Jane. Nancy and I tackled the piggy pens while Jane worked on doing piggy dishes and waters. We got it all done by about 2;00 and we were whooped.

Dayna you would love Jane also a proud vegan and she brought me a steam rice cooker that i can add veggies too. She brought me lunch and i ate it cold after every one left and it was delicious. Rice, brussles, broccoli and topped with tofu that was crumbled and any one would of thought it was chicken. And i got to give her, her first glass of silk's chocolate milk. A hit of course!!!

Today a visit from Casanova's sponsors, Rubaiyat and Jasonda. There an awesome young couple to traveled over an hour to visit and made peanut butter sandwiches for all the pigs. And for desert Strawberry's, what a special treat!!!!!!!!!!! They also picked me up a couple of new dish brushes , how very thoughtful and as you can see they had more then once use for today.

I worked on the horse pasture while they showed themselves around and i don;t have the strength i did yesterday. Scrubbed out the big horse water tank and refilled it and then added another lock to the feed shed to keep Comet out. I was dragging myself around by dinner time tonight.

Tomorrow morning the horse's will get there feet done and then i got to head into town to pick up a load of straw and get it in every body's houses before dinner time. Hope these warn out muscles are ready for action tomorrow because again it is hard heavy work.

Seeing Things...

2010-02-17T09:04:00.000-08:00

Every morning starts with a coffee at my desk. It is facing a window looking over the fish pond and into Sanctuary. As the sun rises over the mountains its light streams threw the curtain of evergreens. I see Comet who is up early checking to see if there is anything he can add to his nest. A potpourri of straw, branches and grass. His tail is wagging and little Jack has awoke to peer threw the dew dropped fences at his busy white bristled neighbor.

I see the mountains behind the trees and that view is one of many things i didn't have at the old place. Oh they were there alright but we were set to far below to see them unless out on the road. The mountains are magic and i am so happy to be able to see them from here.

Yesterday while sitting here as i was sharing stories on line about our pigs and there creative nest building. ( The picture is of Mouse in her nest) It stirred up memories of a pig who started this all. And as a piece of sunshine burst threw the clouds for a brief second it's glow was the shape of a heart. But then again i see hearts and pigs everywhere. If you've been here you would notice a collection of rocks here sitting on my table. Looks like a heart to me..

And a saved picture from work.. a paint chip on an old car clearly looks like a pig.

Last week the reflection of sun on Willy's protected painting .. do i see Angels now too?

Muddy Rant

2010-02-14T13:44:00.000-08:00

I just got in from poop scooping the farm pigs paddocks which are in a ft of mud and water in some places. With all the vegans, animal activists, anti this and anti that and all for the ethical treatment of animals why am i alone here?

I shoved the wheelbarrow a foot at a time and pulled my boot out in every step that i was able to take. Rose one of my farm pigs who is physically challenged returned to her paddock within 15 minutes of being let out. She is cranky and the mud is no doubt adding to her discomfort and while i stood there telling her i am sorry that i am doing the best i can by myself i started to cry.

Day after day i see farm pigs needing homes on top of the hourly cries for help for this goat, that sheep , a herd of cows, a hut full of rabbits and a barn full of chickens. While we are evolving more and more are getting a chance to get them out from under the life they were bred for and there is no where for them to go.

So much for Valentines Day ....this heart says unite!! And support or create the place, so they have somewhere for them to go. I spent over a half a million on credit for the pigs i brought home , who is going to help me pay for it so i can do better for them and bring more home?? Add the 22000,00 for the fencing and i need another 20,000 to finish it.

And i don't need suggestions as i do everything i can to bring help and money in here. Advertise, fund-raise ,net work, interviews, radio shows, tv spots , newsletters, websites, face-book , Blog and try to get more sponsors, homes, and even write major players to try and get them to see me. Suggestions don't help the animals here , there only caretaker is outside working.

Another Grant denied last week... i imagine the board looking at all the choices cat and dog rescues... what A pig rescue??? Pass...

Sorry for my rant..

Pigs in Peril Find Forever Homes at Snooters Sanctuary

2010-02-11T17:58:00.000-08:00

Pigs in Peril Find Forever Homes at Snooters Sanctuary

A Squishy Pig

2010-02-07T19:48:00.000-08:00

"Penny is a squishy pig" and as soon as the words come out of my mouth, visitors ask me "what do you mean"?

Penny arrived in a horse trailer with no straw or protection inside. Animals have no idea when your traveling if and when your going to stop. Or go into an incline , a decline in the road, or turn left or right. Think about it , one very obese short legged pot bellied pig in a horse trailer traveling for about an hour. How many times did she loose her footing and crash into the walls? If she had of laid down or went down from being unable to balance inside she would of rolled back and forth smashing into the metal walls of her confine, over and over again.

She has gone threw humans like we go threw new cars. So many humans discarded her over and over again. They fed her too much and probably everything nutritionally incorrect for her species. Poor little Penny as she emerges from her fat suit with still many serious medical problems.

Penny's eye sight is poor due to the heavy fat fold over her forehead and pushing down on her eyes. A slow weight loss i pray will allow her body to re- adjust because for many pigs , surgery is the only way to remove the fold once the weight comes off. Cosmetic surgery for a pig is done in the states by rescuers some of the time. She allows me to pull back the fat from her eyes so we can see each other and the world she lives in here.

Penny is regaining the use of muscles once weighted down by that fat. Her ears are no longer simply ornamental , she is regaining the ability to show me things now. Her ears are responding to her personality and delights as you can see when she is enjoying her soup. And as the weight comes off of her I hope more of her hearing returns that is also compromised due to the fat.

Penny is not out in a paddock in a straw filled house like the others. Eating of straw and hay has caused more problems with her constipation so that form of fiber is restricted somewhat. Her potty habits are of a fat pig who had no reason, too much pain and it took too much effort to get up. A pig who goes potty in her bed , on her carpet runners or in her water dish. Never the less she is loved and must be watched ,so Penny has her own big house for the special needs girl she is. A pig who potties where they sleep or where they eat goes against the norm , something must be the matter and for now there is.

I have had to help Penny in more ways then one over the last few months and so have two of my vets. Even Carol (SAINTS) left me a sure fire constipation relief package and i have a cupboard filled for Penny's needs. Little Penny has suffered many indignities but forgives me completely.

And no matter what time of day as i attend to her needs i can pull back a blanket and snuggle up beside her and kiss her face. And i can do that over and over again. I rub her face and fuss on her and sometimes in shear pleasure she will let out these soft rhythmic whines of contentment , and that is music to my ears. I can warm up her ears with my breath and lay right down with her and put my arm around her and snuggle her while i tuck her in. I tell her I love her and when I kiss her i tell her it is what we do when we love you so much. We kiss you and kiss you and she responds with another form of communicating "comfort" with her ah ha ah's . Yes the message comes in three's and if you were too clear your throat softly with your mouth closed that is the sound they make. Penny as do all of the pigs can answer you if you ask. And if i ask Penny is she is cozy she will answer "ah ah ah"...

She is my squishy pig.

High Speed Penny the Pot Bellied Pig

2010-02-06T19:16:00.001-08:00

She is a super scooper

High Speed Penny the Pot Bellied Pig loves Soup

2010-02-06T19:14:00.001-08:00

Such a Lady

Tomato Soup and Mouse

2010-02-01T22:13:00.000-08:00

Kind of dark,this was taken in my kitchen a few minutes ago...

Good Good Freinds

2010-01-30T18:05:00.000-08:00

Jean was here Thursday and we had a great visit! We had a quick bite and then off we went bargain hunting at a few thrift stores in Maple Ridge. We both found things that we needed for our new homes.

Then we came back here and Jean treated all the pigs with a huge bag of hazel nuts and she must of taken a bazillion pictures! Can't wait to see them on her blog when she gets home and settled from being away. Then we fed them all dinner and Jean took some more pictures lol

After we had everybody else fed we drove down to the Shake and Shingle Pub not too far from here and Jean treated me to a really nice dinner. Good time and much needed break from the routine here .

Saturday was busy today with my sister helping and Brent back again. Today we tackled the basement starting with my millions of tins, jars , coffee cans of nuts ,bolts,nails washers you name it . And started to try and separate them all. Still boxes of this and that to unpack and we boxed up maybe 2 dozen tins of paint left behind for recycling.

Then Gloria and Stan came to visit from "For Pets Sake" and brought some boxes of good garage sale items AND a really nice donation!!! There organization holds fundraisers and pub nights to help folks like us. Cool eh!!!

To wrap the night up Lisa arrived our Bunny Loving girl and we rounded up six bunnies from a neighbor. We got them into some nice little cages i had here , lined them with towels and they are all snuggy warm and on there way to there new homes. Nice way to wrap up a day and Lisa helped me feed the pigs too.

Lisa has a little car and here is a picture of her co-pilot and the kids we got out before they were turned into dinners.

Wilbur: One Precious Pig Spared the Slaughterhouse

2010-01-26T18:18:00.001-08:00

Sundays

2010-01-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

I have always liked Sundays as technically it is my only day off. That of course when i am working full time and by no means did i ever stop working but there was peace and it was my day. After a work week and then waking to Saturday mornings filled with volunteers and the grueling work ahead of us. But Sunday mornings was my time and nothing would dictate how i did what, unless i had a booked visitation. Then every thing worked around that but the early mornings were mine.

I spent some time on the grass with Ricki and Whisper who were happy to get my attention while there family raced all over the acreage. Cooing the way pigs do with there bristles raised, i loved on them for a long time as i laid down on the damp grass.

And I watched Georges reaction when he saw me coming. A happy spin and a trot around the tree to greet me.

When I went out side to feed dinner tonight which was 30 minutes from when I was last out there Dior gave me a great horse hello. She knickers all the time but this was a song! I loved that!!! And today watching the two knuckle heads drinking from the pond is a picture in my mind I will never forget.

I watched Scout bucking in playfulness as he raced towards his brother. Hearing the hello between mother and son when reunited after searching for roots in different areas of the property. A loud and deep oh oh oh.

Buddy playfully grabbing my hand as he was so excited to have his collar on, and me with leash in hand. I could go on and on. Every body is happier here , every one of them. And these large pens are so much healthier for them as they leap from there nests to race to the gates for feeding times and freedom.

Tonight Mouse left her patio door nest and was up here with me where my office is set up. I caught her looking at a empty space between two pieces of furniture and it made me get up. I went and got two blankets from upstairs and spread them out beside me. She has made a new nest not more then four feet away from me here. I took this picture of Mouse laying in the sun yesterday. I sent it to Ken our vet with a note from Mouse thanking him for today, yesterday and tomorrow.

Tortilla gave me a scare early today as sometimes i hear his cries from his house at feed times and then i know he needs me to help him to his feet. He is an old guy about 16 -17 years old now. Today was different his front legs were pulled tight towards his tummy and i thought oh dear is today the day. I asked him if he was okay and his eyes were closed and he cried and cried. I reached over him and gave him a lift and he got up to his feet and was fine. It was like he had forgotten how to get up and that is what i asked him. "Did you forget how to get up Tory?".

But tonight I realize he must of been asleep and having a bad dream. Silly me, poor Tortilla. He still gets up about three times a day getting his exercise and fresh air. Yet he has not venture out to his horses yet. I started him on some remedies two days ago so we will see if that gives him some of his strength back. I check on him every night , watch him get into his house okay and put a flash light on him every night before i go to tuck in Penny.

I got a lot done today but it was in peace and with out threats or worries.

Cleaned four paddocks and the barn and pasture . Cut down some branches and cut off the lock left on the gate from the previous owner. That thing was bothering me and was only confusing visitors. Calling to me from the gates ..BUT IT'S LOCKED!! lol

I also planted a tree that had been run over by the fencing crew and saved by me replanting it quickly in some soft soil by the house. I look out at Dylan's yard and it is pretty boring compared to what he used to have. I may have to change that but while he was sleeping away i planted that tree in his yard. He got up to see what was going on just after i gave it some water. I hung on the fence rails and watched him find it and his tail started to wag. I told him "i did it for you!" "It is your tree and it will always be known as Dylan's Tree. Gads if i change his yard , i 'll have to move the tree again.. lol.

Well off i go to check on the kids and hit the couch.

Freedom Penny

2010-01-23T17:34:00.000-08:00

WOW . Erin came to help, wow a volunteer!! And she arrived with apples and carrots too. I should mention Lee came to visit yesterday with 6 cases of apples and another leaf bag of bread for the pigs. And a really nice pineapple loaf for me , YUM! Well of course my sister was here and Mom came over too . Brent was back as well so we got lots of stuff done.

Cleaned up some of the mess out front behind the fence which i think was left overs from the tree house that used to be here. We also disturbed a little fat gray mouse so we were quick to leave him some of his wood for mouse protection. All the cement blocks scattered about the property were gathered to one pile . They are left overs used to raise sheds and enable footing for the crane truck when it got stuck. The big hole created by big tires got filled too!

Another heavy load to the dump but metal and rotten wood can be recycled. Brent came and helped me unload after all of us filled the truck up. So much waste in the wood pile at the dump. Old wood barn windows i would of loved to grab , but your not allowed to scavenge hunt there anymore.

Another mild day and pigs were enjoying there freedom. I let big Roscoe out first, he loves to be anywhere we are. He ventures out and then returns to us to catch up on what we are doing. He gets a rub and a scratch, and off he goes again.

The horses barn got done and the pasture was picked clean and all the waters got done. I got some of the pen work done but by 2 we were all done physically.

Big day for Penny!!! I was calling the Super Wee's in for dinner and looked in shock, Penny was coming too! She has never been out this far and has never been that far anywhere, even at the old place.

I start feeding at 3:30 and she was still cruising around when i came in here at 5:30. I was out a lot longer too, as it was such a pleasure to watch her explore the pasture.

With the help of homeopathic remedies and human brand Recovery. The home made soup and scattering her food every night the weight is coming off even more and her limp is totally gone. The added exercise has really helped her and sweet Penny has awakened from her fat depression and painful life.

I added a picture of her from when she arrived

Yes that is her way out there!!

Out of the Darkness

2010-01-21T17:16:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful day and i took lots of pictures as you can see and some movies so you can see the set up for the pigs.

I went into town today and loaded up with hay again and filled the inside of my truck with apples , carrots , peanuts and wood burning pellets for the stove. I also splurged and bought a little shop vac so i can clean out the pellet stove better. And you all know i set my little one on fire by doing that and using the house one is going to wreck it. I need a shop vac anyhow and man they work great. Far better then any of these house hold ones they sell you. Yes, bigger and bulkier but power!! Oh oh oh oh oh ohhhhhhhh power.

As i looked at the pictures I took today i realized something. How i was frantically searching with Sue my real estate agent for a place for both the horses and the pigs . How it had to have shelter for the horses and pasture. It have to have enough land to build bigger and better piggy paddocks. How it couldn't be too far from my Mom. What if i got snowed in and lived out in the boonies, how would i get feed , hay and smokes LOL .

Anyhow what i am trying to say is who would of thought that all of a sudden i am now realizing that by fluke the house is perfect for me too.

When every one is fed i sit outside on the bench and make sure Tortilla makes it back into his house okay. He is an old guy and his rear legs are not as strong as he used to be. While i was looking at him he was looking at me. Your so cute Tory and he "oofed" in agreement.

It was then for the first time in my life did I look up at a crescent moon and saw a beaming smile in the sky.

If They are Happy, I'm Happy.

2010-01-19T18:56:00.000-08:00

Well i got all the rest of the pigs houses filled with straw and raked the Super Wee's paddock and after doing the horses and two wheel barrows to start with i was done. It took five trips to wheel barrow over 5 bales of straw and i took two out filled with piggy pearls and pine needles out of the Super Wee's. The rest of the paddocks will have to wait until tomorrow.

All the pigs who weren't out free disappeared into there houses to fix the straw how they like it and search for delicious oats. And thank goodness because ohhhh poor poor Comet. His high pitched WEE'S translated too "let me out,I want out oh pleeeaseeeeeee" . Try as i might to explain that doesn't change anything. That he was out yesterday and others were watching him. Its only fair i am telling him and he stops and thinks about that for a few minutes and then he can't help himself and starts all over again.

It was 12: 30 so i started to call the Super Wee's ( JEANNNNNNNNNNNNN) and every body came except Tom. He had me walking all over the place thinking he was confused and was trying to find his way back. NOT.. he totally ignored me and even though i put a dish of crunch under his nose he had his own agenda.

I had to go into town so I left Buddy out to protect the little brat.

I got the truck loaded for the dump and let me tell you when i got there i could barley pull the card board out of my truck. I get quite a bit of cardboard here as get cases of apples and go threw about 4-6 cases a week . But i was out of strength and it feels so weird to be that weak lol

I got home about 3:30 and there was Tom pacing his fence line. "How do i get in???". "I want in nowwwwwwwwww". With a smirk on my face i walked out there before i unloaded my truck and thought to myself next time he will a good listener.

I almost forget there was reason for celebration on Saturday!! And i called Mom and my sister out so they could see!! Gads Danny has been with me for years and came in so fat his eye sight was permanently damaged. Back at the old place the Butter Cup kids had a huge paddock and that was good because only one of them ever wanted to go out. Danny, Casandra and Tuskers are The Butter Cup Kids and if you look back to when i first started this Blog you can read all about them.

http://heartsonnoses.blogspot.com/2008/10/is-my-pig-too-fat.html

When i talked to this herd about us moving one day i promised them no gravel driveway. There gate exited right onto the driveway and they had to cross it to get to the pasture. Tuskers and Danny both hated the rocks and it took cake to get Danny out at all. I would tell him "there are no holes" and "follow the fence line out". He couldn't see well and i needed too assure him.

Thankfully it was a promise i could keep, there is no gravel on this driveway and it is paved. So the gates were left open for them on Saturday just after noon and about 2:30 i was making sure they all had gone back in as i needed to start all there dinners soon. Cpt Norm was in and so was Cassandra and Tuskers , they were milling around in there paddock . Where is Danny???? I looked in there house twice, around back of it too as they have a really large L-shaped pen.

Danny was all the way across the pasture just trucking home and wagging his tail like a windshield wiper. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah Danny, look at you go!!
I found a picture of him taken in the back yard at the old place as that was a big deal for him too.

The pigs are happier here , Danny says so.

Great day!

2010-01-18T17:16:00.000-08:00

Well things are starting to feel more comfortable around here now that i have furniture basically in its place. I can start banging nails in the walls and hang my pictures and paintings. My bazillion stuffies have a home in here and I think all those shelves behind my bar ( HA! ) will be used for my piggy collectibles.

I have two old farm house frames i am going to have glazed with mirror and I will hang them down my hallway to bring more light down there. Lots of cedar on these walls and with the big beams and huge rock fireplace it works in this place.

I try and get a good four-five hours in outside every day starting with the horses barn of course. And filling up the wheel barrow on the way to the manure pile cleaning up the pasture as i go. Got to stay on top of that it is too daunting when i leave it too long.

Saturday Mom and my sister arrived so we played in the house all day moving some of the stuff i couldn't do alone. I sold my rubber mats i don't use and bought this huge shag rug with the money. Listened to my Mom tell me how much she hated it , how would i clean it and i can't vacuum it blah blah blah. I told her she was starting to piss me off and she said your pissing me off too . LOL She is 87 years old we both cracked up laughing.

Brent who is doing community service's hours was also here and he helped us inside for a bit and then I got him to work on the manure out on the pasture.

Sunday i am trying to remember what i did oh i was talking on the phone for almost two hours about pigs and forgot i had put a kettle on the stove and melted it. Could of burnt the house down for crying out loud. I sure miss my gas stove, boiling water and cooking was instant!

Great day to today , more beautiful mild weather. I had to clean out Don Juan's house as i sneaked a peak in there while he was eating and it looked wet in there. I had one little window not covered so i got everything prepared on the outside so i could get him locked out while i worked in his yard. Kind of stupid but the little shit still wants to fight me. So i got him out and he had a fight with the cardboard box instead. I left it outside for him on the driveway. It had the left over treats in it from all the pigs breakfast. I had to totally clean out his house, as all his bedding was saturated from him using his house as a litter box. I had two wheel barrows with me so that was good and i dried it out by pouring a bucket of shavings on the floor. I had a bale of straw there too , fixed his window with plastic, gave him a great straw nest and used the rest on Norms and the Butter cup kids.

Not sure why he is going in his house again. He did this when he first moved in with us and i think it was because of where he used to live . He must of had a barn big enough for him to potty inside. He stopped doing it after we replaced the floor down there and gave him a cover. This house is no where near as big as his old one so why is he doing this ??? I think his house needs to be lowered as his ramp is too high and i guess i am going to have to get him a cover as he appears to rather sleep in his shit then get his bristles wet.

I raked all the pens on that side , the ones i am showing you in the pictures. Dons house is the second one in . The first three are about 16 feet x 50 feet , they looks small in the pix, but the space goes behind each of there houses too. And then I scrubbed all the dishes and did all fresh waters for everyone. Ton of work when you can't bring the hose with you. All these paddocks are huge so the distance is further , and hooking up two 100ft hoses isn't going work for me here. Its too much work to get them around this and over that , it is easier to hand pail right now.

What i would like to do is set up some rain catchers at the furthest points and then i can get water closer to some of my pigs.

Colleen (SAINTS) arrived for a visit and with some dog crunch for the pigs so we had a nice visit and a cup of tea. It was perfect time for a break too before i feed dinner to them all. The pigs haven't had dog crunch since last summer i think so i will treat them that for breakfast tomorrow. I don't like to feed it too much as it makes them more thirsty, it would be like us eating chips every day.

What a great day , i got so much done and it makes me feel good to know all the pigs have fresh waters!! Treats in the cupboard, great weather and a nice visit from Colleen, perfect!!

But i am cold, wet, and my back hurts so i am going to jump in the shower before i feed all my inside kids oh and then me.

Tomorrow i will rake the rest of the pens and add straw to every ones houses so i know they are comfy and warm and good for the next few weeks again.

Well its about time!

2010-01-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

What a difference in weather compared to last year,and i hope i don't jinx us by saying that. We were under three ft of snow last last year and it sure looked beautiful in the pictures lol. Well it is a tad wet here right now but i keep telling the pigs it is better then snow!

The area of the acreage i had built all the piggy paddocks on is a wetland. I go out there and i keep telling the pigs they are not moose , they are pigs! I guess i should be talking about ducks but moving from the worry of flood to this all I can say to the pigs is "what have I brought us too???".

I have plywood and walking boards in the big pigs paddocks as try feeding a 700 pound pig with a bucket in your hand and your boot stuck in the muck. Can you hear me telling them "DON"T BUMP ME". And three of the pots paddocks have them knee deep in water at the gates too. Thankfully where i placed all the houses are in the highest areas and room to feed and potty. I would also like to add had of these pigs not been the rooting machines they are it might of been a tad better to deal with. But they were so happy to have so much room and grass they couldn't help themselves!!! And even though i knew it was going to be bad one week into building them all i didn't want to cover all that grass with gravel or sand and take that away from them before they got to destroy it LOL . Okay then, it is all my fault...

Something major has to be done but we all will have to deal with it until dry weather as there is nothing i can do or bring in when the ground is saturated everywhere. ugh ugh and ugh And the reality of it is i couldn't of dealt with it in the time frame I had or the weather we were already in.

I did get my computer repaired by a great guy who came over the night i called him who worked for 2 1/2 hours on my system and only charged me 75.00. My camera was back in action until yesterday when i was going to take some pictures and now my camera says "card error" WTF now??? So I will share some of the ones i did get before my system got messed up.

Mouse is still in the house ..LOL and Penny is doing awesome!!! My horses are good too and my cats are still scared to death to come out of the living room. They have the entire two bedrooms in the attic and the living room but wild as they were when i brought them in the wild fear is still in them. I can't wait until they see the big room. lol

That has been an on going dilemma as what to call this games room. The den, the big room, the games room the bat cave??? I wish i had of taken pictures of this room to show you. Its HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!

I need to find some help here fast as i have no one coming to help here any more with the physical work besides my sister who comes half a day on most Saturdays. I could get that pig our of the shelter if i had some man help here for a day. But i can't do what i need to do by myself or pay any more out for help here and it will take a few of us to do what needs to be done. Lucy Lucy Lucy.. sigh...

The pen work cost me 21000,00 , the well pump 3100.00 , add two vet bills 3100.00 and i am tapped out as far as the loan goes. Can you imagine what it could of cost with me without all the help i got ??? Man oh man!!!!!!!! The crane trucks all those horse trailers and moving trucks!! And all the food, help, labour whewwwwwww thank God and my spirit herd!

Bosleys donated about ten bags of feed and that helps big time and friends are still helping by bringing apples and carrots when they can. And leaf bags of french bread is always a hit and great for the cold winter months to keep the fat on my kids to keep them warm. Yesterday the pigs not only had breakfast they also had blueberry's for an afternoon snack! So we are doing well with support that way and the donations are keeping the feed bills paid. Oh that reminds me to call back a friend who is pitching our cause to one of the grocery stores , i need to do a letter!!!

Ps i need to find a home for three rabbits FAST. Two lop ear and one friendly black. There little selves will be toast if i don't get them out of where they are. Thankfully they are being given a chance so I can't mess around here.

Happy New year

2010-01-07T10:37:00.000-08:00

Today a little pig who was found abandoned and starving is on his way 'home'. The emergency only came threw a few days ago when my good friend Maggie wrote asking if there was room at the Inn. She lives on one of our Vancouver islands and this little pig was discovered by one of the neighbors, alone and starving.

Enter Jean our foster Mom to the Super Wee's here who moved to Crofton who jumped to work for this little pig. Net working with her new friends over there and knowing of someone who had spoken to her about getting a pig one day. Well today is the day!! LOL

Maggie, Bob and and Gail over there made arrangements to transport today and when the crate went down that little pig walked in knowing and trusting those around him that he would be going to a better place and he walked right in. ( jean called me first thing to let me know)

Jean will meet up with the rescue team in Crawford and transport the rest of the way to a piece of heaven near Crofton. There awaits Pat and hubby with a house full of straw , a large area to be a pig, mini goats, a horse friend and a small herd of mini dogs lol. And i am quite sure a bowl of everything a pig desires.

Pictures to follow once this little pig is 'home'!!!

Edited to add Jeans Blog who laid out the yellow brick road... http://mylifewiththecritters.blogspot.com/

Where does the time go?

2009-12-29T20:15:00.000-08:00

Yikes it been forever since i posted on here! I should of at least come on to wish every one a Merry Christmas!!!!

Between unpacking , shopping for birthdays and Christmas presents and looking for stuff in all these boxes time slipped away from me. Mom stayed with me for four days so we weren't alone Christmas morning and opened gifts together.

We are all doing well and I am still surrounded by boxes but Mouse is doing awesome! I wish she would eat more but right now she only seems to be interested in her breakfast oatmeal. I slip in raisins and a vitamin as she is putting her nose up at ummm normal piggy pellets. It bothers me as i try different things as she leaves her dinner and yet needs to get her weight back up.

Penny had a rough few weeks as did I worrying about her kept me from sleeping. But i am cooking her soup and she is getting better , such a shame after loosing so much weight and moving really well that she can't seem to muscle her poop out. Boy does she get mad at me when i help her and then other times she accepts and lays down for it.. i have used every type of enema there is and spinach, prunes, juice well none of it helps her any more. But i will move on past this subject as she hasn't needed my help for about 4 days now.

Dior my quarter horse scared the heck out of my sister and I as she wobbled to the ground last week and looking like she was sleeping and having a nightmare we watched her have what at first thought was a stroke. By the time i raced into the house and got my vet on the phone she was rolling and i got out there to stop her. I stood behind her and asked her to stop and she got up all the while i was giving my vet a play by play. Then her eyes got so tired looking and when i looked over at Lacy she looked ready to drop too and it occurred to me that neither horse has laid down here to sleep yet. Something a horse must do every day or night to get adequate sleep. Horses only lay down when they feel safe in there environment, the move did have a toll on them after all.
As of today both horses show signs of having laid down and as i told them i am 20 feet from them now ( my house) so they are safe as can be!! A seizure brought on by sleep deprivation is my guess and my vet says there is not too much we can do.

I took pictures of Mouse out and about here at the new place and of all the new paddocks i had built. And this will be the first Christmas ever that I couldn't take pictures of their morning feast. For some reason my computer doesn't see my memory card for my camera and i have tried everything but replacing it. Next run into town i will get someone to check it out for me and replace the card so i can get back on track. Feel lost without my pictures to share here!

This Christmas was really great as no snow to stop pig friends from bringing us goodies and leaving cases of apples out at the gates. Two leaf bags of bread and buns and a bag of carrots with the biggest carrots i have ever seen. I told the big pigs they were made for them lol.

Well this is getting to long and i don't want to bore you , no pictures is no fun at all. And Mouse is up asking for soemthing!!!