By now, you have heard the good news:
After months of worrying about the possible outcomes of the Painted Meadow Farm cruelty case in Cattaraugus County, NY, we recently got word that a deal was finally reached that would allow the 177 rescued animals at our shelter in Watkins Glen, NY to continue to live out their lives in peace.
How we found them when we arrived at Painted Meadow Farm
Until rescuers opened the window, these beautiful sheep had languished in the dark
The silver lining is that mothers and babies were together saved
Free and ready for their new lives
Rescued goats celebrating “Freedom Day” two months ago on behalf of everyone else rescued from Painted Meadow Farm.
It was an exciting moment, but it was a long time coming since we’d brought them home in March. We knew from the start that we couldn’t possibly keep all of the animals, particularly the sheep, as we already have 100 in our care. Luckily, we also run the nation’s largest rehoming network, Farm Sanctuary’s Farm Animal Adoption Network.
But, with the amount of time it took to get custody, homes lined up filled quickly and other opportunities fell through. As a result, we now have 14 sheep in need of special attention after their horrifying experience. They deserve a good home of their own. Perhaps you can help?
These are breeding females, ewes used to produce lambs for meat production. And thankfully, at the moment of rescue, there were lambs that were not sold — although many had been taken from their mothers.
The almost-adopters missed out on some truly amazing beings. Each of the 14 sheep who remain in limbo serves as an incredible ambassador for their species, and a true testament to the power of love and resilience.
The rescue actually brought mothers and children back together.
The silver lining of this rescue (and even the adoption that fell through) has been that these families remained intact. And the few babies that arrived with mothers are growing like weeds. Now, for the first time in their precious lives, these mothers can keep their babies and those lambs will not face slaughter.
We are particularly looking for homes where families can stay together. The group of mothers and father, Big Papa — who seem the most bonded — are likely our biggest challenge, since there are six total.
We called them “the big heads” when they arrived, since they were so thin with seemingly massive heads. Mothers Hadley and Bedelia; children Cinder, Edna, and Chaplin; and their father, Big Papa, are an inseparable flock.
The family upon rescue, after we’d opened up a window in the dark barn. Now, they are finally able to have as much sun as they want, plus fresh grass and clean air.
This family is clearly made up of related mothers, a very handsome father, and beautiful babies, who love each other very much. And we would love for the six to go together.
Babies Cinder and Edna are growing up quickly. Dad Big Papa is still very leery of humans, but he loves his flock and the girls are coming around!
And then there is the mother and daughter team of Odessa and Adele. They are so incredibly bonded and definitely not from the same family as many of the other sheep who got back together. These are both Welsh sheep and both are very shy, but coming around.
Mom Odessa and daughter Adele are Welsh Mountain sheep, and at first would not stay with the rest of the flock. Adele is coming around more than mom, but the pair is very curious and inseparable.
Mother Neva and daughter Darlene are also in need of a home where they can stay together, as are Baby Nectar and her mother Loni. All of these sheep are very shy, but will definitely come around with time, patience, and love. (Are you or someone you know ready for that exciting challenge?)
Neva and daughter Darlene are never far apart. Both are starting to warm up to people and need to be in an adoptive home together.
Mother Loni and daughter Nectar are beautiful sheep, but very shy. However, all of the sheep are coming around.
And then there are the boys: Best pals Conner O’Leary and Go Max are never more than a hair’s length from each other. These two are coming around but are still just a bit shy. Conner is definitely warming up to his humanimal friends. These are both hair sheep, like the majority of those whom we’d rescued from the Franklinville farm, so they do not need to be sheared annually. Their hair comes right out on its own.
So if you are interested in giving these amazing sheep a chance at a new and very happy life and you have the land (and are zoned to have farm animals), these are the sheep for you.
By freeing up space we can do what we are best at doing: taking in the sickest, most frightened, and most needy animals and getting them ready to live out the rest of their lives in peace, as companions and friends and family to those who adopt them.
Thank you for your Farm Sanctuary support. Without our supporters, we would not have 30 years of success in providing happy endings for farm animal rescues in need of the lives they have always deserved.
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