Rescue & Adoptions

2005 Featured Rescues

Ten Geese Escape Cruel Animal Killers and Find Sanctuary in California

Before beginning their new lives at Farm Sanctuary, Romeo and nine of his friends lived in TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa, California. Sadly, although the physical surroundings at TeWinkle were ideal for ducks and geese, life there was far from a walk in the park for these ten companions. In 1997, an individual, or individuals, began perpetrating vicious acts of violence against the waterfowl living at TeWinkle Park. The first attack occurred in March of that year, when someone shot and killed ten ducks, a heron and a goose with a pellet gun. Leo and Juliet, two geese who survived the attack, were found covered with blood and had to be rushed to a local veterinary clinic. There, both underwent extensive surgery to remove pellets from their faces and necks, and with lots of T.L.C. from the veterinary staff, both eventually recovered.

In the aftermath of this first brutal attack, kind individuals who had been regularly tending to the park's feathered residents for years came together to mourn those they had lost, and to care for the survivors. For the next three years, these compassionate caregivers kept vigilant watch over the birds living at TeWinkle Park. Despite their efforts, however, the birds' environment remained unsafe. They were regularly chased by children and pelted with rocks. At times, they were kicked, attacked by dogs or nearly hit by cars. Then, in 2000, the unthinkable happened again. One night at the end of April, someone shot and killed three more ducks and two geese. One of the geese killed in this second attack was Leo, who had just barely managed to survive the attack in 1997.

Unfortunately, despite police surveillance and posted signs warning that killing migratory fowl can be punishable with fines or jail time, the perpetrators of these and other brutal attacks on birds at TeWinkle Park have never been brought to justice. Romeo and the rest of the remaining geese at TeWinkle Park, however, finally made their way to safer surroundings this past fall. At the end of summer in 2004, the ponds at the park were drained in preparation for a massive reconstruction project. This was the last straw for the birds' human friends. In October, caring volunteers brought the ten geese to a new, protected environment at a local wildlife sanctuary. From there, the birds soon traveled up to our California Shelter to begin their new lives, safe at last from abuse and fear.

Sadly, two of the ten geese rescued in this case have passed away. The others, however, are still enjoying the peace and quiet of sanctuary life. Trusting of humans despite all that they have been through, these inspiring geese adore spending time with the staff and volunteers who visit them regularly. In true testament to his own capacity for love and forgiveness, Romeo continues to allow humans to embrace and hold him, just as he always did back at TeWinkle Park. We were afraid that Romeo and his friends would find us undeserving of their affections or too frightening to approach, but to our great joy we have learned that they are still, even now, capable of feeling safe and loved.