Rescue & Adoptions

Past Featured Rescues

Persia

On one of the last days of December 2004, a rescued 4-month-old Barbados lamb arrived at our California Shelter, eager to begin her new life at Farm Sanctuary. We named her Persia, in honor of the beautiful and talented actress Persia White, who has proven herself a courageous and dedicated ally in our efforts to help suffering farm animals. Like her namesake, Persia has become a part of our Farm Sanctuary family.

Rejected by her mother at a very early age, Persia did not always have a loving family to depend on. For reasons of her own, Persia's mother chose to nurse and care for only one of her set of twins. As a result, Persia was forced to fend for herself. The farmer who "owned" her refused to provide her the special care she needed. Instead, he was going to let her die, or send her to market, even though she was less than one week old. For this farmer, Persia became a lost cause as soon as her mother denied her. He was simply unwilling to spend the money and effort necessary to bottle-feed Persia and save her life.

Thankfully, a kind animal control officer who was acquainted with the farmer intervened, and offered to take Persia off of his hands. She took Persia home and immediately fell in love with the little lamb. Although she and her daughter wished they could keep Persia as a pet, they knew she would be happier at a shelter with other sheep. So, just a few weeks after she rescued Persia, the animal control officer agreed to give her up. A woman working for an animal sanctuary, called All Creatures Great and Small, phoned Farm Sanctuary and told us Persia's story. Eager to help, we agreed to give Persia a permanent home here at our California Shelter.

When Persia first arrived at the sanctuary, we were all struck by how open and friendly she was. Many of the animals we rescue are terrified of people, at least in the beginning, and hastily shy away from any physical contact with us. Persia, however, happily trotted up to everyone who came to see her, rubbing up against legs and shoulders, bleating loudly, and offering friendly nibbles to any fingers that strayed close to her mouth. Needless to say, she became very popular, very quickly.

These days, Persia spends her time exploring and frolicking in our green grass, napping in piles of straw, and soaking up the California sunshine. Always by her side is another once-orphaned sheep named Bleu, who has become her closest and dearest friend. Thanks to the courageous intervention of a compassionate animal control officer, Persia has many happy, peaceful days with friends to look forward to. Each new day is a priceless gift, a blessing unlooked for by a lamb whose life was nearly over before it had really begun.