Her mother, Claire, was not always so lucky. In late 2012, Claire and more than a dozen elderly sheep were rescued from egregious neglect at the hands of a backyard butcher. Their first weeks at our Sanctuary were spent recovering from starvation and disease and beginning to overcome their deep fear of humans.

Into this slow and steady rehabilitation, Erika’s birth at our Acton, California sanctuary brought a burst of happiness. The tiny kid was instantly adored by Claire and Claire’s best friend, a sheep named Felicity — not to mention by her caregivers. From the start, Erika has been digging right into the good life that will always be hers.