A Bittersweet Week at Wildlings Forest

This week held some of our hardest news alongside some real bright spots. That's sanctuary life for you. Here's what's been going on.

In the Barn

Little Nebby the goat scratched her eye and needed a trip to the vet. She's been getting twice-daily treatment ever since, including antibiotics, a spun-blood serum to support healing, and pain medication, and we're happy to report her eye is improving every day.

Gilly, a long-time resident who lives in Pig Park, is still waiting on a vet appointment for a mass that's grown on her side. We're hoping to get her seen very soon.

We also recently welcomed Chickpea, a tiny new resident who is settling into life at Wildlings.

And with heavy hearts, we said goodbye to Shirley, one of the Pig Park residents. Shirley came to us approximately one year and three months ago as part of the "Laverne, Shirley, and Violet" crew, rescued from a cruelty and neglect case in central Oregon in an effort led by Harmony Farm Sanctuary, with our own animal caregiver making the drive to Bend to bring them home. They'd all been healthy and thriving ever since. Shirley stopped eating on Friday, and despite electrolytes, antibiotics, and an urgent call to our vet, she passed peacefully in her sleep sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning. We found her Sunday morning looking as though she was simply resting. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge surrounded by the home she loved, and we're now working through the hard task of laying her to rest. She'll be deeply missed.

Out in the World

We spent Saturday and Sunday at Vegfest, and it was one of our best outings yet. Best of all, we raised $1,189, our biggest market total ever, and enough to cover a full month of pig feed.

After a long day at Vegfest, Beth and Daniel Redwood invited Daniel and me to a rare and very special dinner. We felt genuinely honored to share a meal with Seth Tibbott, founder of Tofurky, Miyoko Schinner, founder of Miyoko's Creamery and Rancho Compasión, Gene Baur, founder of Farm Sanctuary, the folks behind Squirrel and Crow Tempeh, and our dear friend Cecilia, founder of Veganville Farm Sanctuary in Seaside, Oregon. Spending the evening with people who helped start, and who continue to carry forward, the animal rights movement was an experience we will not forget. Gene's story of selling tofu dogs at Grateful Dead concerts to fund Farm Sanctuary especially hit close to home, since we rent out our Airbnb to help cover Wildlings' costs when donations fall short.

Saturday morning, 14 research lab survivors were released into the custody of New Hope Farm Sanctuary, who arranged transporters to bring them to their new sanctuary homes. We're proud to say Wildlings Forest is taking in two of those piggy survivors! They're currently getting spayed before their journey to us. We can't wait to welcome them.

Behind the Scenes

Our wonderful animal caregiver Izzy, who has cared for the animals here for over a year, has given notice. She's pursuing her master's degree and juggling a farm job on top of caregiving, and it's simply become too much. We're grateful for everything she's given this place. Applications for the animal caregiver position are already coming in, and we're beginning the careful process of finding the right person to help care for our residents.

We're also exploring and applying for grant funding for a new Wildlings Youth Connection & Compassion Program. The program would give young people meaningful, age-appropriate opportunities to connect with rescued animals, spend time in nature, learn responsibility, and contribute to the sanctuary community. If it proves successful, we hope it could eventually grow into a more formal LEAP-style humane education program.

A Huge Thank You

A very special shout-out to Teri Fulton, mother of our VP and board member Kate Fulton, and a longtime supporter, who donated $1,000 to the sanctuary as a gift to herself for her birthday. That kind of generosity leaves us speechless. Her gift, along with funds raised at Vegfest, will go toward feed and vet bills, wherever the need is greatest.

We also want to recognize Kate for everything she does for Wildlings. She gives so much of her time, care, and energy to the sanctuary and is always there when the animals, or we, need her. We're incredibly grateful to have both Kate and Teri as part of the Wildlings family.

Between Vegfest and this donation, we're breathing a little easier. We now have roughly two months of pig feed covered, and hopefully enough for Gilly's vet visit and Nebby's follow-up care too.

How You Can Help

One animal-care supply we currently need is NU-STOCK ointment. The best way to purchase it for us is to call our local farm store, Linnton Feed & Seed, at (503) 286-1291. You can pay for it over the phone, and we'll pick it up. Donating a tube would be greatly appreciated and would help us care for residents experiencing skin issues.

Thank you, as always, for being part of the Wildlings Forest family. 🐐🐷