I have to admit something: I have no clue how Facebook functions.  I have both a personal page and our Sundance Rescue and Recovery page. Some days, I do see posts from friends, but most of the time, what I see are “recommended” pages, or pages that simply say “Follow.”  Unfortunately, most of these types of posts to our Sundance page include the most gut-wrenching, heart-breaking photos of animals who are being abused, or who have been abused, or who are in the process of being “rescued.”  And on top of this, I don’t know which photos are real and which are either AI generated or manipulated in some other way.  Quite frankly, I’m sick of it. 

So today, I’ve decided to write about the good people and places who help animals every day. Those, like us, who spend their days acting the words of care we write.  We exist all over the world, all over our country, and in our backyards, and sometimes, we even show up on Facebook.  I spent a bit of time wondering about the four whose work I wanted to share with you, and I finally came up with these:  Global ~ Blankets for Baby Rhinos; National ~ Goats of Anarchy; in our backyard ~ Little Woods Sanctuary and No Swine Left Behind.  I’m not fundraising for them ~ in fact, none of them know I’m writing about them.  I’m just really impressed with the work they do, and I wanted to share them with you. So here goes! 

Blankets for Baby Rhinos

This is an all volunteer group out of the UK, but their membership includes people from all across the globe.  They gather crocheted and knitted blankets, along with caps, scarves, and other items, and transport them to organizations working to protect wildlife against the ravages of poaching, including the Zululand Rhino Orphanage.  If you’d like more information, please check out their website:  https://www.blanketsforbabyrhinos.org/

Goats of Anarchy

According to their website, “Goats of Anarchy is a farm animal sanctuary dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of goats with disabilities. We teach acceptance and inclusion, advocate for animal rights, and promote veganism.” Over the years I’ve been following them, Leanne Lauricella (the founder) has worked with animal protection agencies, other rescue organizations, and countless volunteers to build a safe haven for hundreds of animals. Her dedication to the physical, mental, emotional and social health of her residents is unwavering and inspiring.  If you’d like more information, please check out her website:  https://www.goatsofanarchy.org/

Little Woods Sanctuary

Molly and Ryan Gardner, the owners and operators of Little Woods Sanctuary, have also created a safe haven for unwanted, abused, and/or neglected animals. Like Sundance, the residents who arrive at the Sanctuary stay for the length of their natural lives, enjoying friends, safety, health care when needed, and cuddles just for the asking. Also like Sundance, part of their Mission is animal welfare education.  If you’d like more information, please check out their website:  https://www.littlewoodssanctuary.com/

No Swine Left Behind

No Swine Left Behind is a Sanctuary dedicated to rescue and rehabilitation of mini-pigs, many of whom have been rescued from abuse, neglect or hoarding situations. Over the years I’ve been following their work, the owners have taught me so much about who pigs are ~ their intelligence, their attachments, their needs.  They, too, work to provide a safe, healthy, stimulating haven for those who have only experienced pain and neglect. If you’d like more information, please check out their website:  https://noswineleftbehind.org/

When I’m tired, or covered in used pine shavings, or changing water out for the fifth time in one day, I think about the people who have opened and run these Sanctuaries.  Like many people, they love animals, but their love has managed to expand into the work of Sanctuary and education. Yes, we, too, have the initial gut-wrenching, horrific pictures of our residents that accompany stories worse than the pictures.  Yes, we sometimes post them on Facebook. But we don’t live there. We can’t. We live with our residents in the heat, and in the snow; through the dancing zoomies and the fearful vet visits; through daily breakfasts, evening cuddles and watermelon summer snacks. And that life makes me smile, always, despite what shows up in my Facebook feed.