Back to page

A helping hand for the animals - emergency feedraiser

  • Hay is arriving at the Black Sheep!

      13 April 2022
    Main image

    Last week we reached our fundraiser goal and we would like to say another huge THANK YOU from all of the humans and animals of the Black Sheep!!!! In addition to reaching our target on Givealittle, we received some extra donations via bank transfer as well as some cash donations, meaning in total we exceeded our goal! We are absolutely blown away by the support. Covid has been tough on all of us, but we are now heading into winter knowing everything will be just fine. The money raised will be used to make large purchases of hay and straw, and will help us cover our weekly costs of goat pellets, grain, horse feed and more. Making sure our animals are happy, fed, and warm is our first priority, and we thank you for making that possible

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • We raised $10,000 for feed - an enormous thank you to everyone!

      10 April 2022
    Main image

    It's wonderful and a huge relief to announce that we successfully raised $10,000 for winter feed - huge thanks to everyone who donated. Words can't express how grateful and humbled we feel as hundreds of bales of hay and other feeds arrive! We thought we'd share this photograph of Trotter, with a huge smile on his face!

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 11/04/2022 by Deborah

      You’re doing such an amazing work! Love Trotter’s beautiful smile

  • Thank you from Fang and friends!

      6 April 2022
    Main image

    With hours to go on our emergency feedraiser, we're only a whisker away from our goal! Thank you so much for your support, which will fill hungry bellies this winter.

    Fang says thank you in particular. She was born on a farm about two and a half years ago. She was malnourished and very tiny compared to all the other lambs. The farmer did not want to waste any time or money on her, so he planned to 'turn her into dog food'. Luckily, a kind neighbour stepped in and saved her life. She brought Fang to the sanctuary where she now is thriving. She has grown into such a happy, healthy sheep who is full of personality!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Daffy and Sunny

      3 April 2022
    Main image

    These two came to us as tiny, fluffy, yellow and black ducklings. After months of feeding them and keeping them safe, they have finally become big and strong enough to be released! They fit right in with our flock of wild and domestic ducks. They have quickly learned where and when to go for food and where all the best swimming spots are. Daffy and Sunny are a mix of different duck breeds so we are unsure if they will fly or not. But for now, they are happily adventuring around the sanctuary by foot

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Our cheeky roosters love exploring

      28 March 2022
    Main image

    Our roosters love to explore the sanctuary in small groups. Chickens are naturally curious animals. Their beaks are full of sensory receptors which help them to investigate their environment. Our chickens love to fossick around in any new space they can find including the caretaker house and any cars with the windows left open. They will almost always be with another bird, bonding over the new space that they have found.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Thank you from all the Black Sheep animals

      23 March 2022

    Just sharing this wee fundraising video we made - with footage of the animals you are helping. Thank you so much for your generosity.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Lovely Mary Ann

      19 March 2022
    Main image

    Mary Ann is one our two goats who do not have horns. This is because as a goat kid she was disbudded, a procedure that prevented her horns from ever growing. At less than a week old, goat kids born into the dairy industry have a hot iron pressed onto their horn buds. This procedure is extremely painful and is often done without any anesthetic or pain relief. Disbudding can also be done incorrectly, causing injury to a goat kid's head and brain, or sometimes horns grow back mutilated. We are glad despite such a traumatic experience, it is in Mary Ann's past, and that for most of her life she has known safety and kindness. She is an incredibly sweet and wonderful goat, and we are glad to have her as part of our herd. Thank you for helping Mary Ann

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Cricket, a beautiful rescued lamb

      17 March 2022
    Main image

    Cricket was born on a farm and was rescued at just a couple of days old. He was abandoned and left to die, but luckily someone stepped in and saved his life, bringing him to the sanctuary. At one week old, Cricket could support his own weight, and he was unable to walk. We suspect this is because he was premature. Our volunteers put lots of time, effort, and love into his rehabilitation and as a result he has grown into a happy lamb who is full of life. It's been a rocky road for him as he has suffered from mobility issues, probably because he didn't get enough colustrum from his mother. Fortunately we've found an effective veterinary treatment and he's now bouncing around the paddocks like the crickets he is named after!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Meet Sirius, a gentle survivor

      15 March 2022
    Main image

    Sirius was rescued from certain death as a young bobby calf. Male calves born on dairy farms are seen as surplus to requirements and are routinely killed at a few days of age. As males do not produce milk, they are not profitable to dairy companies and their lives are seen as useless once their mothers give birth as they will drink the milk that the dairy industry wants to sell. Fortunately Sirius was rescued as a tiny calf and hand-raised into a gentle giant who loves life with his friends Iris, Rocky and Struan.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Introducing beautiful Blue

      12 March 2022
    Main image

    Sadly, when Blue was a young wild piglet, his mother was shot by a hunter. Sadly, when a mother pig is killed, it can result in multiple deaths if the piglets are too young to survive on their own. Fortunately Blue was lucky - he was found by someone who was out for a walk. They saved his life and and brought him to safety here at the sanctuary. He has a rough journey, with mobility issues after he arrived at the Black Sheep. Fortunately our vet found an effective treatment and Blue is now thriving, living happily alongside his best friend, Teapot. Thank you for your support which means we can help orphaned animals like Blue.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Caspar playing with the rainbow castle

      9 March 2022
    Main image

    We thought you might enjoy this photograph of Caspar in action! At the Sanctuary we make sure Casper gets a variety of daily entertainment and human cuddles so that our lovely cockatoo stays engaged and happy. Cockatoos can live up to 100 years and they form extremely strong bonds with their humans that last a lifetime.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment