As a Sanctuary, R.A.S.T.A. provides a Lifelong Safe Haven and Permanent Home to the many rescued animals in it’s care.  Please be advised that R.A.S.T.A. Does Not Adopt Out Farm Animals.  However, if you are interested in rescuing a farm animal and providing him or her with a Permanent and Loving Home, we would be more than happy to assist you in your efforts.

Sophie (Potbelly Cross)

Our newest member to the R.A.S.T.A. family came to us as an owner surrender.  Sadly, Sophie spent her entire life living alone in a small dark shed with little to no stimulation and thus has had a great deal to adjust to since her arrival.  Like most of the potbelly pigs that come to the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary, Sophie has never met another pig and at four years of age, it will take her some time to adjust to family life.

Since her arrival, Sophie has had a lot of new and exciting experiences including feeling the warmth of sunshine on her back, enjoying the refreshing experience of wallowing in mud on a hot day, rooting around for hidden treats, and laying in a bed full of fluffy straw.  As Sophie is enormous for a potbelly pig, we believe she is likely crossed with a larger breed of farm pig, possibly a Hampshire.

Rosie (Potbelly Pig)

Rosie was regretfully surrendered by her owners who due to personal reasons were no longer able to provide her with care.  Despite a slight weight issue, it is obvious that Rosie was greatly loved by her family as her hooves and skin are in great shape and she is a very social and happy girl.

Since arriving at the sanctuary, Rosie has met a number of new friends, both porcine and otherwise, and she enjoys going for long walks and exploring.  Since, she is one of the more physically active pigs at the sanctuary we hope this will help her shed a few pounds.

Truly a beloved pet, Rosie’s former mom has sponsored Rosie (as well as two other pigs!!) by contributing monthly donations to help with her care and she plans to visit her also.

Monty & His Ladies; Farah, Jenna & Brittney (Bronze Turkeys)

Officially our first turkeys!!  These four beautiful birds were surrendered by a family which had initially got them with the intention to butcher for Thanksgiving Dinner.  Thankfully they did not have the heart to follow through with the killing and instead brought them to the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary where they have made a welcomed addition to our eclectic feathered family.  Monty and his ladies, whose feathers are in the process of regrowing, will now enjoy many Thanksgiving Days to come among  several friends at the Sanctuary.

Contrary to popular belief, turkeys are not aggressive birds.  They are very curious, intelligent and social creatures.  In fact, Monty and his ladies are among some of the first animals to greet visitors and volunteers alike to the sanctuary. They happily follow along for walks and enjoy being petted…..and will very happily jump in your vehicle when you are not looking!!

For a Cruelty-Free alternative to eating turkeys, try Tofurky.  They make a great tasting Tofurky Feast perfect for Thanksgiving Dinner among other wonderful products which are a much healthier alternate, better for the environment and the animals!!

Max & Isabelle (Yorkshire Pigs)

These two cuties, believed to be brother and sister, were picked up as strays running down the road.  They were approximately six months old at 250lbs. which is when pigs are usually killed and our theory is that they were the lucky two that got away while being loaded up for transport.  Somehow, on their own they managed to find their way to less than 1km of our sanctuary gates!  As there are no pig farms anywhere near our area, it has always remained a mystery as to how Max and Isabelle suddenly appeared one day.

Although both animals are very large at an approximate weight of 900lbs. they are very gentle and eager to flop on their side for belly rubs.  Their size is truly impressive so much so that they stop traffic on the road in front of the sanctuary on a regular basis.  Since the majority of pigs are killed as mere babies or shut away within the confines of  factory farms where they spend their lives immobilized in Gestation Crates, most people never get a chance to see a full grown pig enjoying life.

Contrary to popular belief, pigs are not dirty or mean animals.  Much smarter than dogs or cats, they are very intelligent as they have been documented to have the intellect of a seven year old child.  They are extremely clean animals and will not go to the bathroom in their stall, unless they are not given a choice.  The reason that they roll in the mud in the summer time is to cool off, protect themselves from the sun (as the mud serves as a sunscreen) and to protect themselves from the mosquitoes.  They are very social, gentle and very sensitive animals.

Doc (Horse)

This American Registered Quarter Horse was surrendered by his owner because he was believed to have a crippling disease known as wobbles.  Diagnosed by two different vet clinics as having this affliction (one vet even going as far as to suggest that Doc was not good for anything, a danger to have around and suggested to get rid of him going so far as to offer the name of a killer buyer who would slaughter him!!) the owner contacted us in tears asking if we would accept him to the sanctuary.

Shortly after receiving Doc, we assessed him and had his hooves trimmed by our farrier.  As it turned out, the angles of Doc’s hooves on each of his feet were all different resulting in a wobbly gait.  This could be compared to a person wearing high heels on one foot and a flat sandal on another making walking very awkward.  It’s no wonder that he appeared to be wobbly but he never did have wobbles!!  With the corrective trimming of his hooves, Doc’s legs were gradually straightened, his muscles evened out and his joints realigned.  Doc underwent a great deal of rehabilitative therapy to help him recover from the damage caused by a shoddy farrier.

Maya, Lulu, Scout, Maui, Joey & Pixie (Potbelly Pigs) and Sergio the Goose

On May 28th we received six pot bellied pigs; a mother an her babies, along with one very large male pilgrim goose for safe keeping.  The animals were seized from a bad home by the Alberta S.P.C.A. and brought to the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary for a ten-day hold during which time the owner was given the opportunity to improve the living conditions of the animals.  As the owner failed to comply, the animals were officially seized and transferred to the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary on June 7th.   We are very happy with this outcome as this potbellied pig family will remain together for the rest of their natural lives, something that almost never happens for most animals, let alone farm animals.

Brutus (Puppy)

We picked up Brutus’s mother Jessie, a Rottie Lab cross running as a stray around the Millarville area.  She was in terrible condition; starved, full of fleas, mange and parasites and to our surprise, a belly full of puppies.  Brutus was born at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary in October of 2002.  Two months later, all of Brutus’s brothers and sisters got adopted along with his mother Jessie.  Surprisingly, he was the puppy that no one wanted and so he remained with us at the sanctuary and grew up amongst the many different animals in our care.  As he truly is the most gentle and relaxed dog we have ever encountered, he has accompanied us and helped out at many fund raisers since he was a puppy.

Brutus is a regular at the Millarville Farmer’s Market where he is admired by hundreds of people as he naps on his very own cooling water bed on top of our display table full of pet toys and treats.  He is the only one that has a “job” at the sanctuary which requires him to look cute, be petted and nap on a water bed for a whopping three and a half hours a week.

In his spare time, Brutus enjoys hanging out with his little buddy Pedro, exploring forests, camping, swimming in rivers, more napping and going where ever the walks take us.

Pedro (Dog)

This small Chihuahua Pug cross came to us as an owner-surrender.  He was given up because the owner’s child was allegedly very allergic.  He came to us in the back of a pick up truck in a tiny crate where he could not stand up.  He wreaked of cigarette smoke, was very afraid of his surroundings, didn’t appear to know his name and at nearly two years of age, had no manners and wasn’t socialized or the least bit house trained.  It took a great deal of time to socialize and train Pedro but due to his many deeply embedded social issues, he has remained  a permanent resident at the sanctuary.  Brutus, our gentle giant took tiny Pedro under his wing and looks out for him as his big brother.  The two are best of friends.

Fortunately for the two boys, they share many of the same interests and hobbies…

Dolly (Potbelly Piglet)

Referred by The Calgary Humane Society, Dolly’s former owner surrendered her to the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary as he was no longer able to provide her with the proper care that she needed.  Dolly has made several new friends since arriving at the sanctuary.

Contrary To What Most Potbelly Pig Breeders Would Like You To Believe:

• Miniature pigs grow to an average size of 150lbs – 200lbs (Not 40lbs!!)
• They do not behave like dogs and hate being picked up and cuddled.
• They require a closely monitored and specialized diet and special care for their feet and tusks.
• You can not take them to the average vet as they require specialized exotic animal care.
• Potbellied pigs can be terribly destructive in the home and garden and can also become quite aggressive towards other animals and people if not socialized and trained properly.
• These animals can live for thirty five years and require a great deal of expertise.
• They are not good pets for children or the average person.

Monster (Cat)

This gentle old soul came to us as one of many feral (wild) cats that had nowhere else to go.  As many rescue groups and shelters will not take feral cats, offering euthanasia as the only option, there are a great deal of cats that have nowhere to go.  At the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary we are able to provide them with a safe place to live with plenty of food, fresh water and a warm place to sleep while allowing them as much space as they desire.  After a few years of enjoying this freedom with all the creature comforts at the sanctuary, the cats eventually realize that we are not out to hurt them and they become tame on their own.  Monster has been with us for nine years now and at fifteen years of age, he is quite the wise old man  He is truly the king of his castle as he oversees all that goes on in the barn and is always happy to greet the many visitors to the sanctuary asking for nothing more than the occasional scratch.

We currently have 30 feral cats living at the Sanctuary, some of which are beginning to come around and become quite friendly while others are still very wild.

Rudy (Potbelly Piglet)

Rudy came to us as a result of being returned to a breeder that no longer wanted him.  At eight weeks of age, Rudy suffered a devastating injury in his short life resulting in a fractured and dislocated hip.  Due to the injury, Rudy was unable to walk and simply standing up caused him a great deal of pain.  Although many people would see this to mean the end of an animal’s life, we searched far and wide for a skilled veterinarian to help us save Rudy.  We were very fortunate to have met Dr. Dave Dempsey from Highview Animal Clinic in High River that gave us the confidence we needed to go forth with a specialized, first of its kind, surgery that  presented the potential of Rudy being able to walk again.  Although such elaborate surgeries are more commonly done on dogs and cats, most people do not spend the kind of money it takes to save a pig’s life.

Left with a large scar on his left hip and a slight limp, as one of his hind legs is shorter than the other, Rudy has recovered wonderfully from his surgery and enjoys a full and happy life with the many other pigs at the sanctuary.  He is now full grown and we’re very happy to report that he has regained full mobility and is even able to run!

Blossom & Flossie (Pet Goats)

These two beautiful girls were surrendered to the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary by their owner who regretfully had to move from her De Winton acreage into the town of High River.  As R.A.S.T.A. is the only rescue organization that offers refuge to farm animals in Alberta and the prairie provinces, it was the only chance these girls had at staying together and staying alive.

Truly beloved pets, Blossom & Flossie’s former owner still visits her girls on occasion and kindly contributes to their care with monthly donations.

Wilbur & Fat Rudy (Pet Pigs)

Once beloved family pets, these two young boys were rescued from their owner who had abruptly decided she no longer wished to provide them with the care that they needed.  More specifically, their hooves were starting to get long and cracked and rather than having their hooves trimmed, the owner thought that it would be best to simply have the animals killed.

We were initially alerted to the urgency of the situation concerning the two pet pigs by a friend of the former owner who had called us very distressed and desperately pleading for our immediate help.  She had told us that the owner had been calling around to local butchers and had also called her asking to borrow a shotgun.   Fortunately for the boys, luck was on their side as local slaughter houses do not butcher potbellied pigs, the cost of having two large animals euthanized by a vet can be quite expensive and discharging a firearm in the hamlet of De Winton is illegal.  So at the end of the day, surrendering the animals to the R.A.S.T.A. sanctuary turned out to be the cheapest and most convenient option.   Transporting the two large pigs proved to be quite the challenge, however we were very fortunate to have the help of the owner’s husband, a kind-hearted, patient and gentle man as well as the help of a couple of very determined and very strong volunteers.

Upon their initial surrender, both pigs had some adversities to overcome.  Fat Rudy weighed an astounding 326 pounds!  He was officially the heaviest and most morbidly obese potbellied pig we have ever seen.  Not surprisingly, he had a great deal of health issues due to his immense size.  His vision was greatly impaired due to the large fat rolls covering his eyes, his breathing was constricted and he had difficulty moving around and supporting all his excess weight.  Also, due to a lack of essential training and socialization in his young formative years he lacked a great deal of social skills which had resulted in very dangerous and unpredictable aggression.

Fortunately for Wilbur, as his is still a young, growing boy and his metabolism remains quite high, he was not afflicted with the same physical hardships as his friend, however as his hooves had been neglected for quite some time, they were overgrown and had some deeply imbedded cracks which made walking quite painful.

Update on Wilbur & Fat Rudy

Over the past five months, both boys have made tremendous progress towards recovery.  Both pigs have since had their hooves trimmed and made many new friends at the sanctuary.  Wilbur has bonded very closely with Rocky, another large breed pig, while Fat Rudy has been integrated into the large and ever growing potbellied pig family.  Fat Rudy has lost nearly thirty pounds which has made moving and breathing much easier for him and he has begun to regain a bit of his sight.  His aggression has subsided and he is showing a renewed interest in life.  Wilbur’s hooves have been treated several times with both oral and topical supplements and he is getting around with greater ease.

Daisy, Liberty, Julie & Rosie (Cow & Calves)

The rescue story of these four girls is a simple one – we paid the price (per pound of flesh) in order to save their lives.  Aside from taking in stray and abandoned animals in addition to those surrendered by their owners, the Alberta SPCA, Calgary Humane Society and other shelters, when space and finances allow, R.A.S.T.A. also engages in the active rescue of animals that are otherwise headed for slaughter.  In order to save a farm animal’s life, one generally has to pay the meat price of that animal.  For a few hundred dollars, we purchased freedom, life and a future for these four girls.  Liberty is the daughter of Daisy and the other girls are of no relation.

Since the only interaction most cows have with humans is through an electric prod, whip or scorching iron brand, not surprisingly, these girls were absolutely terrified of people for several months after arriving at the sanctuary.  It took us a very long time to gain their trust.  As we do not chase animals at the sanctuary but rather call them by their names and offer treats and scratches instead they eventually realized that we were not out to hurt them.  Just as soon as they trusted us enough, we removed their ear tags and treated them for their many wounds.

The girls were covered in numerous painful brands (burned skin) and Daisy, as an older cow had her ears torn and mangled from the countless ear tags she had been pierced with.  The younger girls had had their heads doused with a corrosive de-horning powder which burns for several weeks after it’s application with it’s intended result to cause enough damage to the animal’s head, thereby preventing the growth of horns.  We did the best we could to draw out this poison, using moist green tea bags and creative bandages along with other natural remedies.  Although we managed to alleviate much of their pain and discomfort, unfortunately the damage had already been done and the girls will never have horns.

For more information about the truth behind the cattle industry, please visit; www.madcowboy.com

about Howard Lyman; a fourth generation cattle rancher who interestingly enough would like you to eat NO MEAT!!  Buy his book; “No More Bull!”

Update on Daisy

Sadly, Daisy passed away (believed to be from old age) this last winter but not before enjoying her last six years of life in peace at the R.A.S.T.A. sanctuary; seeing her baby grow up in a vastly different environment than she had known amongst people that love her dearly. and were not interested in nothing more than providing the best possible home her hide or her flesh Mad Cowboy – 4th generation cattle farmer that exposes the truth about the cattle industry.

Jacob (Potbelly Pig)

This poor boy was purchased as a novelty pet, like so many potbelly pigs are, and lived in small upstairs bedroom his whole life.  At three years of age, he had never experienced the outdoors; never felt the warmth of sunshine on his back, the grass beneath his feet or enjoyed the fresh air.  He also had never met another pig.  In fact, his former owner informed us that her new boyfriend did not like Jacob and so she kept him locked up in a room all by himself and admitted she rarely went in to visit with him.

When we got the call about Jacob, the lady told us that he had grown too large (at 200 plus pounds) to manage the stairs in her home and thus was trapped on the upper floor.  As she also had no means to transport Jacob to the sanctuary, some R.A.S.T.A. volunteers borrowed a truck and went to help with the herculean effort of removing Jacob from the home.

Once safe at the R.A.S.T.A. sanctuary, Jacob, like the majority of our potbelly pig rescues, began to experience a whole lot of “firsts”; first time laying in the sun, first mud bath, first friend, first time grazing, first walk…  Although it took Jacob some time to come out of his shell, as his previous world was so small and dull, he has since grown to enjoy the freedom his new and exciting life has to offer.

Gigi (Horse)

Once a greatly valued sport horse, Gigi was eventually forgotten about and abandoned by her former owner as she got on in years.  Cared for at a friend’s acreage for a number of years, Gigi’s former owner simply began visiting less and less until eventually ceasing all contact whatsoever.  Shortly after, her caregivers kindly surrendered her to the sanctuary where she was eagerly welcomed and quickly accepted by R.A.S.T.A.’s eclectic family, equine and otherwise.

Sadly, the majority of horses used in sporting events are simply treated like expensive sporting equipment.  They are only kept around as long as they are winning the ribbons or able to produce profitable offspring.  As soon as their bills outweigh the revenue they generate, they are generally disposed of with slaughter remaining a very popular choice among many so-called “horse lovers”.  Very few horses remain in one home their entire lives and even less are ever paid back for their many years of service by being given a retirement home.

Bonny & Clyde (Geese)

Destined for slaughter, Bonny & Clyde were sold for a mere $10 to the highest bidder at a local livestock auction.  Fortunately for the pair, R.A.S.T.A. was present at the sale to intervene and offer these two a much happier fate at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary.

Update on Clyde

Sadly Clyde passed away this past winter from what was believed to be a large tumor on his liver.  As he enjoyed four peaceful years among many feathered friends at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary, both Bonny and Sarah missed his absence very much for quite some time.  Bonny & Clyde were mates, though they did not produce any offspring, and as geese are known to mate for life Bonny will likely not take on another male companion.

Livestock Auctions

All different kinds of animals are sold on a regular basis at livestock auctions.  From domestic cats and dogs, various pet birds, bunnies and guinea pigs to all kinds of farm animals as well as exotics are sold to simply the highest bidder.  As there are no regulations in place to control what kinds of homes these animals end up in the welfare of the creatures is rarely a consideration.  Confined to various sorts of containers from cardboard and wooden boxes to buckets and even Tupperware containers hardly large enough to fit the animals, the majority go without food or water for the entire duration of the sales, sometimes as long as three days.   Not surprisingly, there is a fairly high mortality rate among the smaller creatures at such sales.

The majority of the individuals that attend livestock auctions are typically various kinds of animal dealers that are interested in the animals for their meat, fur or profits that can be made by breeding and selling their offspring.  Some are there buying up breeding dogs to stock their puppy mills while others are buying cats and rabbits for fur farms.  Some individuals buy cheap animals (typically pigeons and baby bunnies) to train their hunting dogs by allowing puppies to tear the animals apart and encouraging their aggression while others purchase cheap animals to perform various experiments.  A good deal of petting zoos dispose of their older animals at these sales and sadly the vast majority of these hand-tamed friendly pets are sold for slaughter.  A particularly bad time for bunnies is around Easter when babies are displayed in colorful baskets and sold for as little as $1.

Sarah (Goose)

Sarah was rescued at the same time as Bonny & Clyde from a local livestock auction.

With the recent rescue of Sergio, another Pilgrim Goose, Sarah has finally got herself a boyfriend.

Splish, Splash, Splosh & Crackers (Ducks)

This foursome of ducks was rescued from a similar livestock auction where the majority of the ducks and geese were being purchased by farmers in the horrifically cruel Foie Gras industry.   The ducks and geese raised for foie gras suffer the pain of having a pipe shoved down their throats three times a day while they are force fed two pounds of grain for the purpose of causing the diseased fatty liver known as foie gras that some people consider to be a delicacy.

Pigeons

Once again rescued from a local livestock auction.  As pigeons are considered worthless animals to most, they are often sold in large quantities for little more than a couple of dollars.  Although some are collected and bred by various fanciers who race the animals and engage in competitions, the birds are of no value when they are no longer winning and thus are disposed of.  While some people purchase pigeons to slaughter for stews, a popular pass time for farm kids is to get drunk and shoot the birds within a confined  space such as a barn loft.

After first arriving at the Sanctuary, the pigeons are confined to a large aviary within our barn loft so they can get used to their new surroundings.  As many pigeons have a homing instinct, they will simply fly back to where they came from if released right away.  Slowly we increase the size of their living space until they are eventually given free flight and complete freedom at the sanctuary.  As pigeons are quite territorial, they generally stay quite close to home.

Holly (Goat)

Used as a breeding goat her whole life, Holly was surrendered by her former owners after she was unable to produce any more babies.  As all of Holly’s offspring were slaughtered, we never understood why her former owners decided to take pity on her and surrender her to a sanctuary.  We are very happy to have Holly as a member of the R.A.S.T.A. family, however this prejudicial logic has always eluded us.  Perhaps it was simply because  they had formed a bond with Holly by having her for a few years and giving her a name.  If that were to be the case then perhaps if more time and effort could be taken to acknowledge more animals on an individual basis, there would be less desire for killing. We know at R.A.S.T.A. the simple fact that when one actually takes the time to get to know an animal they could never eat him or her as this is something that we see and hear all the time from the many visitors and volunteers at the Sanctuary.

Spanky & Harley (Potbelly Pigs)

Rescued late last fall, Spanky and Harley have come a long way since first coming to the Sanctuary.  Both animals were morbidly obese and had terribly overgrown hooves.  As a result of their limited mobility and painful conditions, they had a number of deep-set physical and emotional problems.   Sadly due to the extent of the neglect they had endured over the long period of time prior to their arrival at the sanctuary, they will never be able to recover fully.  However, we are happy to report that nearly 90% of the mobility has been restored.

Together with a significant loss of weight and the corrective trimming of their overgrown hooves, both animals have regained their mobility.  As movement is no longer painful, both Spanky and Harley now enjoy socializing with the many other potbellied pigs at the sanctuary. Another wonderful result of the weight loss, has been the partial  restoration of their sight.  The huge fat rolls that once covered  their eyes have diminished. They have also both benefited beautifully from their enhanced diet as their skin has improved and their hair is is finally starting to grow in nicely.  Best of all, both Spanky and Harley are very  happy.

Update on Spanky

Since arriving at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary, both Spanky and Harley have lost a massive amount of weight.  As a result of the weight loss, Spanky had a great deal of loose skin hanging under his jowl, his belly and above his eyes.  The abundance of loose skin above his eyes which were once tight folds of fat that forced his eyes closed, now hung  loosely but still impaired his vision.  After a great deal of careful consultation with our local veterinarian, the decision to have Spanky undergo surgery to remove the excess skin was made.  Scheduled for a “jowl and tummy tuck” along with a “brow-lift” we were all very excited for Spanky as this would truly be the icing on the cake for the boy that had overcome so much adversity in his short life.  We literally couldn’t wait knowing that Spanky would soon be able to get around with greater ease and be able to finally see the world!  As the surgery was expected to be quite expensive, it took us some time to fund raise enough money for Spanky’s big day.

Finally, the day that we were all waiting for arrived and on June 24th at 8am we dropped Spanky off for his surgery.  At 2pm we received a phone call from one of the vet’s assistants informing us that they had encountered some complications with the procedure and that Spanky had died at the clinic.  He informed us that Spanky had not taken well to the drugs they had given him and believed that he had suffered a heart attack.  He continued to explain that due to their inability to properly anesthetize Spanky, they had decided to abort the procedure.  Spanky never had his surgery.

To say that we were devastated of the loss of one of the sweetest souls we had ever met would be a severe understatement.  His death was so utterly unexpected and tragic it has left a huge gaping void in many hearts and lives at the sanctuary.  His death was a startling reminder for us all of just how fragile life can be.  Spanky was very loved and respected by the other pot bellied pigs with whom he shared a life and was undoubtedly one of the favorites of the many volunteers and visitors to the sanctuary.  Not a day goes by that he isn’t missed.

Roxie (Kitten)

On a cold November night, a tiny kitten mysteriously appeared on our doorstep at two in the morning.  With no one looking for this sweet little girl, we assume that she was most likely dumped off by someone who couldn’t be bothered with her care.  It truly is amazing how this tiny creature found its way to the door of our house, as our home is quite secluded, let alone in the middle of a cold winter’s night.

Respectfully named after one of our former volunteers that specialized in providing exceptional care to our diverse feline family, Roxie has since bonded with Ricky, another cat that came to us as an abandoned kitten a few years ago.  Although we are primarily a refuge for farm animals, R.A.S.T.A. also provides a lifelong safe haven to many unwanted cats whenever possible.

Houdini (Kitten)

Houdini also mysteriously appeared one day at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary.  We found him as a six week old kitten in  a marshy area where our pigs normally wallow, very close to the road that runs in front of our property.  As it was raining very heavily that day and Houdini was so tiny, we couldn’t see him but rather had to follow the sound of his faint cries.  Eventually his cries led us to a tiny kitten, soaked to the bone and struggling to free himself from the mud.  It was obvious that Houdini had been thrown from a vehicle, likely while it was moving to have landed right smack dab in the middle of our slough.

Despite his rough start at life, Houdini has fully recovered and now thoroughly enjoys a wonderfully relaxing and leisurely lifestyle at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary.

Chelsea (Potbelly Piglet)

Formerly known as “Miss Princess Kitty Pickles”, this little cutie pie was surrendered by The Calgary Humane Society after they recieved her from a lady that was unable to keep her due to the City of Calgary’s restrictions on potbellied pigs.

Classified as farm animals; potbellied pigs are not allowed in the City of Calgary as well as most cities and towns.  Potbelly pigs need to live on an acreage or a farm where they can be free to live as pigs and enjoy their natural behaviors such as rooting, digging holes, wallowing in mud and socializing with other potbelly pigs.  As they can be quite destructive, it takes them no time at all to tear up a perfectly manicured lawn or the prized rosebushes!!

Chickens Rescued From Wood Chipper

These are photos of forty hens that R.A.S.T.A. rescued from a “small” factory farm in Camrose, Alberta.  They are one-year-old egg laying hens that were scheduled to be “disposed of” in a wood chipper (alive) after their egg production had decreased by 10%.  Unfortunately R.A.S.T.A. had only enough space and money to rescue forty hens, leaving 4960 birds behind.  The remaining birds were killed in a wood chipper.

• Sadly, the majority of store bought eggs come from factory farms which consist of battery caged hens in huge warehouse-type structures often housing an average of 17,500 hens.  There are currently 26 million battery cage egg laying hens in Canada.
  
• Battery cages measure 16″ by 18″ (size of an average web page) with as many as seven birds confined to each cage.  The hens have no room to stretch their wings or even stand up straight.
  
• Due to the insane confinement of these birds, their beaks are usually cut off with a hot blade (an incredibly painful procedure) when they are just chicks to minimize the damage of pecking one another.
  
• After one year, egg production naturally decreases to 80% which means a loss of revenue for the industrialized factory farm profiting from the the misery of these animals and so they are often “disposed of” and replaced with younger stock.  Sadly, one of the most common ways that farmers dispose of laying hens is to throw them into a wood chipper (alive).  The gruesome remains are then often fed to other animals as a cheap protein ration or used as compost.

Please do Not Support the Cruelty of these Factory Farms

Free Range Eggs (Not Free Run Eggs) are the most humane alternative on the market to battery caged eggs, which offer the hens room to roam with some access to the outdoors, depending on the weather.  Free range eggs are commonly available in most grocery stores.

Egg Substitute Unfortunately, all hens go through the same transportation and slaughter procedures, so of course the best option for hens is not to use eggs at all.  Many common and easy egg substitute recipes are available online.  Please visit; www.chooseveg.com

After some TLC at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary

These are the same hens that R.A.S.T.A. rescued after a couple of months of TLC at the Sanctuary.

Another 200 Hens Saved from Live Disposal in Wood Chipper

Recently some R.A.S.T.A. volunteers liberated another 200 hens from a couple of factory farms in southern Saskatchewan.  Disturbingly, one particular barn housed over 10,000 egg laying hens, which is not unusual by industry standards.  Unlike the previous birds R.A.S.T.A. rescued, these hens were only six months old at which point they were slated for disposal due to their slight decrease in egg production.  The volunteers had to move very quickly to save as many birds as they could as to their sheer horror, the farmers were killing the birds on sight by throwing them live into wood chippers!!!!!!!  Limited with space and finances, R.A.S.T.A. was only able to keep fifty hens as the rest were dispersed among carefully screened adoptive homes throughout Canada.

Theodore (Veal Calf)

Barely alive, this day-old veal calf was found discarded on a manure pile at a B.C. dairy farm.  Taken from his mother at just a few hours old, Theodore was denied the basic care that he so desperately needed since his veterinary costs would exceed  the potential profits he would make for the farmer when slaughtered for veal.  Fortunately Theo’s story, unlike most veal calves whose sad destiny is to end up a delicacy on someone’s plate, is one that ends happily at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary.

While most compassionate people aware of the cruelty involved in raising and slaughtering baby cows for veal would never support such an atrocity, many are unaware that the veal industry and the dairy industry go hand-in-hand.  In fact, the dairy industry could not survive without the veal industry.

• Like all other animals, cows must give birth every year in order to have milk to feed their young.  However, in the dairy industry calves are viciously torn from their mother’s sides when they are just a few hours old and rather than receiving the milk from their mothers, they are fed an artificial anemia inducing diet as the milk is collected for “higher purposes” (human consumption).
• The veal calves, which are by-products of the dairy industry, are kept in tiny crates where they can barely move (can’t even turn around) so their muscles remain underdeveloped and their flesh remains tender to the taste until such time that they are slaughtered for the human delicacy known as veal.
• The sad fact is; if you drink milk or consume dairy products (cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter, milk chocolate, etc.) you support the veal industry.  To learn more, please visit; www.milksucks.com

Charlotte (Potbelly Piglet)

Sadly, Charlotte’s story is one that is much too common.  At just six weeks of age, Charlotte was purchased as a novelty pet from a pet store in Brooks, Alberta.  Failing to do any research on potbellied pigs, Charlotte’s former owner quickly grew irritated with Charlotte’s “unpuppy-like” behavior” and one week later resorted to disposing of her at a local veterinary clinic with strict instructions of having her destroyed.  Fortunately the clinic did not see ignorance as a justifiable reason to ending an innocent animal’s life and Charlotte was subsequently surrendered to the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary.

Tango & Romeo (Miniature Donkeys)

Victims of the novelty pet industry, these two adorable boys were eventually sold for slaughter when their novelty soon wore off.  At just two years of age, these once-loved and treasured pets were reduced to the mere price of their flesh when R.A.S.T.A. was able to intervene and bring them safely to the Sanctuary.

Sadly, the lives of most novelty pets such as potbellied pigs, miniature donkeys, llamas, pet goats & sheep, ponies, mules, horses, etc. end in slaughterhouses as their novelty eventually wears off.    For the majority of these animals, the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary is their only hope as there is nowhere else for these animals to go.  R.A.S.T.A. provides a valuable service as the Only Non Discriminatory Farm Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in Alberta.  In fact, not even the Alberta SPCA has the capacity to rescue and care for farm animals.  On the rare occasion that  a horse, donkey or other farm animal is seized by the Alberta SPCA, it is often sold at the next available livestock auction where in most cases they are generally purchased by killer buyers and slaughtered.  The money from their sale is then given back to the previous owner of the animal.

Alarma (Puppy)

From the early age of eight weeks old, Alarma spent the first eight months of her life locked in a washroom, thereby separated from the other members of her family.  Her ignorant former owner feared that due to Alarma’s breed she could pose a potential threat to her children and rather than socializing and training her new puppy, she subjected her to the mental torture and physical neglect of solitary confinement.  As a result of the damage that Alarma had suffered throughout her formative months she had developed an understandable aggression towards people and other animals, as well as a whole array of other behavioral issues.  Due to this horrible abuse, Alarma’s former owner deemed her to be “out of control” and subsequently had her scheduled to be destroyed before her first birthday.  Fortunately R.A.S.T.A. was able to intervene and save Alarma’s life.

Due to the severity of the abuse Alarma had suffered, adoption was not an option.  Instead, this former victim of gross breed discrimination was taken on as a permanent resident at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary where she enjoyed nine wonderful years receiving continual rehabilitation, socialization, training, understanding and love that she so desperately needed. Sadly, Alarma was diagnosed with bone cancer (in her jaw) and passed away October 20, 2008.

Contrary to Popular Belief:

• Rottweilers, Pit bulls, Dobermans, Mastiffs and other Guardian Breeds are not mean dogs.
  
• All Animals are Products of their Environment.
  
• Guardian Breeds are amongst the safest, most passive, tolerant, even tempered, loyal  and trustworthy breeds to have around children.
• Pit Bulls were actually raised in early England as nursery dogs to look over children in orphanages.  It wasn’t until greedy profit-motivated individuals decided to cash in on the Pit Bull’s physical advantages and turn them into a fighting breed.
• Breed bans are absolutely pointless because it’s not a dog-problem but a people-problem.  The same lazy, ignorant people who couldn’t be bothered to socialize and train a Pit Bull or a Rottie will just as easily screw up a Golden Retriever or a Cocker Spaniel.

Prince & Pirate (Peacocks)

Shortly after their arrival to the sanctuary, it became evident that the Alberta climate was not suitable for these two beautiful boys and although large, the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary was just not large enough for their exploratory taste.  As we do not believe in putting birds in cages, Prince and Pirate were given free flight and although very intelligent, the mischievous pair did not respect property lines and we would often get calls from various neighbors letting us know our boys were visiting them…again.

In the end, Wendy Huntbatch from the World Parrot Refuge on Vancouver Island was kind enough to accept the boys to her free-flight sanctuary.  We had them flown out via West Jet with a chaperon and the boys were released shortly after.  They were very eager to join the local flock of many other wild peacocks, and finally meet some ladies.

Emma (Llama)

This beautiful girl was picked up as a stray with no one coming forward to claim her.  Emma is yet another victim of the exotic pet industry.  Years ago, llamas used to be very expensive animals regarded as a status symbol by wealthy land owners.  Now they are worth little more than the flesh on their bones and sell for as little as $15 – $20 at local livestock auctions.

Update on Emma

In the late fall of 2008, Emma had broken her leg in an unfortunate accident.  Due to the complication of the fracture we were not able to save her leg, but we were able to save her life.  Emma had her right hind leg removed successfully and has since recovered completely from her surgery.

We were looking into having Emma fitted for a prosthesis but unfortunately the amputation site was too high as it would not be possible to fasten and keep the artificial limb in place.  However, Emma does remarkably well on three legs and is just as agile and quick as her four-legged llama buddy Jordan.

Jordan (Llama)

Similar to Emma’s story, Jordan was being kept at a local boarding facility when his owners simply stopped visiting him or paying for his upkeep.  Faced with an abandoned animal, the owners of the boarding facility contacted R.A.S.T.A. for help.  Fortunately R.A.S.T.A. had space to accomodate Jordan at the Sanctuary as their alternative was to dispose of him at the local livestock auction where he would most likely end up going for slaughter.  What makes Jordan’s story more upsetting is that he was a little boy’s pride and joy but his former owners obviously couldn’t care less when they abandoned him.

Jasmine & Saffron (Horses)

At just nine years of age, Jasmine a beautiful thoroughbred mare was sold for slaughter while pregnant. At the time, she had a still-nursing four month old foal which was viciously torn from her side in the auction ring as they were both sold to separate buyers. While her foal was sold to a private home, Jasmine was sold to meat dealers.  R.A.S.T.A. was able to intervene saving both Jasmine’s life as well as the life of her unborn baby.

Saffy was born September 10th 2001 at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary where she lives happily today with her mother.

Arnold (Potbelly Pig)

Living in the most unimaginably filthy conditions among rotting carcasses, no water or shelter and nothing more than moldy bits of bread to eat, Arnold was rescued from a southern Alberta roadside zoo.  Unfortunately, R.A.S.T.A. was only able to liberate a handful of prisoners from this living hell and sadly to this day many animals continue to silently suffer in equally deplorable conditions, despite continual public protest.

Update on Arnold

Early last spring, Arnold was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure meaning that his heart has become weak and unable to beat on its own.  Fortunately this is a condition that can be managed (and sometimes cured) with medication enabling Arnold to continue enjoying a full and happy life.

Sadly, despite every effort made, at nearly eleven years of age, Arnold passed away October 20, 2009.  He will be terribly missed as he became affectionately known as “Uncle Arnold” to all other pigs at the R.A.S.T.A. Sanctuary.

Marco (Goat)

As a baby, Marco lived in a house and was treated kindly while he served as a child’s pet.  However, as he grew bigger and the child eventually lost interest , R.A.S.T.A. received a rather distressing phone call from Marco’s owners threatening that if we did not take him into the sanctuary, he would be “taken out back and shot”.

Sadly, these sort of threats are nothing new for R.A.S.T.A. as we continue to receive calls from people informing us that “we are their pet’s only hope” and if we can not help them they will be killed.  Such disturbing calls range from individuals threatening to drown kittens, shoot dogs, “run over puppies in a cardboard box in the driveway”,  slaughter horses, abandon their domestic pets in the the wilderness or have their pet killed at the vet.

What makes these stories more upsetting is that often the animals being so violently disposed of are seniors that have lived with the family their entire lives.

Polo (Goat)

Polo was found as a baby tied to a fence at the High River High School in the middle of a snow storm.  We were told later that this was a prank played by some ignorant and cruel farm kids.

Many More Rescue Stories Soon to Come!!

“The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men”

~ Leonardo da Vinci ~

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