By pattrice jones | VINE Sanctuary co-founder & Coordinator
Even though it's snowing as I type this, spring has arrived at VINE Sanctuary. Cows and sheep spread out to graze the new grass on pastures previously covered with snow. Turkeys stretch their wings and strut. Goats go gallivanting even more lawlessly than before.
Donors like you make it all possible. So, I thought you might to meet an exemplar of each of the many species represented in our multispecies community.
Patches the goat is "chaotic neutral" personified. The sole survivor of a dairy herd who lived on her own for years after evading capture for slaughter, Patches is smart, brave, and charismatic. Upon arrival, she installed herself as "co-chair" of the goat community, sharing leadership duties with elder (and sweeter and calmer) Rosie. She does exactly what she wants to do and expects everybody else to either follow along or get out of her way.
Like Patches, Tiki the emu goes his own way—so much so that he made local history by taking an extended tour of our rural community a few summers ago. He was spotted on country roads and grazing with wild turkeys, always slipping away just before we got there to pick him up, until he finally consented to come home four weeks into his sojourn. At 30, he is the oldest of the nonhuman sanctuary residents—and older than some sanctuary staff!
While we don't have exact birthdates for everyone, we believe Linus to be the eldest of the cows at present. He arrived at the sanctuary as a starving calf in 2011, grew up at the sanctuary, and is now an esteemed elder. An easy-going and placid guy, Linus is deeply loyal to his loved ones and friendly to everybody. Having enjoyed the care of older cows when he was young, he pays it forward by doting on youngsters.
One youngster to watch at the sanctuary is Daphne, who defies all of the stereotypes about sheep. Ever since she was a lamb, Daphne has considered herself the protector of her sister Echo. While understandably wary of humans, Daphne is otherwise bold, bouncing off to explore sights of interest. She's also loud, joining the chorus of baa-ing and maa-ing that greets anyone who arrives at the sanctuary who might be carrying treats.
While the sheep charge forward, Max the alpaca hangs back. Known for his propensity for "spying" by raising his head above a barrier as if he were a periscope, Max always knows what's going on. He tends to hang out with the sheep but gets along with everyone.
Duck brothers James and Bond share Max's fondness for spying—hence their names. Among their coop-mates is a goose called Roselyn, who likes to accompany staff member Rachel as she cleans coops and does other chores.
Another coop-mate, for now, is the hen called Daffodil. So far as we know, she's the eldest chicken at the sanctuary, having lived her for more than ten years since her rescue from an egg factory. She's another who goes her own way, including swithching coops whenever she feels like it.
This is Buddy the turkey's first spring as an adult, and he is making the most of it. In addition to strutting, he has been doing a little jig accompanied by percussive clicking of his outstretched tail feathers.
The guineafowl travel as a pack, raising a ruckus wherever they go. The pigeons in the aviary also tend to flock rather than stand out as individuals, but the bird that I call Tina Turner stands out. He courts humans as well as other pigeons, and the pattern of his cooing sounds like the intro to "What's Love Got to Do with It?"
Love has everything to do with it! The sanctuary is a labor of love sustained by the loving gifts of donors like you. Right now, we're in the midst of a "Spring Sprint" to fill the feeders, and we're counting on love for it to succeed.
While Patches, Tiki, Linus, Daphne, Max, James and Bond, Roselyn, Daffodil, Buddy, and "Tina Turner" all have different bodies, personalities, and histories, the one thing they have in common is needing breakfast every day. If you can spare even a few dollars this month, please consider making a small contribution to the collective effort to make sure that they and all of their friends have enough to eat this season.
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