Why We Exist...
Gone, but not Forgotten...
Charles
Age Unknown | Male | Joined us in 2020
While in our 2nd year of operation, our Founder, Elle, received a call from a local friend in the community. He said he thought there was some type of boar in his back yard. We assumed that it was a potbelly (since it’s more common for those to get dumped), but the caller said this pig was more near 800-900 pounds!
When we showed up at the property, the caller was right… this was a full-grown Yorkshire. Thankfully, Charles loaded up easily into the trailer and we brought him to his new home at The Shep.
Shortly after arriving to the sanctuary, we took him for his neuter. He had a little trouble coming to after his surgery, so the vet staff asked if Elle wanted to visit with him and try to comfort him until he woke up. While petting him, Elle felt something strange under the skin on his head… She realized she was touching a bullet.
She was right. After a quick MRI, we learned that Charles had been shot in the head six times. Thankfully, none of the bullets entered his cranium. However, one did lodge itself in his eye socket causing him permanent blindness in his left eye. We can’t imagine what this boy went through, but have ensured that he has only known comfort since he arrived here.
Charles used to be the largest pig at the sanctuary. However, in recent years, he has lost a lot of weight… our boy is in end-stage liver failure. We consider him to now be in hospice care and he’s on medication to help keep him comfortable. As soon as we feel that his quality of life takes a different direction, we will immediately re-evaluate.
Charles was put to rest in October of 2024.
Axle
Age Unknown | Male | Joined us in Dec 2018
Axle was one of our first goat residents!
He was rescued when his previous owners couldn’t afford the vet care to figure out why his hair was falling out. He ended up entirely bald. Axle has an auto immune condition that makes stress cause alopecia like symptoms. His hair ultimately grows back, but he does have some permanent hair loss on his legs.
He is kept up in our private special needs pasture to avoid stress and constant herd hierarchy battles with the other goats.
We’re grateful that Axle has found peace with the rest of the Quiet Crew!
Passed away on 1/24/25
Jagger
Age Unknown | Male | Joined us in Dec 2018
Jagger and Axel are some of our initial residents and they came together!
We ended up separating the two because Jagger is one strong-minded boy! Actually, he was so strong-minded that we thought that he may be what is called Cryptorchid (meaning one of his testicles hadn’t descended). So, we took him into surgery to find and remove his lost “no no nugget”. But, the vet opened him up in three different places and couldn’t find it!
However, his testosterone levels were so high that (for the first five years of his time here) we tested his urine routinely to make sure he wasn’t viable for reproduction. The vet said that he has what is called a vestige testicle. This means that it’s not viable for reproduction but, that’s it’s still producing testosterone.
We lovingly say that his missing “no no nugget” is attached to his brain stem!
Passed away on 2/8/25
R. B.
Age Unknown | Male | Joined us in 2020
R. B. and a few of his siblings were rescued from a backyard breeder that quickly let things got out of hand. He is our smallest and sweetest bun!
Interesting Info:
R. B. is short for: Rescue Bun! Or Firetruck or Bun Bun, depending!
He was named by our Founder's son when he was a little boy :)
Sponsored by The Jaffe Family
Laid to rest on 4/2/25?
Barry
Age Unknown | Male & Two Females
Came with Julie and Sarah
The story of these three is very similar to that of Zuko, Cadillac, and Lacey... the owner's weren't able to provide a predator proof environment for their chickens and the majority of the flock was killed off.
The family reached out to see if The Shep could help save these three.
Barry is Sponsored by Michaelle DeWitt
Sarah & Julie Don't Have Sponsors!
Julie
Age Unknown | Females
The story of these two is very similar to that of Zuko, Cadillac, and Lacey... the owners weren't able to provide a predator proof environment for their chickens and the majority of the flock was killed off.
The family reached out to see if The Shep could help save these ladies.
Came with Barry and Sarah
Wizzy
6-7 Years | Male | Joined us in Jul 2022
Wizzy’s previous owners had him for 5 or so years… one day, they notice that he had a lump on the side of his neck that continued to grow.
They weren’t able to pay for medical care, so he was surrendered to The Shep.
When Wizzy got here, the mass was the size of a ping pong ball and festering. The vet was almost sure it was cancer, but we were confident in a good recovery because it was so isolated.
We had his neuter the same day as the tumor removal and sent the mass off for biopsy. Come to find out, it was just an infected hair follicle. Sheesh and whew!
We wish Wizzy was taken care of earlier and was able to avoid major surgery, but we’re glad he is going to be okay!
He is an absolute doll and will bounce right up to you for some lovin’!
Sponsored by Allie D
Passed away on 4/19/25
Turner
Race Bannon