Art for sale!
We’ve gotten so many great donations for the silent auction over the last couple of years that we have some things left over. Rather than storing them for a whole year, we’d like to give you the opportunity to take it home. Here are a few things, with more to be added later.
If you are interested in any of the following items, please submit your best offer to Dorothy.
Beautiful painting of orange lilies in a vase. 22.5″ x 34.5″ You really have to see this to appreciate it. Make an offer over $30.
It was impossible to get a good shot of this today with the sunshine coming in the windows! Koi print under glass, 22.5′” x 27″. Even the frame is beautiful.
Make an offer over $30.
More coming soon!
Published by Amanda on June 9th, 2009 | Filed under Announcements and Events | Comment now »
Sponsor Days at the Sanctuary!
A Message from Pam Sordyl, our Sponsorship Chairperson:
May was our Geese and Cat Sponsor Day. The goose gang went ga ga over their new kiddie pool! They had to wait politely for the goats to finish chasing the Brownie Troop around the pasture for goodies. We didn’t tell the geese the bread and grapes were really meant for them. Well, they did get to nibble on some treats.Pictures will be available on the blog soon.
We also made a Cat Adoption Board for the eight adoptable residents with stories and snap shots. Yes, we have cats ready and eagerly waiting for adoption. Communal living isn’t a party all the time. They need their own loving families. We hope this new board will help our Cat Barn visitors find a furry new companion.
The Goat Sponsor Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th 2-6PM. If you are Sponsors will spend time grooming and passing out treats. There are many goats who still need sponsors: Nan, Kip, Napoleon, Edward (newest goat) and Daisy.
Published by Amanda on June 8th, 2009 | Filed under Announcements and Events | 1 Comment »
Dexter Cows Update
Thanks so much to everyone who has inquired about and sent donations and sponsored the new cows from the starvation case in Dexter. It is our understanding that felony charges are being pursued on the man who owned them.
They are doing quite well here at the sanctuary. Everyone is eating well and gaining weight, and they no longer huddle in the back of the barn when people enter. They’ve quickly learned to run to the gate for treats and head scratches.
They’ve been given names: Jupiter and Mars, the two black bulls; Earth, the red girl; Venus, the white-faced girl who looks just like Jefferson and Moo; and Pluto, the calf. Pluto, of course, was too small to be a planet. 
Come out and visit them this summer at one of our events or tour days.
Published by Amanda on May 8th, 2009 | Filed under Announcements and Events | Comment now »
Welcome, Dan and Ashley!
SASHA Farm welcomed two more lambs to the sanctuary recently. Dan and Ashley were orphaned at a sheep farm and needed to be hand raised. Unfortunately, the woman raising them didn’t realize that she was saving them only to have them sent to slaughter a few months later. She convinced the farmer to sell them to her, and brought them to SASHA Farm, saving their lives.
They were named Dan and Ashley, in honor of our favorite animal advocate/cartoonist, Dan Piraro and his wife, Ashley Smith.
Above: Dan smiles; Ashley shows off her undocked tail
Below: Ashley turns around for her close up
Published by Amanda on May 8th, 2009 | Filed under New Arrivals | Comment now »
Sponsor a Mom for Your Mom!
Are you looking for something special to give your Mom for Mother’s Day? It is coming up really soon – May 10th!!! Show your mom that you appreciate everything she did for you by sponsoring a SASHA Farm Mom in her honor!
When you sponsor a SASHA Mom, your own Mom will get a packet with a photo, a biography and an opportunity to visit with them on special Sponsor Days.
We have many Moms for you to choose from. How about our newest Mom, Freya the black sheep, who kept her impending motherhood a secret from us when she arrived, and then delivered two perfect little lambs in the pasture. Or Angelina the turkey, who wanted to be a mother so badly that she hid her nest where no one would find it?
Purchase your sponsorship by May 4th to ensure arrival by Mother’s Day. If received after, your Mom will receive an e-sponsor certificate on Mother’s Day with a full package to follow.
Your sponsorship not only is a great gift for Mother’s Day, but will also help care for the animals at SASHA Farm. Our residents are ambassadors to help bring awareness to the plight of farmed animals, and to our sanctuary and its necessary work for farmed animals in need. Not only will your sponsorship help care for the Mom you sponsor, but it will help us help other farm animal moms and their babies all year! How proud will your Mom be when she gets a farm animal as a present?
Here are some other farm moms:
Isadora is our lovely dark red donkey rescued from the land clearings out west. She was really lucky when someone purchased her from an auction and brought her to the farm. Isadora brought a hidden Thank You gift. We shortly welcomed little Ella Grey.
Cocoa, a little brown goat, was found in a kill pen at a livestock auction where she was destined to be sold for meat. She was rescued by a kind woman who didn’t know that while in that kill pen, she’d conceived two adorable kids. Kip and Napoleon(that’s him above with Cocoa) live here at SASHA Farm with their mom, who still watches out for them despite them being twice her size.
Lash is one of our pretty little red and white cows, arrived at SASHA Farm with a surprise in store for us too! On the Halloween after her arrival, she delivered one very cute little boy calf. Ferdinand will be seven this year.
These moms and so many other animals would love to sponsored! We would like to wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day!
Please remember, purchase your sponsorship by May 4th to ensure arrival by Mother’s Day. If received after, your Mom will receive an e-sponsor certificate on Mother’s Day with a full package to follow.
Published by Amanda on April 25th, 2009 | Filed under Around the Farm, Announcements and Events | Comment now »
Pre-Easter Surprise!
Remember the three baaaad sheep who arrived just a couple of weeks ago? They’ve turned out to be a really fun bunch of sheep. They’re outgoing, always looking for a treat or a thigh to ram their heads into, and they just have so much personality. Most sheep just don’t share that side of themselves with us lowly humans.
A funny thing happened with those three crazy kids yesterday morning. They multiplied! One minute there were three, and next, there were five!
Kidding aside, we had no idea there was even the slightest chance that Freya, the female in the group, might be pregnant. Monte was walking by the pasture and just happened to notice that she suddenly had twelve legs instead four. We so rarely have babies here at the sanctuary, let alone births!
So here they are, our little day old lambs, just in time for Easter. One boy, one girl, both adorable and healthy. (So healthy that they won’t stand still long enough to get great pictures. Someone was moving in every one I took!)
Published by Amanda on April 10th, 2009 | Filed under Around the Farm, New Arrivals | 16 Comments »
SASHA Farm and the Humane Society of Huron Valley Partner to Save Starving Cows
We welcomed five new cows to SASHA Farm last week. Because HSHV is still investigating this case and we don’t want to hinder prosecution, we can’t share more of their story with you right now than the press release that follows these pictures. We know the five cows, including a beautiful young orphaned calf, will thrive here at the sanctuary.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
734.661.3518
Date: April 13, 2009
A Humane Society of Huron Investigation Leads to Warrant in the Death of Cows in Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor, MI. A call from a concerned citizen passing a farm field in
Dexter led to the Humane Society of Huron Valley’s (HSHV) investigation of
animal cruelty. HSHV animal cruelty investigator’s Matt Schaecher and
Julie Curtis responded to the tip and immediately found six deceased cows
scattered around the pasture and barn area. “We knew the situation was
bad,” said Matt Schaecher. “The pasture was mostly mud, no hay or
vegetation was present. Our main concern became for the lives of the other
five cows and one calf that also appeared to be in very poor condition.”
The owner of the cattle said he believed that the cows died from some
illness but he was not financially able to pay for any veterinary care so
did not call for medical assistance. HSHV did call in a large animal
veterinarian but he was unable to determine the exact cause of death
because the bodies were in such poor condition. The remaining cows were in
horrible shape. It appears they had been suffering over a long period of
time and were basically skin and bones.
“It took a couple of days for us to get the cows turned over to HSHV
because the owner refused to cooperate at first,” stated Julie Curtis of
HSHV. “Tragically, during that time, the mother of the calf died. When we
got to the scene the calf was huddled next to her downed mother. Some
people joke about this case because it involved agricultural animals. But
cows, like any other animal, have feelings and do suffer. There is no
excuse for this kind of treatment. We understand that people are having
financial trouble in these tough economic times, but a phone call for help
could have spared the suffering of these poor cows. If you find yourself
unable to care for your livestock or pets, please call HSHV and allow us
look for an answer together.”
“We are indebted to Sasha Farm for their help and expertise in this case.
They helped transport the cows and are now providing them with the care
they need to thrive. They are a wonderful community resource for rescued
farm animals”, said Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV Executive Director.
If you would to help pay for their care, please go to www.Sashafarm.org to
make a donation.
The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is an independent 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization serving all of Washtenaw County and beyond, and
relies solely on donations from businesses and individuals in our
community. The mission of HSHV is to promote responsible and compassionate
care of all animals in our community. For more information, call (734)
662-5585 or visit www.hshv.org<http://www.hshv.
###
Published by Amanda on April 10th, 2009 | Filed under Farm Animals in the News, New Arrivals | 1 Comment »
Banquet ticket deadline is approaching!
This is just a quick note to remind everyone that the 7th Annual Benefit Banquet and Silent Auction is next Saturday, April 18th, and the ticket deadline is Monday, April 13th.
The meal will be fabulous, the desserts divine, and the guest speaker amazing. I’ve seen many of the items up for bid at the silent auction this year, and you won’t want to miss them.
Published by Amanda on April 8th, 2009 | Filed under Announcements and Events | 1 Comment »
Welcome, new little horses and goats!
This past weekend was a busy one here at SASHA Farm. Saturday, we welcomed three new mini horses and their two goat friends. These little cuties come to us from a family in Illinois who was doing some rescue work of their own, but didn’t have the resources necessary to continue on.
The littlest is a miniature pony named Tinkerbelle. At two years old, she stands about 20 inches tall at the shoulder. That’s a tiny horse! Her original family neglected her care terribly, and when she came to the attention of the people who brought her to us, her hooves were so overgrown that her legs had bent, and she was walking on the sides of her ankles. After crippling her through their neglect, they decided to shoot her. Luckily, a caring person found out about her situation and was able to rescue her. Poor Tinkerbelle has been through many months of rehabilitation and still has quite a bit to do before she’s walking normally, but with the help of our excellent farrier, we’re optimistic that she’ll make a complete recovery.
The other two are larger mini horses, still small by equine standards. Both were victims of neglect themselves, though to a lesser extent than Tinkerbelle. One is a mellow gelding, and the other is a spunky mare. There is a good chance the mare is carrying a foal, so we’re all eagerly waiting to find out if there will be a rare SASHA Farm birth in fall.
The goats, Edward and Jacob, are older boys who came as companions to the horses. They are extremely friendly, very flexible, and they’ve asked me to ask you to bring goat treats with you next time you visit.
Many thanks to Wayne Maki Photography for the pictures. Goats and horses are not cooperative subjects!
Published by Amanda on April 4th, 2009 | Filed under New Arrivals | 5 Comments »
Baaaaaad Sheep!
SASHA Farm welcomed three new Shetland sheep to the herd this week! They are a family group, a mother, father and their grown son. Unlike so many of the animals here at the sanctuary, these three don’t come with a very sad story. No one hurt or abused them; in fact, they were the abusers!
The two boys are, to put in mildly, a little assertive. They challenge everyone that comes into their enclosure by rearing up and butting. I’m sure you can imagine that this behavior did not endear them to the children in their last home.
It is our hope that joining a bigger herd in a larger pasture will calm them down a bit, or at least that our more passive sheep will have a positive influence on them. In the meantime, well, it’s a good thing they’re small.
