Sunshine Farm

01/15/2025

Look at that sweet smile! Fynn and Tom (can u see the turkey hiding) want to say Happy Hump Day. Fynn is going to hang out with me in the office for a bit today. Stay tuned to see how he does!!

01/15/2025

For all of you that don't know Stewy. Stewy was hit by a car as a little piglet. We didn't know if he would wake up or ever be able to walk again. He remained asleep for 2 days. We had the vet come out and give him fluids and a steroid injection. Soon after Stewy was standing but only turned in circles to the right. Which means neurologically something was off. Over time..we taught Stewy how to walk straight again. With patience and lots of love he started to heal from his injuries. Today he is a happy and healthy 175 lb pig dog. See Stewy is an American Guinea Hog who will most likely weigh around 300 lbs by age 3. American Guinea Hogs are slow growers. Of course none of our animals are eaten and are all pets here. Stewy has lived inside due to his special needs. He is a big slower than the other pigs, still requires steroid injections here and there when he can't walk, and still turns in circles. He will always be our special pig. Stewy lives his best life. He cannot be inside unattended ( I wouldn't recommend any pig being left alone inside your home) he gets into so much trouble and gets into things. Pigs are smart and need a routine. So no matter how cold .Stewy will b outside everyday during the day so he can explore. If it's really cold he goes into the barn or if I'm working from home he goes into the office with me. Pigs make amazing pets and are extremely lovable. Although Stewy is not available for adoption we have many adult pigs that are looking for their forever homes. Consider adopting one of our sweet pigs. Because I'm completely obsessed with pigs...I can teach you all about them. Please consider adopting. If you are interested... message us and come out to take a look at who is available.

01/14/2025

We are truly blessed. We love our farm rescue. ❤️
Looking for something to do...come and volunteer!!!

01/11/2025

We have had a busy few weeks over here at the farm. My co-workers are getting used to the new routine of me working from home again (some times I am at the agency). Most of them are pretty excited about it, while others are wondering why I am here to supervise them ( Molly tries sneaking upstairs and climbing into our bed daily). Thank you all for being patient, as there have not been as many pictures or posts from us. Everyone is doing well and staying warm. The winter months are always the months that are a lot of work. Trying to keep the waters from freezing and making sure the animals don't unplug the water heaters...or get to the extension cords. Extra straw and food to keep everyone warm and of course lots of snuggles for all. We bundle up and go about caring for all and anxiously await spring to come again. But until then we enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. Pictures to come..stay tuned!!!!

01/04/2025

It was Rex's least favorite day....time for a hoof trim. He broke his halter trying to get away. Finally with some coaxing...he allowed her to tend to them. Thank you Jessica Mackenzie for loving on him even when he doesn't love you back!!! ❤️

01/01/2025

Some of our friends may have stayed up a bit late last night bringing in the new year!!!
#2025

01/01/2025

2024 was quite the year!!! From doing fun events in the community, to a pregnant sow that delivered 12 hours after we met her (delivering piglets is quite amazing and an experience I won't ever forget). It is never a dull moment over here on any given day. To the numerous animals that we had surrendered to us and for the ones that we found forever farm homes for. To the precious animals that passed in our care your memories will be forever in our hearts. For the amazing donations that help us do what we do we are extremely grateful and continue to be blown away by your love and support. For the volunteers that spend endless hours doing the yucky stuff without complaints and of course loving on our animals. For the special friends that come and visit and work on the farm, your smiles brighten our days. For the businesses that allow us to have events at their location. For the delivery farm guys that bring us our hay when we are in a pinch. For the amazing farrier that travels to our home to give the animals a day of pampering. For our family that supports us in what we do and helps us when we are in need. For our family and friends that understand when we have to cancel plans or trips due to a farm emergency. To the community for helping to continue to support us in what we do. For our veterinarian that texts us back or pops over even on his vacation. Last but not least we are so thankful for the beautiful lives that have come into our home. The love these animals give us is far more than we can ever do in return and for that we are extremely grateful for. We are so extremely blessed and thankful for everyone's continued support and love that helps us continue to keep doing what we do. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We know 2025 will look different for us and we have accepted that. We will continue to help animals just on a smaller scale. We will have more of the special needs community visiting our farm come spring and that makes us extremely happy for our furry friends here. So many updates to come as we figure out what we will be doing with our money that was donated.
Happy New Year's friends!!!
Jay and Mandy Dutter

12/28/2024

We have some happy happy animals over here today!!! We are completely blown away by a beautiful donation that was made to our rescue this am. With these funds we are going to be able to do so much for our animals here. We are so extremely blessed and absolutely blown away by this couples generosity. I typically do not look at donations when we get them until individuals leave, but they encouraged us to look at the check and I started crying. Of course happy tears because we have been needing to add so many renovations to the rescue and now we can. We don't ask for donations and all of the upkeep, care, feed etc comes out of our own paychecks. We just don't feel right asking. So when we do get donations.....we are so extremely thankful for them. Stay tuned as we sit down to discuss what we will be doing with the funds. We are overwhelmed by these individuals generosity. Our animals will benefit tremendously from this!!! We are so freaking excited!!!!!
Jay and Mandy Dutter
Sunshine Farm Rescue

12/25/2024

Ms. Bella is getting some Christmas morning snuggles. 🎄 ❤️

12/24/2024

Merry Christmas Eve from all of us here at Sunshine Farm Rescue and Sanctuary. Some were not so pleased about spreading Christmas cheer but others made up for the ones that thought it was complete nonsense.

12/16/2024

Looking to borrow/rent a livestock trailer for 2 horses. Any leads appreciated.

12/15/2024

So so so true!!!!! 🐖 🐴 🐐 🦃 🦚 🐔 🐑

Rescue work doesn’t make you stronger.

It doesn’t MAKE you anything.

It reveals you.

“Well that didn’t go as planned,” is one thing you’ll say (probably with a few expletives thrown in) quite a bit. A lot in fact. In fact it’s hardly worth planning anything. Most things go t**s up. So it’s better to just take each day as it comes and fly by the seat of your pants, happy pants of course!

Control is a mere illusion... The thought that you have any, at any given time, is utterly false. One minute you’re calmly feeding a cow the next minute you’re chasing a pig down the lane. Your entire day can derail within ten seconds of the rising sun.

Sometimes sleep is a luxury... So are lunch and dinner. Oh and breakfast and brushing your hair. Odd socks are quite common too (or maybe that’s just me..)

You find muscles that you never knew existed from trying to stop an overly full wheelbarrow of horse p**p from tipping over. Or from trying to wade through 2ft deep mud without losing a welly.

Injuries become a regular daily occurrence and you find bruises which you have no idea where they come from, in random shapes and strange places.. you get used to saying “oh that’s a cockerel peck,” and “that’s a pig bite..” as if it’s as common as a paper cut. I’ve had black eyes from emus and toenails removed by cows.. but I expect the best are yet to come..

And it’s when one of theses animals is ill, you’ll go to heroic lengths to minimise their discomfort. Their needs come first. Above your own, above your partners, above your friends and family.. they have to. That’s what rescue is.

In summer heatwaves and on bitterly cold winter days - come rain, shine or snow - clean water, clean bed and plenty of feed. Before you have your first meal, they all eat. Standard.

They become your friends. You talk to them and they talk to you, just not out loud. They see you in all your “hedge backwards” hair glory, morning eye bags and evening mud packs and there’s still no judgement. Just love and appreciation for you saving them.

When you lose one of them, even though you know that day is inevitable, you still feel sadness, angst and emotional pain from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. And it’s a heaviness that lingers even though you must regroup and press on.

You’ll remain present no matter what because you must. There is no other option.
You’ll ask for so many miracles and hold out hope until the very last.

You cry a lot. You’ll laugh a lot. And you’ll need some really good soap!

You will, at least once, face-plant in the p**p pile and peeing outside just becomes the norm. When you gotta go, you gotta go - even if you are at the top of the sheep hill!

You’re always on sunset clock, knowing what time it gets dark and what time the chickens need to be put to bed. The earliness of this becomes a great advantage of the winter season.. probably the only advantage of the winter season.

You’ll become weirdly obsessive about the weather. And quite fearful of the wind. When it’s sunny you’re in the best mood because you can see the animals enjoying it.

You friends think you’re nutty but they love your craziness and big heart. And they know you’re always late for everything, with stories like, “sorry I’m late, I found a stray cat on the way..”

You’ll go out in public (which is usually only as far as the supermarket or animal feed shop) wearing dirty clothes, muddy boots and probably smelling of p**p. (Any dogs you meet have their noses superglued to your trousers, addicted to the smell of 500 different types of animal and animal p**p on you.) Muddy boots just become an extended part of your being. And wellies! You get excited about wellies! You’re envious of other people wellies, you’re proud of your own wellies, you’re devastated when your favourite pair get a hole in. Wellies are your life.

You can wash your clothes. They won’t look any cleaner, but they will probably smell nicer. As for your vehicle - it’s most likely a 4x4 or pick up and most likely has an interior lavishly decorated with straw and an exterior that resembles a mud hut on wheels. There’s no point washing that one.

But for all the mud in your life there’s an awful lot of love. And it’s the best type - unconditional love. For every tear in your eye, there’s a thank you in theirs. And that’s why you do what you do.

Rescue is hard - hard on the body, mind and hands! Heavy on the heart, but heavy with reward.

So should you ever have the opportunity to work or volunteer at a rescue or sanctuary, take the chance! You will never do anything more satisfying in your entire life.

Rescue doesn’t make you anything.

Rescue makes you.
- Pants Ranch animal sanctuary & rescue

12/14/2024

Here we are with two of our favorite volunteers that help at the rescue. They popped by to see what Santa Paws was all about and to say hello!!!!! We are so thankful for all they do here. And let's not forget Milo who happens to be the most perfect dog ever!!!!! One of my coworkers adopted him from the Humane Society and he is just perfect. He suffers from severe anxiety but now has the most perfect family and adores his human mom.

12/12/2024

Thank you to everyone who came out to support Sunshine Farm! Pictures are available for pickup, and will be posted by the weekend. Please be extra careful when driving today and tomorrow!

12/12/2024

We are beyond blessed and supported by our community. Such kind words! We feel that the animals that we have rescued have done so much more than we could ever do for them. They have enriched our life's and brought us so much joy, more than we could have ever imagined. And we are so thankful for them daily and we are so thankful for you all too. Thank you everyone for your continued support always. 🐖

12/11/2024

For those that came to Santa Paws and had your doggies picture taken, you can pick your pictures up at Hastings library Thursday - Saturday of this week!

12/09/2024

We absolutely love all the yummy donations!!!!!! Our animals appreciate it even more!

12/09/2024

We want to send a huge shout out to Green Street Unleashed and everyone that stopped out on Saturday and showed their support for Sunshine Farm Rescue and The Humane Society Food Pantry! We received $3,000 that we are completely blown away by!!!! We honestly did not expect this and loved being a part of Santa Paws on Saturday and meeting everyone and their adorable 4 legged kids!!! We are so appreciative of your continued love and support of what we do. We will be using the funds to pay a vet bill, provide next months feed, and fixing the roof and siding on one of our pig shelters. Saving the best for last we want to say how extremely thankful we are for Linda's huge heart. Linda has been spreading joy and love to local community partners for 10 years. She is a retired veterinarian but she hasn't truly retired. What a blessing she is to our community and continues to be. Each year she chooses an organization to donate to. What an amazing person she is! Thank you for picking us a tiny little rescue in the community and thank you for being an inspiration to many. We are so extremely blessed in many ways. Hugs to you all. You are simply the best!!!!!