Old McDarling's Farm Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc.

03/01/2025

We all share snackies here but teaching Sana to be patient and allow the goats to eat alongside her, be it food or treats, is important. Tonight went well. ❤️

02/20/2025

We have good days, and we have bad days. Today was a tough one for us here at the sanctuary. Our now most senior resident, Junius (Juni) has left this plane and has transitioned onto the next.

Juni arrived here from a loving home, where they simply found themselves no longer able to care for him. He had lost his friend and was alone and they knew he needed a soft place to land. He was scared and skittish, and though he was never our most social goat, he loved his friends and his snackies.

Our boy had struggled a bit with the cold winter weather and I found him down today, hypothermic and in bad shape. I immediately called our amazing vet and she headed down. Even after being covered in a heated blanket, we couldn’t get Juni’s temp to even register on the thermometer. He was showing neurological symptoms which could be a sign of many things (listeriosis, polio, or simply hypoglycemia from stress and using energy to try to get up). After a thorough assessment, taking into account his age and his prior struggles, we determined that the most dignified thing would be to let him go so he could be whole and free again.

Our LGD (livestock guardian dog) in training, Sana, showed promise today. She’s young and is still learning her place and her job. She didn’t let us down. As you can see, she stayed by Juni’s side in the kitchen, watching over him to ensure he was never alone. I am so proud of her and I know that Juni felt her presence.

I will be transporting our old boy to Pawsitive Passage tomorrow, where he will be cremated. If you feel it in your heart to give a little something to help us with this additional expense, it’s appreciated, as always. If not, it’s okay, simply send some thoughts, prayers - whatever you do - to his friends here and to give him the send off he deserves.

Run free, my boy. You’re whole now and I know that Gilly has found you already and is showing you the ropes. Safe travels, mama loves you ❤️

Venmo:
PayPal: [email protected]
Website: www.oldmcdarlingsfarm.org/donate

02/02/2025

I’d like to ask each one of you to send some extra love and support this evening to one of our BIGGEST supporters, Denise. She had to make the difficult decision to let her best boy, Bentley, go this weekend and she is struggling. Denise supports so many and her heart is universe big. She checks in on the people here and always has a good thought for anyone that’s struggling.

Bentley, I hope Gilly and the others are leading you to all the happy places over the bridge, he’ll take good care of you.

Denise, we love you and we are holding you tight as you navigate this difficult journey. Love from all of us here at the sanctuary. ❤️

01/27/2025

For those who don’t know, routine is everything for livestock. Especially Skye. In my earlier post, I mentioned how I had to unexpectedly bring Frog and his bestie, Toad, onto the porch. My quickest option was Skye’s pen. When she lost her s**t, I brought her into the house. But that wasn’t her pen. She let me know her displeasure 😂. Don’t worry, she’s content now in her old pen and is happily sleeping now but oof, it’s been a night lol

01/27/2025

It’s been a night. I was doing last chores and little Frog (front) got knocked down and was having trouble righting himself. I immediately grabbed him (which I normally can’t do) and immediately checked his famacha (eyelid color) and he was pale. Explains the weakness to get up.

I brought him up to the porch into Skye’s pen to get him contained and did a once over. Given the cold weather and his history, we started a deworming protocol, along with supplements and vitamins. I was able to grab his bestie, Toad, and bring him up too, so that neither were more stressed than they needed to be.

Except we have one more problem. Skye. This is HER spot. And she is NOT happy.

She lost her s**t. Massive meltdown. So she’s inside in her old pen and is finally settled too.

Calgon, take me away 😂

01/26/2025

Hard to believe that one year ago, when Rhenn arrived here at the sanctuary, we would be where we are today.

A feisty little wee one, and a true fighter. She arrived with a bad case of orf (sore mouth) and terrible pinkeye that had done enough damage that we weren’t sure it could be reversed.

Well look at her now! Though she’s got a few hazy spots on her eyes, simply from the length of time she was left without treatment before coming to us, she can see, she is happy, she is healthy and she adores her friends outside.

This is just one of the reasons why we do what we do and why you play such an important role here. Because of each and every one of you, Rhenny and friends like her, can get the care they need.

From Rhenny and all the rest of us here, thank you!! We love you! ❤️❤️

01/23/2025

EDIT AGAIN: Rescue coordinator from shelter is able to meet someone on Friday (tomorrow) or Saturday between 3-4 in Glen Burnie. Anyone available to meet her either day and bring down or even meet me in Prince Frederick?

EDIT: Can meet halfway between for a transport if that's easier.

Hey friends! Anyone from Fallston, MD area or anyone going that direction and coming back down this way?

Looking for transport of a rooster from the Harford County Shelter to our Sanctuary in Lusby.

01/17/2025

It was a beautiful, sunny but chilly day here. I didn’t get all the faces but loved seeing them out enjoying the not so windy weather.

01/16/2025

Horsmon Farm, thank you for sharing your scary experience. We are so glad to hear things are turning around. Thank you for caring so deeply for your animals ❤️

01/06/2025

It’s our first significant snowfall in the last couple of years and none of us are enjoying it lol

01/06/2025

UPDATE: She went outside!!!

Little miss princess, Skye, has still not transitioned from the porch to the yard. She is in the yard during the day, but when the sun goes down, she thinks she’ll turn into a pumpkin lol. So, on the porch it is. The snow tomorrow should be interesting.

Bets are on - will she go outside or will she stay on the porch? What say you?

01/04/2025

Getting ready for what could be a decent winter storm for us here, the first in several years, is no easy feat. Garbage dumped at convenience center. Heated buckets are out, extra nozzle for the heated hose, chicken coops cleaned and bedded. Not bothering with the barns because they’re full of hay so I’m leaving it be this time around. Skye’s pen on the porch now has a heated waterer cause even up here, with shelter and it being off the ground, the water freezes quickly. Feed run done this morning, followed by a pit stop cause my battery died at tractor supply so got a jump and headed to the dealer for a battery change out. Heated waterer on the front porch for the raccoons and opossums who visit at night and hay ready. I’m tired and having a beer lol

01/02/2025

Today was a peaceful transition across the bridge for our old girl, Nana. Her mind was intact but her body simply wasn’t cooperating anymore and she was tired. With the cold temps coming in, we didn’t want to take the chance of her having a mishap and instead, let her go out with dignity, just as she deserved.

Rest easy, sweet girl, you’re whole again. I hope Gilly met you to bring you to the rest of our herd and to all the new friends he’s made in that special place.

I’ll miss your beautiful face. Mama loves you ❤️

01/02/2025

Y’all! A lovely friend and supporter owns this shop and this month, she has generously offer a portion of the monthly sales proceeds to come right back to us!!

Please check out her shop, you won’t be disappointed!!

MimiB's Treasures indoor shop in Lusby, MD is a combination thrift and gift store, a re-sell shop with new and pre-enjoyed items, vintage and unique treasures. We have a large selection of costume...

01/02/2025

Tomorrow starts the new year off with a somber beginning. We will say goodbye to our oldest Matriarch, Nana.

Nana arrived here in February of 2024 and her life prior to joining us was not a good one. When she arrived, she was terrified, afraid of people and hands and we estimated her age to be close to 16. Arthritis had already reared its ugly head and she had some difficulty walking but it didn’t stop her. She was introduced to the angoras, who quickly took her into their family and under their wing. It took a little bit of time but she quickly learned that not all hands would hurt her but that they brought good things and much love.

Nana has declined over the last 3 months. Last week, I found Nana down. She’d either lost her footing or had been knocked down. I quickly carried her to her stall, where the angoras gathered to make sure she was okay. They didn’t leave her side. She could stand if I helped her but not for long. Since that day, I have gotten her up several times a day to stretch and to drink water. She is eating and drinking but can no longer navigate on her own.

There are no easy decisions running a sanctuary. But I let every person speak to me. She’s told me she’s tired. I see it in her face and when we sit together, she simply leans into me as though she needs that extra soft place because she’s no longer comfortable. Medicine can only do so much.

The promise I make to every single person who arrives, which is also our mission statement, is that they get to live their lives here with dignity and without pain. I feel strongly about that statement and hold true to my promises. Because of that promise, I want to ensure that she goes on her terms, with dignity and before the pain becomes too much.

Tomorrow is her freedom day. The day that she gets to hold her head high and be released from the mess of a body she’s in. She will go painlessly and will be free to run in her new body. Gilly will be waiting for her, along with all the others who have gone before her, letting her know it’s okay.

Please think of Nana as we navigate this next chapter in her life. Her life was and is special and should be celebrated. Help me celebrate how beautiful she truly is. ❤️

01/01/2025

As I reflect on this year 2024, I have much to be thankful for.

Wonderful supporters like you, amazing people who both entrust me and our rescue with the special beings who become a part of the family we have here, and all the people who reside here at the Sanctuary.

This year has been a year of ups and downs. We have gained beautiful people and we have also lost them. It’s the blessing & the curse of running a sanctuary. It breaks your heart yet it in some way makes the heart stronger. The fact is, the people who arrive here come mostly from less than stellar circumstances. They didn’t get to choose their path, but we take our mission statement seriously, allowing them all to live out the rest of their lives with dignity and without pain.

Your support has been uplifting and helps us realize that we can continue. We will continue. Looking into the year 2025, we have some goals. We hope to reach those goals and we hope you’ll stick around to help us, support us, donate, so that you can see those goals come to life WITH us, not just FOR us. Because if it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be. For that, we…I…will forever be eternally grateful to each and every one of you.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. For watching us grow, healing our hearts when they break and rejoicing in the accomplishments and wins we share together.

We love you. We appreciate you always and here’s to a year that’s even better than the one that is quickly coming to an end.

Happy New Year, friends. 🥳

12/29/2024

Y’all remember Chicken Nubbie, the one legged chicken that survived not only the hurricane in the south but also getting her leg taken off by a predator? Guess what, y’all! She’s doing AMAZING and has now laid three eggs in the last 4 days!!

This girl loves to purr, she loves to cuddle and she is living a happy life (currently) in the house. She’s inside because prior to coming to us, she had been inside recovering from her wounds so the transition to the cold wouldn’t be good for her now. So, she is warm and content here with me and her friends and will transition full time in the spring. In the meantime, LOOK AT HER CUTENESS!!! Oh, and her most adorable little eggs ❤️❤️