Nigel's Sanctuary

30/08/2024

lol 😂 Fergus

29/08/2024

This gorgeous little boy was rescued by Lamb Care Australia and came here for treatment and rehabilitation (what’s one more when I already had four inside?) 😂
Douglas’ little body was riddled with Joint Ill. An infection that travels up through the umbilical cord when a lamb is often born on muddy infected grounds. After it enters their body it travels to the joints in their legs and in severe cases their spines. It’s extremely painful and debilitating.

Douglas was unable to stand, his legs so badly infected he couldn’t support his own weight.
Once antibiotics were started, gradually (day by day) he gained strength and the use of his legs and as the infection and pain subsided he moved more and more.
It’s been approximately five weeks and part of his recovery has been spending time with Fergus, Felix, Alice and Olive. They’ve become quite the little bonded family.
As I result, of course I’ve adopted Douglas. Look at that little face. How could I not 😂

I’ll post a video of him being a much happier little lamb in the comments ❤️

29/08/2024

The boys are spending the day out in the shed with Olive, Alice and a couple of other little ones today. They’ll still come inside to sleep at night but they’ll gradually spend more and more time outside now.
They don’t know it yet but they’ll also be dropping their lunch time bottle, going down to three feeds a day as they’re eating grass and hay and drinking water. I’m guessing complaints will be lodged with HR department by 2pm 😂

27/08/2024

Today marks six weeks since I got a call about two lambs rescued by a good samaritan but in need of critical care.
A quick trip of 300kms and Fergus and Felix were home.
Fergus was so weak, weighed 1.8kgs and hypothermic. Felix was a bit stronger and over 3kgs.
I’ve never seen a lamb as small as Fergus. He was half the size of the cats.

Six weeks later we’ve had a few set backs and a couple of vet visits but they are thriving, eating hay, grass and after learning to use those long legs they’re both gambolling with their Dorper sisters 😂

Keeping them alive is such a huge responsibility, the sleepless nights and constant monitoring, bottles, meds and nappy changes. Exploding poos, electrolytes and packets of nappy wipes. All forgotten now when I see how far they’ve come and I cannot wait for them to grow into big, strong, healthy sheep ❤️

26/08/2024

Gorgeous little Olive arrived six weeks ago today.
I had put the call out to a couple of rescues for a Dorper lamb to keep Alice company and it was answered by Olive.
This dear little girl, like all rescue lambs had a traumatic entrance into this world.

Her mum fell very sick. She was taken to the vet and her twins were born by cesarean. Unfortunately Olive’s mum and sibling both passed away that day, leaving her orphaned.
As luck would have it (again) there was a tiny little Dorper here needing a friend.

They bonded instantly and are inseparable, both absolute mischief makers who make me smile with their antics and acrobatics 😂
You’re a ray of sunshine little girl ❤️

25/08/2024

Just checked in on everyone before the storm. Nigel and Oliver scored a piece of bread 😊

25/08/2024

Absolutely beautiful babies ❤️

24/08/2024

It’s so nice to see Penelope making her own friends and not worrying about her boys so much anymore. When they first arrived she would constantly call them and keep them close (perfectly normal behaviour when you first meet the wooly bandit flock 😂) they were really bonded. Now the boys are busy chasing girls and she’s doing more of her own thing ❤️ but they’re never more than a baaa away 😊

23/08/2024

Exactly six weeks ago I had moved my inside babies out permanently into the shed.
Driving home from the supermarket I was thinking about cleaning the crates, doing all the washing and moving them out of my lounge room.
It wasn’t meant to be 😊
Almost home I received a call about a little Dorper down in a paddock. I diverted to pick up a tiny hypothermic Dorper lamb, Alice.
Weighing in at 2.5kgs with a temp of 36 degrees the crates were destined to stay.
Six weeks later and little Alice now weighs 9.6kgs and has turned into the mischievous little Dorper she was destined to be.

She doesn’t know it, but being on death’s door was the best thing that could have happened to her and in this case she had luck on her side. Lucky she was seen and lucky I got her when I did. 🍀
So many lambs aren’t this lucky.

22/08/2024

Alice and little Fergus. That jumper fit Fergus two days ago. He is growing so fast ❤️

22/08/2024

It’s always awful when you loose a lamb, especially when you know so many more will die alone in paddocks and never make it to you. It really does break your heart every single time 😢

TONIGHT BAWCS shares a heartfelt post from those that are advocates for sheep.

All living beings deserve human kindness and compassion. Sadly when profit is all that industries push for, animals pay the ultimate price. You can make a difference with the choices you make.

Via Sheep Advocate Australia - Victoria Usually we wouldn't post at this time, and maybe not this content, but this is a little window into our raw world.

We are given a sick lamb. Sick for many reasons, unhealthy mother, low birth weight, injury and infection.

As soon as we hold her, we feel her chance is slim to survive. But we try. With no vet available to help after hours, we do all we can to help this girl to live.

But help has come to late, in fact her mother needed help before she was born, and all our attempts fail.

So we hold her close, we tell her she is safe and loved, that it is ok for her to leave this cruel world, we are sorry for all she has endured in her short life.

The sadness looms large, such a small, helpless being we have in our arms and she is slipping away.

At times our task feels so large, so overwhelming. How can people turn a blind eye to her and so many others suffering we ask?
We implore you to see her, she died tonight.

I cried for her, in fact still am. To hold a dying lamb that you cannot help, knowing there are millions like her every year changes you.
This is a tiny peek into the lives we lead as sheep advocates, and although it is not about us humans in reality, it's about the lack of protection for sheep, maybe this human connection can lead others to care more about sheep kind.

Goodbye sweet baby girl.

You were loved, you were important, and you will not be forgotten ❤️
ENDS

If this post upsets you, please consider choices you make every single day that may contribute to this.

via Animals Australia Lambs are freezing because of the demand for their meat and wool. You can help protect gentle, sensitive lambs from suffering by joining the growing number of Australians making kinder choices for animals and the planet we share. Order your free guide to compassionate living https://bit.ly/4avS814

Photo credit Sheep Advocate Australia - Victoria

BAWCS 'caring with compassion'

21/08/2024

Beautiful Mavis and little Elle ❤️

21/08/2024

😂😂😂

20/08/2024

Blue moon rising 🌙

19/08/2024

Fergus and Felix growing like weeds while Alice and Olive are into all sorts of mischief ❤️

13/08/2024

When word gets out that there’s hay 😊

12/08/2024

More lamb shenanigans 😂

09/08/2024

It was an early start before work today, there have been a few escapees getting me into trouble so Nala and I had to put a few star pickets in and patch about 10metres of fencing.
The babies went out for a play and have spent the afternoon in an outdoor enclosure in the sun and the day ended by putting Henry in the shed with the other lambs because, despite fixing the fences today I obviously missed something and Henry was back out by 1pm.
He’s not happy, but I am. He won’t be escaping tonight!
I’ll have to check the whole fence tomorrow 😂 and it looks like the romance between Penelope and Wilbur is going strong. It must be love, Wilbur is sharing his hay ❤️❤️❤️

09/08/2024

The kids are out in the sun today. Fergus is in light green, he’s growing so fast and it’s the first time I’ve really seen Alice and Olive’s markings. They’re both gorgeous ❤️

08/08/2024

Last feeds, (Fergus would like to eat the bottle 😂)The babies are sleeping through the night so I get between now and 6am to myself.
The dogs are in bed, the cats are in front of the fire and the lambs have full bellies. The house is finally quiet 😊 until the lambs wake at 6am anyway 😊

08/08/2024

Gee, I wish I had a night crew 😂

08/08/2024

A last run before bed. Hopefully they’ll sleep till their next feed 😊 Fergus is joining in more. He’s grown so much and getting really strong ❤️

08/08/2024

How many sheep can I get in the back of the Ute (with a bale)?
This many 😂😂😂

04/08/2024

😂 fun in the sun today

02/08/2024

Basil often accompanies me when I’m outside (he’s asleep in front of the fire the other 95% of his day). He really likes the sheep. Some of the sheep like him but Penelope isn’t too sure 😂

01/08/2024

Tiny Fergus has been renamed fat bum Fergus 😂 he’s had a couple of growth spurts, Alice and Olive are monsters in dorper suits 😂 (I adore Dorpers, they are so naughty),
Felix has also had a growth spurt but I think it was only his legs 😂 they are the longest legs I’ve ever seen and Parker is playing the flock, snuggled with CC earlier today and then found him smooching Violet this evening 😂

31/07/2024

31/07/2024

Happy little monsters 😊

30/07/2024

The babies finally got to go for a run outside today. Alice in purple, olive in pink, Fergus in blue and white and Felix in light blue. All growing like weeds now ❤️

29/07/2024

❤️❤️❤️