Alcheringa Sanctuary

24/06/2025

I feel I've interrupted a private conversation. Perhaps Marie is explaining her hairstyling process to Ingrid?

23/06/2025

A gentle scene of survivors. L-R:
Tilly, who recently survived a cut to an artery that would have been fatal had she been on a farm.
Gracie, who will never experience having babies who are then stolen from her to be eaten by humans.
Freckles, who rescued herself and her baby boy (Smudge) by escaping human exploitation and finding a home with us here.
Holly, who similarly rescued herself and her baby girl (Lily) form human exploitation.

22/06/2025

Marie is always the last of the donkeys to lose her winter coat. We could probably brush her all day long at this time of year, the hair is coming out so fast! This morning we got out what we could before she lost patience, after which she immediately went and rolled in dirt, as is her wont.

21/06/2025

It's far too hot for me at present, and I'm not wearing a wool coat. We are therefore very relieved that the sheep are now shorn. It is becoming increasingly difficult to plan seasonal activities such as shearing, as the climate becomes ever more unpredictable due to the human-induced climate crisis. It is easy to despair at the situation, but although many of us feel powerless in the face of such monumental changes, this climate crisis IS human-induced, and therefore each of us can choose to play a role in mitigating it. Following a vegan diet massively reduces your carbon footprint, in terms of both emissions and habitat destruction, as well as reducing water pollution*. Quite simply, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Which will you choose?

*https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/20/vegan-diet-cuts-environmental-damage-climate-heating-emissions-study

20/06/2025

We suspected Tilly's serious arterial cut was done on metal, and our vet agreed based on what the wound looked like. The large covered hay feeder was the most likely culprit, and a close inspection revealed 4 sharp edges like the one in the first photo here, at exactly the height of Till's wound. We have now covered them with a thick layer of wool and heavy-duty silver tape, which should stop anyone from injuring themselves on them in the future. Still can't believe how lucky we were.

20/06/2025

Shearing this year has been a literal life saver in more than the usual way. Last night we brought the main flock up to the donkey barn for the night ahead of the shearing which was booked in for this morning. Tilly arrived with bright red arterial blood streaming down her rear right leg - clearly a wound she had only incurred moments before. When the vet came to stitch it, he confirmed it was an arterial cut and had he not stitched it swiftly, Tilly would have by this morning either bled to death or be in shock from blood loss and unlikely to survive. Thank goodness, in the course of preparing for shearing, we saw the wound very shortly after it was done.

Tilly had good sedation and pain relief throughout the procedure, had a night by herself in a stall and was in fine voice this morning. She, along with all the other sheep, has been sheared now, so will be far more comfortable in the heat. You can see the silver spray which protects the wound toward the end of this video, and if you look closely you can see the stitches. Now that the shearing is out of the way, we will go down and try to find what Tilly injured herself on, and do our best to ensure it doesn't happen again.

We have had a tough year so far at the sanctuary, including wounds, illnesses and deaths among the sheep. Fingers crossed the second half of the year is less challenging. This was a close call. If you can help us at all with our higher than usual vet bills this year, you can do so here:

https://donorbox.org/support-alcheringa-animal-sanctuary-2

19/06/2025

Egg Facts: Your right to know; your responsibility to be vegan.

16/06/2025

"Cormac came within a hair's breadth of losing his life shortly after he was born. His fate would have been that of the hundreds of thousands of unwanted male calves born into the Irish Dairy Industry: live export and slaughter. Most people who consume dairy do so without compunction. Unlike the flesh industry where the fact that an animal has been killed is is undeniable, the dairy industry is able to retain the image of being harmless. Its use of propaganda and the promotion of myths such as dairy being necessary for human health, a 'natural' product, and the notion that dairy cows 'just produce milk' without any concomitant education on the facts of how they, as mammals, only lactate after pregnancy to feed their calves ensure a continued market for dairy products. The industry targets its market at a very young age by offering subsidised or free dairy products to schools along with an 'educational' package that not only omits the facts of the industry but inaccurately portrays it as being beneficial to the environment, humans and animals alike.

If you know someone who might be amenable to learning the facts about dairy production please refer them to the facts on our Go Vegan World website. Buying someone the gift of Sponsorship for Cormac not only assists in the cost of caring for his needs at Eden; it is a valuable education tool about the dairy industry and how one fortunate individual escaped it."

https://edenfarmedanimalsanctuary.com/sponsor-a-resident/
https://goveganworld.com/why-vegan/the-animals-we-use/dairy/

Cormac came within a hair's breadth of losing his life shortly after he was born. His fate would have been that of the hundreds of thousands of unwanted male calves born into the Irish Dairy Industry: live export and slaughter. Most people who consume dairy do so without compunction. Unlike the flesh industry where the fact that an animal has been killed is is undeniable, the dairy industry is able to retain the image of being harmless. Its use of propaganda and the promotion of myths such as dairy being necessary for human health, a 'natural' product, and the notion that dairy cows 'just produce milk' without any concomitant education on the facts of how they, as mammals, only lactate after pregnancy to feed their calves ensure a continued market for dairy products. The industry targets its market at a very young age by offering subsidised or free dairy products to schools along with an 'educational' package that not only omits the facts of the industry but inaccurately portrays it as being beneficial to the environment, humans and animals alike.

If you know someone who might be amenable to learning the facts about dairy production please refer them to the facts on our Go Vegan World website. Buying someone the gift of Sponsorship for Cormac not only assists in the cost of caring for his needs at Eden; it is a valuable education tool about the dairy industry and how one fortunate individual escaped it.

https://edenfarmedanimalsanctuary.com/sponsor-a-resident/cormac/
https://goveganworld.com/why-vegan/the-animals-we-use/dairy/

15/06/2025

Portrait of the happy couple, Snuggles and Eva 💚

12/06/2025

Ingrid and Issy didn't let the rain get them down today. It's almost impossible to believe Ingrid was lame when she came to us. She's so happy now, living her best life, thanks in part to the wonders of modern medicine. We're so happy to be able to support her needs thanks to our generous donors.

10/06/2025

Just because non-vegans are the majority, doesn't mean they're right...

Here's why plant-based & vegan lifestyles are the right thing to do:

Animal agriculture is a leading driver of deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and water use, and is linked to significant emission output. Most animal-derived foods take a heavy toll on the planet, including beef, pork, dairy, lamb, chicken, eggs, and fish.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics confirm that plant-based diets are appropriate for all life cycle stages, and athletes. Furthermore, the academy points out that vegans have a lower risk of certain health conditions and chronic diseases.

It is estimated that around 92 billion land animals are killed for food each year. On top of that, approximately two trillion fish are killed annually.

Animals killed for food suffer immensely. Around 70 percent of farmed animals in the world are factory farmed. This number is 85 percent in the UK, and 99 percent in the USA. Factory farmed animals are crammed together in sheds, kept in cages too small for them to turn around in, and will often never get to see the outside.

All animals, whatever farm they are raised in, did not choose to be there. They are prevented from living a life that’s natural to them, and they are prematurely slaughtered against their will.

10/06/2025

Snuggles (whispering): Eva, do you know why humans say they love animals but then eat them?
Eva: Probably the same reason they buy products tested on animals instead of the cruelty-free options.
Snuggles: Makes no sense.
Eva: And they claim to be the smartest animals on the planet.
Snuggles: Questionable.
Eva: Agreed.