Herd & Flock Animal Sanctuary

28/11/2025

Wild turkeys on Thanksgiving!

26/11/2025

Next Tuesday, December 2, is Giving Tuesday—a global day devoted not to shopping, but to giving back. It’s a movement built on generosity, compassion, and community. And here at Herd and Flock, those values shape every single day of our work.

We helped in the rescue of 77 more animals this year—rabbits trembling in carriers, chickens who had never felt grass, goats who needed a temporary landing spot, ducklings who had nowhere else to go. Seventy beings who arrived frightened and left knowing safety. And every single day, we keep showing up for the more than 135 residents who already call this place home.

Among them are two souls who are weighing heavily on us this holiday: Shelby and Han.

Shelby’s story:

Shelby was a beloved attraction when she was a tiny baby at a petting zoo. But the moment she grew up and lost that “cute baby” novelty, everything changed. She and twelve other goats were abandoned in a field—no food, no compassion, no reason except that they were no longer profitable.

By the time she was rescued, she was close to starvation.

Today, Shelby is finally safe. She has three of her surviving friends beside her. She has shelter, steady meals, and gentle hands brushing her face.

And yet the universe has handed her another cruel challenge:

A uterine mass, possibly too advanced to remove. She will have surgery at UC Davis to determine whether it is operable. If not, she will live the rest of her days with us. After all she survived, she deserves every possible moment of love.

Han's story:

Han is a lovable gentle giant. He was born at a dairy in Oregon, a male calf with retracted tendons, the dairy owner took pity on him and took him to a sanctuary, where his legs were exercised every day for months until he was able to stand and walk.

Since then, he has lived for years here at Herd and Flock with best friends Finn and Rocky.

But now he is facing a new challenge. Somehow, Han has been injured, and he’s avoiding putting weight on his back left leg. There’s a sharp popping sound when he walks. If he becomes unable to stand up from lying down, that could be it for him. We will take him to UC Davis for diagnosis and treatment, and we are holding out hope for the best possible outcome.

This is a less visible part of sanctuary life—the inevitable heartbreak of losing beloved animals.

And as we look toward Giving Tuesday on December 2, we are reminded of what this movement truly means: choosing compassion in a world that desperately needs it. Choosing to give instead of consume. Choosing to lift up the vulnerable and protect the voiceless.

Thank you for your support! xx Meghan and Katie

15/11/2025

Join us at the San Leandro marina thanksgiving morning to support snowflake and others!

15/11/2025

13/11/2025

Our goat Brownie is facing surgery for a uterine mass, but we're optimistic about her recovery. Brownie's journey to H&F began in a community garden in Oakland, where she and her daughter Marshmallow were part of a group of goats living in tough conditions (piles of wood, trash, exposure to rain). Thanks to the kindness of neighbors, we were able to welcome them to our farm, where Brownie has thrived, becoming a quiet leader in our goat herd.

Can you help us pay for Brownie’s life saving surgery?

12/11/2025

Tofurkey Trot | Thanksgiving Day | San Leandro Marina | 5K run/walk or 1mi walk |proceeds go to Herd and Flock Animal Sanctuary so enjoy some fresh air and sunshine for a cause

10/11/2025

Rocky wants that mulberry leaf!

04/11/2025

01/11/2025

Our new co-manager Keelin giving some quiet love to Snowflake (and Snowflake's mom trying to get in on some of that).

01/11/2025

Just another day of the cows loving on each other!

29/10/2025

🎮🐮 Our steers Han Solo, Finn, Rocky, and our beloved Tony (forever in our hearts ❤️) star in the new game Riddle Ranch from Clorofil!

We loved Isabelle’s first game Rescued, and this one is just as fun — filled with puzzles, teamwork, and animal rescue themes.

Come play it with us at SF World Vegan Fest this Saturday, Nov 1, where Clorofil will be joining us at the Herd & Flock table! 🌿

👉 Learn more: www.clorofil.org/riddleranch
👉 Event info: www.sfvs.org/events-details/worldveganfest

Clorofil

29/10/2025

Sign up for the Tofurkey Trot in San Leandro, CA!
https://raceroster.com/events/2025/108804/the-animal-run-5k-tofurkey-trot
A great way to spend Thanksgiving morning helping animals.