Ojai pig finds forever home at Paso Robles Loving Farm Animal Sanctuary
Bandit the pig with his new friends at Loving Farm in Paso Robles.
Bandit the pig was picked up after the Thomas Fire
—A pig displaced by fires in Ojai has found respite in Paso Robles thanks to a Southern California animal rights activist and Loving Farm Sanctuary in Paso Robles.
In late 2017, when fires were ravaging California, a stray little piglet got loose and was running the streets of Ojai. He was emaciated, living on his own, and after a while, he was taken to the local animal shelter.
Months later, a generous animal lover and activist, Marci Christmas, made the call to find a forever home for the stray piglet, who was only a few months old.
“For several months we were trying to catch a small pig whose feet were burned, but he always escaped from us,” said Christmas. “Finally, we caught him, although he was not happy about it. But, after all the young girl volunteers fixed him a nice bed and mud bath he was content. Months went by and no one adopted him. After an endless time, Paso Robles’ own Loving Farms came all the way down to get him. We were overjoyed.”
Christmas made a donation of $5,000 for the sanctuary to come and get the pig, and the donation will help not only Bandit but his other friends at the sanctuary, for food, medicine, and hay.
Panda the Steer, the badly burned animal that was set on fire in 2013 during an act of animal cruelty while being housed in a barn at Paso Robles High School, was also helped by Christmas. After being rehabilitated, the animal was still set to be slaughtered and eaten. Christmas didn’t want this to happen. She donated $10,000 to have the steer brought instead to an animal sanctuary in Grass Valley called Animal Place.
About Loving Farm Sanctuary
Loving Farm Sanctuary is situated on 16 acres of golden rolling farmland in Paso Robles. The non-profit is the permanent home to 33 animals that all come from different backgrounds, most of them abused and neglected. With a mission to create awareness, and educate the public, Loving Farm Animal Sanctuary brings a spotlight on the billions of underloved animals facing abuse, neglect and much worse.
Bandit relaxing in a pool at Loving Farm Animal Sanctuary in Paso Robles.
From school field trips to fundraisers and dinners, their mission is to provide education and outreach programs which will help to support their mission.
“We want to influence change towards the compassionate treatment of sentient beings, and hope to raise environmental awareness of animal agriculture,” Founder Tracey Soucey shared. “I’ve been a vegetarian for 35 years, and vegan for 5 years. I’ve always rescued animals, since a child, and my husband and I have been rescuing horses, dogs, cats, and in 2014 started rescuing pigs and battery hen chickens and sheep. My husband Bill and I have lived in 7 states in 9 years and came back to our roots in California, with all animals in tow. Moving is not an acceptable reason to give up an animal, nobody is left behind. We are here to work with the community, our mission is to show these animals as ambassadors, that are to be safe, loved and protected from exploitation. When we take on a life into our sanctuary, they are important individuals, and we recognize them as such.”
Loving Farm Sanctuary provides a safe, loving home which respects to the animal’s safety and community. The now healthy and happy residents can freely live out their natural lives, unafraid of being exploited.
The sanctuary was opened in South Carolina and moved to Paso Robles in November of 2017. It is privately owned and operated, running solely on donations. For more information visit www.lovingfarm.org.
Loving Farm Animal Sanctuary is located at 6060 Vista Del Paso, in Paso Robles. Visits are by appointment only, email tracey@lovingfarm.org for more info.
Comments
