Tai
Tai’s story
In January of 2021, Woodstock Sanctuary responded to a severe neglect case at a farm near Albany. When we arrived, we found animals living in horrifying conditions, locked in small, freezing sheds with no access to water. Tai was rescued with more than 50 farmed animals, including two of her turkey friends, Dionne and Cher.
The site Tai, Cher, and Dionne were rescued from.
Tai with Executive Director Rachel McCrystal
Tai now enjoys her days at Woodstock Sanctuary living with her friends Dionne and Cher. She is social, outgoing, and very sweet. Tai loves to greet anyone who comes by! She also loves to cuddle, and is known to cozy up to visitors and fall asleep.
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Maximus
Maximus’ story
Maximus, nicknamed Max, and his friend Judy were rescued in January 2021 from a horrific neglect case outside Albany, New York. They were kept in a tiny shed, exposed to the harsh winter elements, with only a small amount of straw on the ground to keep them warm. They had no food or water and they were alone. Max was still so young when he was rescued—and we had no idea where his mother was. When Max and Judy came home to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, they were so excited to meet the herd they share their pasture with, like Colin and Woody. Now Max enjoys his days in sanctuary grazing in the fields, being around his best friend Judy, and playing with his new family and herd. He has such a friendly personality and loves walking up to guests when they come to visit on a tour. We can’t wait to watch Max grow up.
Maximus enjoying the pasture in the summer.
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LITA
Lita’s story
In early January 2021, a rescue partner of Woodstock Sanctuary’s became aware of a lamb in need of a home. The lamb had just been born on a meat farm in NJ where his twin brother died shortly after birth from drowning in the mud. While willing to spare the lamb’s life, the farm wanted to keep the lamb’s mother for production. Thankfully, our rescue partner convinced them to liberate both mother and son together. Lita and River will spend the rest of their lives together in sanctuary, a rare opportunity that farmed animals get to experience.
Mother Lita laying her head to rest in the sheep barn.
River and Lita enjoying their pasture before joining the main sheep herd.
Although River is growing up fast, he is never far from his mother’s side. These two can be found grazing together in the big sheep field or cuddling butt-to-butt inside the barn. Lita has blossomed into a very friendly sheep and will often walk up to you asking for scratches.
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RIVER
River’s story
In early January 2021, a rescue partner of Woodstock Sanctuary’s became aware of a lamb in need of a home. The lamb had just been born on a meat farm in NJ where his twin brother died shortly after birth from drowning in the mud. While willing to spare the lamb’s life, the farm wanted to keep the lamb’s mother for production. Thankfully, our rescue partner convinced them to liberate both mother and son together. Lita and River will spend the rest of their lives together in sanctuary, a rare opportunity that farmed animals get to experience.
Baby River only a few days after rescue.
River and Lita enjoying their pasture before joining the main sheep herd.
Although River is growing up fast, he is never far from his mother’s side. These two can be found grazing together in the big sheep field or cuddling butt-to-butt inside the barn. River has also grown to be very playful with humans and may just headbutt you during your visit, so watch out!
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Snowbunny
Snowbunny’s story
Before being rescued in November of 2020, Snowbunny was being used as live bait to train hunting dogs. She and the other rabbits were kept in tiny cages in the woods so that the dogs could get used to their scent. Then the rabbits would be released so that the dogs could hunt and kill them. When we heard Snowbunny’s story, we knew we had to say yes to taking her in.
Snowbunny enjoying her pasture shortly after arriving at Woodstock.
Hootie, happy to have Snowbunny as his new best friend.
When Snowbunny first arrived, she was a bit shy but very interested in humans. It wasn’t long before she opened up and showed us what an absolute sweetheart she is. Now she spends her days in sanctuary with her best friend Hootie. They’re both usually found cuddling in their new cozy rabbit barn or going on clover adventures outside in their pasture area.
Snowbunny and Hootie now safe and happy with each other in sanctuary.
We’re so happy Snowbunny has another chance at a wonderful life with her new best friend in sanctuary.
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Kiwi
Kiwi’s story
Kiwi was originally a part of a class hatching project in a school. After the project was over, Kiwi was to return to the farm that she came from but the farmer no longer wanted her. A kind family brought Kiwi home and intended to care for her for life, but while in their care, she was sadly attacked by a predator. Kiwi’s spine was injured in the attack and she lost the ability to walk or stand. The family reached out to find help and a new home for Kiwi and we stepped in and brought her to sanctuary.
Kiwi having a spa treatment prior to her first wheelchair fitting.
Kiwi stopping by to see some flowers on her way back home from her wheelchair fitting.
Kiwi arrived to Woodstock Sanctuary in the fall of 2020, and we immediately got to work on providing her with many medical treatments and love. We even got her a wheelchair! We’re not sure she will ever be able to walk, but she is happily spending her days with her other disabled duck friends! After posting about her on Instagram and Facebook, Kiwi quickly has become the superstar of the Sanctuary, gaining love and support from millions of people and was even featured on The Dodo. We’re so happy that she is now safe and cared for and that her story has inspired so many.
Kiwi outside, enjoying a stroll in her wheelchair.
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Zillah
Zillah’s story
In October of 2020, we got word that a kind person rescued two young baby turkeys from being sold and killed at a garden center — they were intended to be someone’s Thanksgiving dinner. The two turkey babies, and other animals, were forced to live in tiny cages stacked on top of each other. But luckily these two, who we named Prue and Zillah, found their way to Woodstock Sanctuary. Tragically turkeys like Prue and Zillah are bred not to live very long. They are forced to grow at such an unnatural rate that their hearts are too small for their bodies. After he came to the Sanctuary, despite all our efforts and love, we lost Prue to a heart attack. As much as we miss him, Prue’s memory will live on in Zillah, who has overcome so much in his short time with us so far. As we continue to watch Zillah grow up as one of the few survivors of this industry, we know his story will advocate for the millions of baby turkeys killed every year for Thanksgiving.
Young Zillah shortly after rescue.
Zillah enjoying his pasture in the summer.
Zillah is outgoing, curious, and has a very big personality. He spends most of his days with his best friend Dani.
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Jody
Jody’s story
In September 2020, we received a call about two ducks who had been abandoned on a lake about an hour away from Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. We were immediately worried because Peking Ducks cannot fly and are extremely vulnerable. Our Executive Director Rachel arrived on the scene, but sadly there was only one duck to be found. He was about 30 yards out in the water, lying limp in a clump of lake grass. Rachel called out, trying to figure out how to reach the injured duck. Hearing her voice, Jody picked his head up and swam over to his rescuer. Jody seemed eager to be near a human and allowed Rachel to pick him up. Despite our best efforts to look for them, there was no sign of Jody’s friend. It is likely they were caught by a predator.
Executive Director Rachel and Jody when she was first caught.
Shelter Director Hervé giving Jody love and care upon arriving in Sanctuary.
Upon his arrival at the Sanctuary, we noticed right away that Jody had a large wound on his neck, likely from a fox or a dog. We brought this sweet duck to a specialty vet for imaging and placed him on a soft diet to help his wound heal. Now fully recovered, Jody spends his days alongside fellow rescued ducks in their coop, yard, and pond. He is protective of his friend Bai and his bold personality has finally been allowed to shine now that he is safe.
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The Narnia Ducks
The Narnia Duck’s Story
In August of 2020, Long Island-based rescue group LION reached out to us seeing if we could provide a forever home to four ducks. One of the ducks was left to die outside on a canal, while the other three were dumped on the rescue’s property. Domestic ducks can’t fly, so abandoning them meant leaving them there to die by starvation, predators, or exposure to the elements.
The Narnia ducks when they arrived at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in summer 2020.
The Narnia ducks when they arrived at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in summer 2020.
The four ducks made it to Woodstock Sanctuary and we named them after characters in The Chronicles of Narnia: Puddlegum, Tumnus, Caspian, and Jadis!
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The Flower Flock
The Flower Flock’s Story
In July of 2020, a devastating fire occurred at a large egg production facility in south New Jersey. The fire killed over 300,000 hens – hens who were forced to live a life as egg machines, never knowing love, green grasses to roam, or a life outside of their cages. Luckily, 230 hens survived as multiple sanctuaries and rescues fled to the scene to help them. We were fortunate to bring in five hens from that group.
Indigo when she first arrived to Woodstock Sanctuary.
Shelter Director Hervé with Willow after she returned from surgery at the hospital.
When the five girls arrived, they still smelled of smoke and had severe burns all over their body. We named them The Flower Flock – Willow, Indigo, Aster, Arnica, and Laurel, all native flowers to the Hudson Valley here in New York. Sadly, Laurel’s burns were so bad that she passed away, but her name will always live on in the rest of the flock. Willow was found with a broken leg when rescued and required surgery after arriving to Woodstock Sanctuary. After everything she had been through already, this tough girl overcame surgery and went on to have a fully healed leg. The rest of the girls healed too – we are so inspired by their bravery, tenacity, and ability to still trust and be kind.
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The Highlanders
The Highlanders’ Story
In July 2020, we rescued The Highlanders (13 chickens, 12 hens, and 1 rooster) from a severe neglect. They arrived in poor condition and needed immediate medical attention. After a few weeks of intense treatment, the flock was finally able to go outside and enjoy their new forever home in sanctuary!
Their new life is a drastic change from the horrific neglect they experienced for two years, where they lived in severe disarray and filth. They no longer are forced to walk around in their own feces or drink murky water. For the first time ever, they got to enjoy a clean bed of pine shavings, drink from clean and fresh water bowls, and explore their new green pastures.
We’re so thankful they’ll never experience a life of neglect or mistreatment again, and will remain happy and safe at Woodstock Sanctuary.
Members of the Highlanders flock enjoying some shade under a tree in their pasture, during summer 2020.
Rooster Homer, and hens enjoying their pasture in fall 2020.
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The Iowa Survivors
The Iowa Survivor’s Story
In May of 2020 we learned that a large egg facility in Iowa was going to kill nearly all 140,000 of their hens due to the need to scale down. The facility had to scale down because of breaks in the supply chain caused by COVID-19. The owner was willing to let some of the hens go to rescues, but those left behind were starved or gassed to death. Sanctuaries came together and rescued 1,400 hens and now 10 of them are safe in their forever home here at Woodstock Sanctuary.
These hens lived in tiny cages their entire lives, unable to spread their wings or enjoy the grass under their feet. Hens used for eggs are packed up to 10 in a cage – at this facility, there was at least one of them dead inside each cage. The place stunk of urine and decaying bodies. It was a horrible place and we can’t imagine what these poor hens witnessed happening to their friends as they managed to survive such exploitation and neglect.
When the multiple sanctuaries arrived on the grounds to rescue these hens, they saw piles of dead birds all over the property. Excavators were already dumping bodies of dead innocent birds into pits. As the sanctuaries worked quickly to take hens out of cages and save their lives, workers at the farm were killing other birds by putting them in boxes and gassing them. The birds were then thrown outside to be composted. This was happening in front of all the remaining living hens – we can’t imagine how terrified they felt.
Iowa Survivors enjoying their pasture, becoming more confident and happy!
Iowa Survivors are settling in well in their new flock and we’re so happy that they are feeling safe.
The surviving hens are thriving in sanctuary – they have plenty of nourishing food, clean water, and pasture to roam as they please. They will never know harm or terror ever again.
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The Tornado Hens
The Tornado Hens’ Story
In May 2020, a large tornado swept through Georgia wrecking everything in its path, including a large egg farm. After the tornado cleared, activists were stunned to find thousands of hen survivors still alive in the wreckage. If these hens had been left behind, they would have been bulldozed and killed as the barns were leveled to the ground. But thankfully these activists worked tirelessly to rescue many of them, and five hens made it safely to Woodstock Sanctuary.
The Tornado hens, right after rescue. In route to safety.
Sage, a Tornado hen, thriving in Sanctuary.
Upon arriving, each girl had bumble foot and some parasites. Our caregiving team worked quickly and kindly to make sure they were in the best of health they could be – after living a life forced to lay eggs, then being exposed to the elements of a tornado, these girls had been through so much.
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JO
Jo’s Story
In January of 2020, Woodstock Sanctuary got word that a small-scale dairy farm in upstate New York was auctioning off 80 cows and closing their farm. We reached out to see if the farm’s operators would find it in their hearts to save a few lives. They agreed to let us take in two older cows, one who was seven years old and one who was 12 years old. When we arrived at the barn, we noticed right away the terrible conditions. Not only was the barn itself falling apart, but the 80 cows were chained to poles by their necks, forced to sleep on concrete, and had visible, open sores on their hips from not having anywhere comfortable to lay. They were also mostly underweight. One of the most upsetting parts – newborn calves were chained to a wall behind all of the cows. They could still see their babies, but they could not groom them, cuddle them, or love them.
Jo before rescue, at the dairy farm she was at.
Our Marketing Director Lizz with Jo when she was first brought to the animal hospital.
When we first met Jo, the seven-year-old, her eyes were wide with fear and she was severely underweight. Aph, the 12-year-old, was afraid of human touch. When we safely got them to the animal hospital for immediate medical care, we noticed their eyes beginning to soften and their nervousness fading away. We were so happy they were safe, and we couldn’t wait to bring them home to Woodstock Sanctuary.
The vets at the hospital discovered Aph had a mastitis infection so severe that she required a full mastectomy. In the emergency surgery, her vitals began to drop, and although the vets did everything they could for her, she sadly didn’t make it through. We were so heartbroken, but had to stay strong for Jo. Soon after, Jo made it to Woodstock Sanctuary and was able to run happily in a pasture for the first time in her life.
Jo has been doing better than ever. She has bonded with the cow herd and can be found spending time with her pals Mikey and Maybelle or roaming freely in the woods behind the barn. Aph lives on in Jo and we miss her every day.
Jo soon after she arrived to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
Jo, happy and liberated at Woodstock Sanctuary, summer 2020.
In June of 2020, Woodstock Sanctuary launched their dairy industry awareness campaign in honor of Jo’s rescue story, www.MeetJo.org. Sign the pledge to be dairy free and get a free Jo sticker!
Jo is named after internationally-acclaimed photojournalist, animal activist, and founder of We Animals, Jo-Anne McArthur. Aph was named after writer, vegan, and founder of Black Vegans Rock, Aph Ko.
Jo’s curious about cell phones!
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Celeste
Celeste’s Story
In December of 2019, Celeste was rescued along with 14 other chickens. A couple had purchased these chickens the previous year for egg production, but they became overwhelmed by their purchase and found themselves unable to provide the hens with the time or care they deserved. They were in danger of being killed for meat, but thankfully we were contacted before this happened and were able to act quickly. Celeste is easily recognizable with her gorgeous and shiny black feathers. She is a good friend to the chickens who share her yard, including Buffy, Ivy, and one beautiful turkey named Shirley.
Celeste enjoying her pasture in the summer.
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The Hudson Valley 100
The Hudson Valley 100’s Story
In August of 2019, we teamed up with Barn Sanctuary to rescue nearly 100 chickens from a nearby educational farm that has since closed down. These birds, nicknamed the Hudson Valley 100, came from a "humane" organic egg farm but were listed on Craigslist as $2 stewing hens because they were considered spent, meaning they were no longer able to produce enough eggs to be profitable. Though the farmer said that all of the hens were between 2-3 years old, we discovered on-site that most of them only were six months old or younger. Most of the chickens were very young and healthy, but some were underweight and very hungry upon arrival. Many also had lice and were experiencing stress from the conditions they were living in. The chickens lived in small coops with no perches, nest boxes, or bedding. The floors of their coops were either dirt or chicken wire. At this "humane" farm, up to 60 chickens were kept in a tiny coop.
Now at the Sanctuary they have proper nutrition, access to large pastures for grazing and exploring, and are respected for the individuals they are. This rescue was featured on Barn Sanctuary’s TV show on Animal Planet Saved By The Barn!
Dan from Barn Sanctuary and our Shelter Director Hervé during the rescue.
Marigold, a member of the Hudson Valley 100, thriving in Sanctuary.
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Sonny
Sonny’s story
In the summer of 2019, a brave mother sheep ran for her life with her baby lamb by her side. That brave mother was Toni -- she saw a chance to escape the fate of slaughter and risked it all to live. Toni and Sonny were found wandering the streets of a neighborhood in New Jersey until the local animal control stepped in to bring them to a safe place. They reached out to us and a few days later, this brave little family arrived to Woodstock Sanctuary. Sonny’s full name is Morrison and was named after the late Toni Morrison who sadly passed away the same day we rescued him.
Toni and Sonny on their way to the sanctuary.
Toni and Sonny getting settled at the sanctuary.
These days Toni is smaller than her son, but they get to spend every day in sanctuary together. Toni will never know fear, abandonment, or harm again. And she gets to see her son grow up by her side.
Toni and Sonny enjoying a new life in sanctuary.
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Toni
Toni’s story
In the summer of 2019, a brave mother sheep ran for her life with her baby lamb by her side. That brave mother was Toni -- she saw a chance to escape the fate of slaughter and risked it all to live. Toni and Sonny were found wandering the streets of a neighborhood in New Jersey until the local animal control stepped in to bring them to a safe place. They reached out to us and a few days later, this brave little family arrived to Woodstock Sanctuary. Toni was named after the late Toni Morrison who sadly passed away the same day we rescued her.
Toni and her baby, Sonny, on their way to sanctuary.
Toni and Sonny in sanctuary.
These days Toni is smaller than her son, but they get to spend every day in sanctuary together. Toni will never know fear, abandonment, or harm again. And she gets to see her son grow up by her side.
Toni in the pasture.
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Marsha
Marsha’s story
In 2019 we were contacted by a rescue partner in South Jersey about four piglets who had been left to die in a box outside of an auction house. The box was labeled “discarded runts” and the four piglets were considered garbage. Thankfully an activist was able to bring them to Rancho Relaxo and they reached out to us about taking in two of the four.
On June 1st we picked up Marsha and Harvey – Marsha is named after Black queer liberation activist and prominent figure in the Stonewall riot of 1969, Marsha P. Johnson. Harvey was named after Harvey Milk, activist and the first openly-gay elected official in California. Since we rescued them on the first day of PRIDE month, we wanted to name them in honor of the revolutionary efforts of these activists in the LGBTQIA+ movement. Soon after coming home to Woodstock Sanctuary, both Marsha and Harvey’s personalities began to show. While Harvey was more of a social pig, Marsha is independent, very smart, and interested in her surroundings.
We are so glad we could step in and help these two sweethearts – we met them when they were so small they could fit in our hands. Unfortunately, her friend Harvey passed in September of 2020 from sudden medical complications. We miss him so much, but thankfully Marsha still has other pigs to bond with, like Ari. They will often be seen sun soaking together outside in their pasture.
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Michaela
Michaela’s story
In the spring of 2019, Angela and her two babies Ethan and Michaela were rescued from a severe hoarding case. When this little family arrived, they were all weak and malnourished – especially Angela. She was so underweight that while the shelter team immediately put her on a diet to gain weight and consume plenty of nutrients, they bottle fed the babies because Angela’s body wasn’t producing enough milk for them.
Young Michaela in the barn.
Young Michaela and Ethan with their mother, Angela.
Angela enjoyed as much food as her heart desired and was beginning to adjust to her new home knowing both her babies were safe. She eventually was able to make more milk for her babies, and everyone grew stronger together.
It’s been a few years since this little family was liberated together and they’re doing great. Michaela is growing up to be a beautiful, sweet sheep. She’s always lingering behind her brother, making sure he doesn’t get himself into too much trouble. She’s a dainty but fierce little sheep!
Michaela having a snack in the sheep barn.