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Toni: The Bold Mom
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 this little family soon arrived to their forever home at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
Both Toni and Sonny (Morrison) are named after the late Toni Morrison, who sadly passed away the same day we rescued them. These days, Sonny is much bigger than his mom — who is one of smallest sheep we have ever met. But don’t let that fool you! Toni is so brave and curious. She often leads the herd as they roam the Sanctuary and is the first to greet new rescues. Sonny is a mischievous and playful sheep and is easy to recognize with his one tiny horn. They both have made so many friends, but still spends plenty of time by one another’s side. Tony and Sonny will never know fear, abandonment, or harm again.
Peach: The New Mom
In late March, we learned of a small pregnant goat in great need. She had been intentionally hit by a car while walking along a rural road. Thankfully, a caring person witnessed this and brought her to safety at Indraloka Animal Sanctuary. When they reached out to us, we knew we had to help this little mama! Peach immediately received medical attention and her injuries where extensive, including a dislocated hip and several fractured ribs. When an ultrasound revealed Peach was close to term, we learned we would need to postpone her hip surgery so that we would not put her and her baby at risk.
She received medication to manage her pain, has been trying all kinds of snacks, and getting all the attention she deserves.
On Monday, May 5th, sweet Peach delivered a healthy baby boy, who we named James! For now, both mom and baby are bonding and resting in our Med Barn. After all she’s been through, we are stunned by how friendly Peach is! She is so gentle, and she requests pets, chin scratches, and snacks from the team all day long. We believe she’s only a year old — still a baby herself! We are so thankful Peach and James can grow up here in Sanctuary — safe, comfortable, and cared for. And we know she will be an amazing mom.
Maybelle: The Foster Mom
Maybelle was born in 2005 at a large-scale cow breeding farm in Pennsylvania. When she was three years old, she went to live at a historic site in New York where people dress in period costumes showing what 18th century colonial life was like. While living there, Maybelle was impregnated (so that she would lactate) and was put on display to the public for a milking demonstration exhibit. She gave birth to four calves. These calves were taken from Maybelle, and she was not allowed to raise them, a standard practice in the dairy industry. One calf was born premature and did not survive, two calves were sold to farmers, and another was taken to a petting zoo in Connecticut.
After four years, the site’s staff decided to terminate the milking exhibit and reached out to us in an effort to find Maybelle a home. We prepared to welcome Maybelle and we were especially excited for her to meet the other rescued cows. Shortly after she arrived, she could be seen running around the pasture, munching contentedly on hay, and accepting plenty of love from human friends. Maybelle took on co-parenting roles when we rescued Colin and Woody in 2018, and again in 2023 when we rescued another calf named Heathcliff. These boys are now grown, but Maybelle can always be seen near her closest cow friends (especially Mikey), grooming one another, basking in the sun, and roaming their pasture. Maybelle is easily recognized by her beautiful speckles.
Mama: Mom of Five
In the fall of 2015, multiple sanctuaries rescued over 120 animals from a backyard butcher in Montgomery, New York. These poor animals were kept in horrendous conditions — crammed in barns with little to no food. Woodstock Farm Sanctuary took in five sheep and nine goats, along with a mother pig and her five baby piglets.
A decade later, Mama remains an amazing mother to her (once tiny!) piglets — Buster, Duke, Sara, Ericka, and Michael. Mama has the sweetest face and loves to sunbathe. This little family is very active, and each has their own distinct personality. We are so happy this family can spend every day together, enjoying their cool wallows in the summer and snuggling close in their clean, safe barn on cooler days.
