Yesahcan Sanctuary, Inc.

www.yesahcansanctuary.org 

Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Yesahcan Sanctuary, Inc., and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Yesahcan Sanctuary, Inc.: Yesahcan Sanctuary is a non-profit 501(c)3 committed to providing refuge for unwanted, neglected and abused farm animals.

We are raising funds to help build back the medical funds after an unimaginable tragedy rocked our sanctuary.

            Beginning on Wednesday, May 26th, the sanctuary experienced a series of medical emergencies that led to our greatest tragedy to date - the unexplained and unforeseen loss of several beloved pig residents. I am still struggling to comprehend and process everything that has happened, but here is a synopsis of the events up until now. 

            Last Wednesday, I took Ivey to the vet for treatment on her molars after noticing she was acting funny the night before. After hurrying back to the sanctuary to prep the horses for a wellness exam, I began to deliver everyone’s afternoon snacks. All the residents were ready and waiting except for Turbo, who was lying down, uninterested in the food. Upon feeling him, I noticed he was much cooler than normal, and I quickly realized that in addition to being lethargic, his temperature was hypothermic. We loaded him up immediately and returned to the vet, but by the time we arrived, his vitals were stable, and he was eating again. Instructed to monitor him at home and return to the vet if the symptoms came back, we brought Turbo to the sanctuary (along with Ivey) and began to make the evening rounds. This time, Owen was lying down with zero interest in eating. Mind you, he was gobbling up watermelon just several hours prior. After assessing him, we discovered he had a mild fever, which only continued to increase. We rushed him to the vet, where it was immediately determined that Owen was in critical condition. He had zero white blood cells, and it was assumed his endocarditis had returned. The emergency team assured us they would do everything they could to treat him, but the situation was dire. Knowing that leaving Owen at the clinic was the best thing for him, I returned to the sanctuary, only to find that Um had also refused her dinner.  Her vitals were within normal range, so we continued to monitor her overnight for any change. Because our phone reception is so awful here, I spent the night outside to prevent a missed call from the veterinary hospital regarding Owen. Even though I was prepared for a sleepless night, we in no way expected yet another crisis with another resident. Much to our growing anxiety, early Thursday morning around 1:30 A.M., Gabriel began to vomit and have diarrhea. Though his vomiting eventually stopped, and his temperature was normal, we kept an eye on him all night and notified our local veterinary team. Morning, we hoped, would come with some relief. 

            That hope was short-lived, however. By 6:00 A.M. on Thursday, Turbo’s symptoms had returned, Um’s temperature had dropped, and Gabriel’s temperature was elevated. We quickly rushed Turbo to the clinic, provided heat therapy to Um, and began giving oral fluids into Gabriel, along with rounds of antibiotics, until the veterinary team could come here. We later received word that both Owen and Turbo were likely septic with possible intestinal obstructions and would be treated with fluids and antibiotics as well. We continued a similar treatment of Gabriel and Um here at the sanctuary with the help and guidance of veterinarians and staff, as it looked like Um’s condition was improving slightly, though not by much. 

          Friday and Saturday were absolutely heartbreaking. Ultimately, Gabriel and Um’s health quickly began to deteriorate, and we soon decided that our only hope was to get them both to the University of Florida. Shortly after loading them and getting on the interstate, I received a call about Turbo, who was also not responding to treatment. The recommendation was to take him to UF as well. I arrived at UF later that day with three critically ill pigs in tow. The prognosis was poor, but we were willing to do whatever possible to help them pull through. The veterinary team began treating immediatly. Unfortunately, Turbo passed away that evening, but Gabriel and Um were still hanging on. I spent an exhausting Friday night in Gainesville and received another defeating call late in the evening that Daisy was now experiencing similar symptoms back at the sanctuary. We rushed Daisy to the veterinary clinic where Owen was also, and the vets began emergency treatment because Daisy had somehow aspirated on her vomit, leading to additional complications. Saturday morning brought the smallest bit of promise when we received word that Owen seemed to be improving. At this point, though, I had yet to hear anything about Gabriel and Um and assumed ‘no news is good news’. I was wrong. They had not improved, the doctors told me, and would receive additional therapy. Sadly, this would not be enough, as Gabriel and Um died later that day. Broken beyond measure, I began the trip back to what felt like a shattered sanctuary, where I found that now JP was refusing to eat and would need treatment. 

            Needless to say, last week was shattering. In the aftermath (through which Jody and I are still wading), we have not yet fully had the chance to process the pull of all our emotions, some of which are incredibly conflicting. At the same time, we are forced to compartmentalize them, so to speak, as we continue to care for the pigs that have survived in addition to the 70+ other residents at the sanctuary. Sunday finally brought the silver lining we so desperately needed as we were able to bring Owen home. Daisy followed the next day. JP was treated on site and has recovered, and, thankfully, no other pig residents are showing symptoms of illness. Though these days have been horrific, we are grateful for the many veterinarians and veterinary technicians from four different clinics throughout Florida with whom we have worked and consulted. We continue to be grateful and ecstatic that Owen, Daisy and JP are still with us, and though the loss of Turbo, Gabriel and Um has been unbearable, we know the devastation could have been worse, potentially impacting all pigs affected or even all pigs on the property. 

            Yesahcan is actively working with the veterinary teams to determine the cause of these illnesses. In addition to running various tests, we are keeping all affected pigs in separate quarantine areas. We have also separated the pigs that are asymptomatic at this time, but who had been in close quarters with those that were ill. Because we do not know the root cause of this sudden and devastating illness, we are sad to say that, for the time being, we will also be keeping the sanctuary closed to visitors, including volunteers.

            In six days, the sanctuary has spent almost all the three months' backup savings and emergency medical funds totaling over $13,000. In this moment of crisis, we focused only on providing the best medical care we could so that everyone had the best chance at survival and recovery. It is beyond difficult to even ask, but we need your financial help and support. Even if we could build up half of the funds, that would ensure we could provide the necessary medical care if any other residents fall ill. 

            Turbo, Gabriel, and Um were irreplaceable. They each brought a unique light and vibrancy to the sanctuary, and I am crushed by their absence each time I walk the grounds. We know they were special to so many of you as well. Though we wanted to provide them years of sanctuary life filled with love and contentment, that is no longer possible. The only shred of happiness in this situation is remembering how beautiful it was to watch them live their lives each day. They knew love, they experienced life and were able to soak up the best this world could offer, even if it was for a much shorter time than we imagined. Jody and I will be taking needed time to grieve and care for the residents here at Yesahcan Sanctuary. We will not be on social media or respond to email or phone messages at this time. We are deeply grateful for all your support, and for the way you loved Turbo, Gabriel and Um like we did. 

"Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure."