Little's Fortitude

Little's Fortitude was started after Rachel sadly lost her first bottle reared Nigerian Dwarf goat called Romulus aka Little. He was such a loving baby and helped Rachel fall in love with not only goats but all manner of animals and starting her lifelong passion for rescuing and saving animals. Her rescue family now consists of 11 goats, 8 cows and 13 chickens along with the 2 puppy dogs. She was asked to take Little because he was a “waste product” as male goats are deemed “useless.” He was sick from the beginning and died at 8 months old due to his crappy start in life. Rachel spent so much money on him as to her, he was a family member, a sentient being worthy of love, respect and dignity with his own unique character. 

He gave her the insight to just how much personality and character goats have and the thought of them being the highest consumed meat in the world broke her heart. Rachel then contacted a goat meat farmer and got 2 girls (Miss & Izzy) from him. Game over from then onwards. Both girls gave birth to twins and they’ll stay together forever like all the other animals she offers her home to. 

Floki arrived just before all the twins were born. His brother was mauled to death by a dog and the owner wanted him refined for safety. Pippa was rescued from a farmer who was going to “let nature take its course” as she was the smallest of triplets that couldn’t feed. Then came Echo. Rachel heard her crying and went looking (trespassing) to find her; she was tied up with no shelter food or water and was all alone. Then most recently Bhodi & Bentley, rehomed because the owners wanted them to keep the grass down and didn’t know they’d jump fences and eat the fruit trees.

Little’s Fortitude now also have a mum & baby Scottish highland cow (pictured below) who will get to spend together forever. The same farmer asked her to take another one as he didn’t have enough room. And, anyone who knows Rachel will tell you when it comes to animals, she will never say no.

Basically for Rachel, and the premise of Little’s Fortitude, is the desire for the world to be a kinder place. Acknowledge that all animals have feelings, are sentient creatures and are not put on the earth for us to abuse. Rachel’s attitude is “If just one person changes one thing from learning about my animals that’s a great start.” As a consequence she started an Instagram page dedicated to Little’s Fortitude to allow people that opportunity for insight: https://www.instagram.com/ littles_fortitude/

The rescue of a wedge tailed eagle with only a pair of welding gloves and a small cage further demonstrates what an amazing person Rachel is, not only does she run a rescue farm 24/7 independently funded by herself, but also volunteers with WIRES. 

Rachel wakes up at 6am every day, at the latest, to feed the animals before work then as soon as she finishes work she is back out with the animals to make sure they are all ok and tucked in for the night; In rain, hail, sickness or sunny weather. Not to mention the endless health checks. She has learnt to give them needles and identify what is wrong with them, virtually a self taught vet.

Rachel also spends endless time checking how other animal rescues or sanctuaries are going and whenever possible she supports them. She regularly attends fundraising for sanctuaries like Edgar’s Mission in Victoria and all her trips revolve around going and seeing these places in person such as Goat’s Anarchy in the States. 

Rachel funds her rescue entirely on her own. She desperately needs a new shed and refuses to ask for help. Hence I've created this gofundme to support her, and most importantly, her animals. All proceeds will go to Little's Fortitude; shed but also food. Without Rachel these animals would be dead, used and abused.