Each year we witness inspiring transformations at the sanctuary. The animals we rescue have suffered injuries, abuse or neglect and they each have unique challenges on their road to recovery. We work with our rescued family for however long it takes to ensure they have a safe and healthy future, free from harm. Here are some of our favorite stories from 2019.
Elsa the Pig
In February 2019, in the middle of a harsh winter, two tiny piglets were loaded into a transport truck bound for a finishing farm. When they arrived at their destination the two appeared immobile, frozen to the side of the truck, and were assumed to be dead. The man who was unloading the pigs took pity on these two girls. He brought them into his home to warm them up and began nursing them back to health before calling us.
Over the Spring and Summer months the sisters (Elsa and Anna) were growing, learning all things pig, enjoying the safety of their forever home and developing their unique personalities. It had become clear that Elsa was the sassy and assertive sister, quickly earning her the nickname “Queen Elsa.”
In August of 2019, staff noticed Elsa was not acting herself– she was extremely lethargic. She was rushed to MSU (Michigan State University) for an exam and testing. But after running multiple labs a diagnosis was still unclear, so Elsa stayed at MSU for further testing. More labs were drawn, an ultrasound was performed but still they couldn’t determine what was wrong with her. She began losing her appetite, developed a fever, started losing circulation in her extremities and rapidly losing weight.
Elsa was acting strangely lethargic
Two weeks had gone by as the veterinary team worked hard to help Elsa, but still there were no answers. Her prognosis was becoming unclear, but we continued testing for anything with the hope that we could find a way to save Elsa’s life. Then finally after a CT, repeating tests and long awaited results we got a diagnosis that would help us. Elsa had endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart) and erysipelas (a skin infection). She was quickly given IV antibiotics and steroids to get both infections under control. After weeks of being worried for Elsa and another couple of days at the hospital, she began feeling better. She was still weak, but she was going to make it.
Back from the hospital
When we picked Elsa up from MSU she was so excited to be going home after four long weeks away from home. On arrival, Elsa was thrilled to see her sister Anna and was quickly back to her old life. She still likes to mischievously plop into newly cleaned water troughs and maintains her quirky lovable sass. Despite her long battle with sickness, she was determined to remain Queen.
Elsa has made a full recovery from both infections and lives happily with her sister Anna and their stall mate Ty. These three started their lives in dirty crates with a dark, scary and short future ahead. They all found their way to a safer home here at Barn Sanctuary, where their lives matter.
Elsa being her brave and kind self again
The kind of intensive care we gave Elsa is what we do for our family of rescues. We believe that each rescued resident deserves a happy, comfortable, healthy, long life. But, months of hospital boarding, CT scans, MRIs and medicine is very expensive. We could not give our rescued family the care they deserve without donor support.