This January we’re thrilled to celebrate brother and sister duo Jim & Jill’s birthdays! Not long after their birthdays in 2018, we rushed to a Michigan farm where Jim & Jill were said to have been born with leg deformities. Upon their first medical checkup, our vet immediately recognized their injuries were caused by extensive frostbite from a neglectful situation.
Dan with baby Jim and Jill
Raised as Commodities
Because they were being raised for profit, Jim & Jill were not seen as the unique individuals that they are, and therefore did not receive the care or protection they deserved.
As a result of this neglect, Jill is missing the bottom halves of both of her back legs and the tip of one ear while Jim is missing three of his hooves. Since that time, we’ve promised them a warm and safe space here at Barn. Both have been fitted for prosthetics a few times as they’ve grown over the years into healthy and thriving sheep.
Home at Barn
These days, Jim and Jill can run, play, and do all the normal sheep things their other Barn sheep friends, Rose and Ruth, can do. Nothing holds them back, and in fact, Jim even shows off doing parkour around the yard in excitement for their nightly snack. They were nervous for some time after arriving, and though still shy, they have grown more comfortable with people they see frequently and always maintain very gentle natures. Their love for each other is an endearing sight as this close-knit pair is never far apart from one another.
Jim and Jill are incredibly curious and will mosey over to their animal caregivers to sniff their heads or nibble on their clothes when they’re giving care to another sheep. While the other sheep need shearing in the spring to prevent them from overheating when warmer days arrive, Jim and Jill require little to none as they drop their wool naturally! This is because they are a rare breed of sheep originally from Scotland, called Soay Sheep, that have avoided being overbred through many generations for wool production, unlike sheep breeds like Ruth and Rose.
Jill & Jim
Hope for the Future
When we think of the circumstances of Jim and Jill’s rescue and the transformations they have undergone, we’re blown away by their persistent tenacity and courage. By receiving the special care they were always worthy of, this sibling team will be able to live long healthy lives home at Barn Sanctuary.
As we look to the New Year this time around, we are hopeful to improve the lives of many more farmed animals in need.