Welcome to Maple Farm Sanctuary's Newsletter

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Meet Ivan!

Ivan is a gorgeous Icelandic Horse who was recently reunited at MFS with his mother, Stjarna, after 7 years apart! Ivan's caregivers could no longer keep him so after a lot of discussion over the options and consideration of best placement, we agreed to take him in and give him a wonderful new home. The reunion was incredible... Ivan and his mom recognized each other immediately and began nuzzling each other the way that only intimately close horses will do! He has been having fun with the other horses Tori and Christy.

 
 
 



Special thanks to our volunteer Kate for throwing a fundraiser to benefit the animals at MFS. Kate raised $1,400 by holding a jewelry party with her friends! She even had a video made of the animals to play at the party. We plan on using this money to buy the wood to build new stalls for Jonathan, Piggy Wiggy, Lucky, Beau & Tara Anna and the llamas.

 

Jonathan is getting big! He is now close to 500 pounds and he loves bananas and tomatoes. Jonathan is very social and is King of the Barnyard!
A $40.00 donation would help us care for Jonathan for a month!
 
Great News!  All of our kittens were taken by the MetroWest Humane Society, a no-kill animal shelter in Ashland, MA, to be put up for adoption. 

 

Thank You to our
Open House Sponsors!


Welcome to our Winter Newsletter!
Please check out our newly redesigned website!
 
 
Written By Cheri Ezell-Vandersluis
(co-founder of Maple Farm Sanctuary)

November has come and gone and more cherished memories have been etched into our hearts.

Our sweet little goat, Butterscotch, began slowly showing signs of old age and ill health. We provided him with both conventional and herbal medication with the hope of better health and comfort. We had a wonderful fleece dog coat that fit Butterscotch perfectly and he certainly appreciated the comfort and warmth it provided. Every night I'd give him his much enjoyed grapes.

The night of November 13th he looked into my eyes. A look I've seen before but my heart didn't want to acknowledge what he was saying. The next morning Jim and I found Butterscotch looking as if he was simply sleeping. That night before he was trying to let me know it was time to move on. So many of us will miss this gentle, little soul, he will live on in our hearts. To read Butterscotch's story click here.
 

 
In late September a Mendon resident called us saying there was a Canada Goose in her yard, unable to fly. Jim and I got our net and small blankets and went to catch the goose. When we arrived it was obvious the goose couldn't fly but there we no signs of injury. Once we got him back to the sanctuary, I examined him for obvious broken bones or other trauma. The only finding was that he was young and very underweight.

We didn't want him to bond with us (as difficult as that was!) so we provided him with lots of food, fresh water and the ability to stay in the barn or leave. He began going into the barnyard and making practice flights. He flourished! He knew the barn schedule better than we did. As I fed the squished grapes to the chickens at night the goose quickly grew to appreciate the special treat as well.

As November came to an end more flocks of Canada Geese were coming to visit our fields. With each coming and going was a lot of honking. Our little goose was now paying closer attention to all of this activity. Then, one morning a flock landed with the usual fanfare. Our goose honked a few times as if to inquire...is it time to go? I opened the barnyard gate and called "goose-goose". He followed me from the barnyard to the top of the slope overlooking the flock of geese. I stopped....he walked right past me and straight into the flock. A few geese pecked at him to let him know who was boss. He bravely moved into the flock and, in a blink of an eye, it became a page out of "Where's Waldo?".  When the geese left at dusk no one was left standing in the field. "Goose-Goose" healed, grew up and moved on.

Geese still come to our fields everyday. I still check for "Goose-Goose" and occasionally think I recognize him. Hopefully he will have a good life and avoid the hunters gun, predators leap and the changes to his environment.

We would like to thank all of our dedicated volunteers who help out weekly, even in the cold and rain, to clean stalls, chop fruit, make repairs and work on special projects! 


We rely entirely on your generosity to continue providing a safe haven for the animals living at Maple Farm Sanctuary and for the new animals who are in urgent need of our help. By making a donation you will help us to provide veterinary care, improve housing, feed and maintain a happy life for the rescued animals living at Maple Farm Sanctuary.

Please help us by making a donation!

Pictures from Our 3rd Annual Open House
Thank you to everyone who attended our 3rd Annual Fundraiser Picnic on November 2nd!  We had a beautiful sunny fall day to enjoy the farm with colorful foliage, vegan food, old and new friends, wonderful music and of course the animals. So many people came out to the farm and we want to thank all of you for taking the time to support us!

Check out some pictures below and also on Flickr...click here!
 


Maple Farm Sanctuary is an animal sanctuary providing lifelong homes for abused, abandoned and unwanted farmed
animals while promoting veganism and respect for all life through public information. Maple Farm Sanctuary has taken in a
fraction of the billions of farmed animals that are bought, sold, tormented and slaughtered by the meat, dairy and fur industries.

Maple Farm Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with tax-exempt status.  
 Donations are always appreciated! 

Maple Farm Sanctuary ~  101 North Avenue, Mendon, MA  01756