Urgent appeal to help Dorothy's piglets
Dorothy: a 'Golden Girl'
Dorothy, a lucky pig rescued from the pork industry, is named after Bea Arthur's character, Dorothy, on the 90's TV series "The Golden Girls”.
If you remember the series, Dorothy is just like her namesake, intelligent and strong-willed with a no-nonsense attitude.
But she can also be gentle and affectionate, and fiercely protective of her family.
Dorothy was rescued with three other pigs appropriately named Sophia, Betty, and Blanche after the other three characters on the popular show.
Dorothy thrives at sanctuary
It's hard to describe the pleasure we feel when watching Dorothy start each day with a stretch and a yawn as she awakens to the morning sun shining into her barn.
She then sets out for the day exploring the forest and paddocks of the 55 acres of sanctuary, rooting through the dirt, cooling off in the dam and playing with leaves and branches.
She receives three nutritious meals a day from the FAR animal carers, plus apples as a treat, to keep her in tip-top health. When she is tired she naps in a soft spot with her friends or perhaps by herself under a tree.
Thanks to her generous sponsor, Dorothy lives in piglet paradise at Farm Animal Rescue.
Because Dorothy is free.
Pleasure turns to fear
Things were running smoothly until we discovered that Dorothy was pregnant. The impending arrival of her family presented a crisis for the sanctuary, as we do not have the capacity to rescue and care for more pigs.
We observed an incredibly resourceful new mother who, contrary to the generations that came before her, was able to utilise her natural instincts to create a secure, comfortable, and ample nest for her newborns.
In an attempt to soothe our concerns, we embraced these precious moments and appreciated her remarkable abilities.
So while we were proud to have the incredible opportunity for Dorothy to care for and raise her piglets according to natural instincts, at the same time we felt fear and concern for the long-term well-being of her piglets.
Overnight Dorothy's world changed
Upon Dorothy giving birth to her piglets, our initial joy swiftly transformed into panic.
With over 110 animals rescued from the food industry already in our care, accommodating Dorothy and her family could potentially negatively impact the well-being of the existing animal residents.
Because when one rescued pig turns into so many piglets - lots of things need to change.
Dorothy cannot look after her piglets
Right now Dorothy and her family have so many needs that we cannot meet. She needs more and more food for her babies as they grow so that their bellies are full.
With food expenses alone currently at $50,000 per year, and with the piglets now estimated at 1/3 their adult weight, we expect this to triple in the next year.
Dorothy also needs much more bedding for her family, and larger sun and rain shelters.
She also needs an upgrade to water and feed troughs that are tough enough to survive the hunger pangs of energetic young pigs, and a safe place to allow us to administer medicine when they get sick.
Dorothy's Dream
Dorothy’s Dream is for her to grow old with her piglets by her side, free, with full bellies, protected by people who love her and who know deep down that every pig is a unique sentient individual with dreams, hopes, likes, dislikes and personalities of their own.
But Dorothy’s Dream is even bigger than that, she dreams of a future where pigs are no longer in factories.
Simply by being alive and free at the sanctuary, every day she and her family are advocating for pigs whose fate is a bleak, cruel life in the pork industry.
They exist to change the hearts and minds of sanctuary visitors and social media followers who learn just how amazing they are.
Dorothy needs your help
We’ve dedicated our life to fulfilling Dorothy’s Dream, and to helping pigs no different to her trapped in factory farms right now.
When people meet her, they are changed forever.
Below is what Dorothy needs urgently for her family.
Meals
Help Dorothy feed her family for a day, a week or a month with three meals a day of nutritious pig muesli and apples.
1 bag of museli = $30 and she currently needs 5 bags per day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the piglets.
Bedding
Help Dorothy provide bedding for her babies so they can sleep soundly.
1 bale straw = $14 and she currently needs 20 bales per week.
Sun and Rain Shelter
The piglets adore being outside and the pig forest provides lots of shelter, but Dorothy's babies also need extra sun and rain protection.
1 x sturdy sun shelter = $2000 and Dorothy needs at least three more.
Treatment Area
Dorothy knows that at some stage her piglets will need medical treatment, and the best way is to secure a specialised pig treatment space.
We will try to get a 2nd hand one of these as cheaply as we can once Dorothy lets us know she has the funds!
Help Dorothy's Dream come true
Dorothy has a big personality and an even bigger goal. She needs to raise $75,000 so that she can get everything for her family this winter, to keep her and her babies comfortable and their bellies full.
If there is only one thing that you can donate to this year, please donate so that Dorothy’s Dream can come true.
Once you click the button below, you'll go directly to our donation page.
You don't need to feel helpless when it comes to animal's lives
Choose your gift to Dorothy as either a one-off or monthly donation, and we'll keep you informed once we reach our target of $75,000.
As we start to get donations, we'll start to stock up on the food and bedding Dorothy needs, order a pig treatment area and some sun shades.
Please give generously as 100% of your donation goes to helping Dorothy's Dream come true.
This is Dorothy’s Dream.
Donate now.
