Animals of KFAAF
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Misty
Misty is a pony, born on 25 August 1989. Misty and her deceased friend Carmen moved to the farm sanctuary for special needs animals (reinstatement) as the owner was no longer capable to take proper care of both ponies. Misty is very old and has PPID (also called Cushing Disease). PPID is a disease that disrupts the hormone production in the brain. The result is that Misty has long curly hair and a deteriorated condition. PPID can’t be prevented or cured, but can be controlled with the necessary care, adequate nutrition, medication and veterinary care.
When we heard about Misty and Carmen we went on a mission to rescue them since nobody was properly taking care of either. We spent a few months trying to get her and Carmen to our farm sanctuary. The first attempt to transport them failed. Neither lady was used to a trailer so that attempt to transport them failed. When the situation became too stressful, we had to leave them behind in the field. This was heartbreaking, especially since both ladies were not in the best condition. We engaged a horse expert for trailer training and found a volunteer to feed them and give them their medication. The second attempt to transport them a few weeks later was successful.
Unfortunately, Carmen died of a heart attack three months after she arrived at our farm sanctuary (you can read more about her in the chapter obituary – Carmen). Misty was in pretty bad shape when she arrived at our farm. She had lost her teeth and could no longer pasture graze and she suffered from diarrhea for a very long time. Antibiotics didn’t work. Then Philippe introduced us to a veterinary specialist for horses from Belgium, and together we developed a treatment plan that was successful. The diarrhea is now under control, and it’s lovely to see this senior lady stand at the stable door waiting to get outside in the early morning to enjoy a bit of fresh air. One of our dear volunteers, Chantal, pampered Misty fully. She braided her tail and mane, and now Misty looks a bit like Bo Derek!
Harrie
Harrie is a Chinese pot-bellied pig born mid-March in 2013. He and his brother Albert, also a Chinese pot-bellied pig, came to us (reinstated). Harrie has problems with his teeth (which grow inward) and must be trimmed regularly. Harrie can be a bit grumpy if you step inside his barn, but once he gets used to you, he becomes your best friend. Both he and his best friend Albert like to play hide and seek in the straw.
Albert
Albert is a Chinese pot-bellied pig also born in mid-March of 2013. He and his brother Harry, also a Chinese pot-bellied pig, live at our farm sanctuary (reinstated). Albert’s is a bit more introvert then Harry, but once you’ve won his heart, he will come to you to for a cuddle. Both he and his best friend Harry like to play hide and seek in the straw.
Floris
Floris is a “Kune Kune” pig and was dumped at a parking lot together with Hugo. They both ended up in an animal shelter. Floris’ birthdate is unknown, but we expect his date of birth to be around 2015. We suspect he lived like a house pet with his previous owner. Pigs are naturally very intelligent and social animals. Floris is very social and behaves as if he’s a dog. He listens to his name, when you tickle him behind his ear he plops down in a trance with his eyes tightly shut. He has since become quite the pig and weighs about 60 kg – 120 pounds. He shares his barn with Hugo and likes to run around outside on the grass in their play-field. He spends most of his time outside rooting and churning up the grass. He loves to taking a mud bath.
Hugo
Hugo is a “Kune Kune” pig and was dumped at a parking lot together with Floris. They both ended up in an animal shelter. Hugo’s birthdate is unknown, but we expect his date of birth to be around 2015. We suspect he also lived like a house pet with his previous owner. Pigs are naturally very intelligent and social animals. Floris is very social and behaves like he is a dog. He listens to his name, when you tickle him behind his ear he plops down in a trance with his eyes tightly shut. He has since become quite the pig and weighs about 60 kg – 120 pounds. He shares his barn with Floris and likes to runs around outside on the grass in their playfield. Like Floris, he spends most of his time outside rooting and churning up the grass. He loves to take a mud bath.
Basje
Basje is a gelding, born on September 30, 2004. Basje, together with his two siblings Pieter and Daisy, were rescued and reinstated at our farm sanctuary. Basje has been abused in the past and later reinstated by their previous family. Because the owner was no longer able to care for the donkeys and the situation became very critical, and because Sebastian was abused in the past, all three donkeys found their for-ever home at KFAAF (separating the three donkeys was simply not an option for us). Basje is very shy. He doesn’t make friends that easily and it requires a lot of time and patience to gain his trust. However, he feels safe and at home at our farm and enjoys life to the fullest.
Pieter
Pieter is a gelding, born on 17 April 2006. Pieter, together with his two siblings Basje and Daisy, was rescued and reinstated at our farm sanctuary. Little is known of their backgrounds other than they were rescued before and lived for a long time with another family. Upon arrival at our farm sanctuary, Pieter was in urgent need of a dentist and farrier. Pieter is a calm little donkey but can also be very naughty at times (when he lays his ears against his neck you know “trouble” is on its way). He loves playing with his siblings.
Daisy
Daisy is our “New Year’s jenny” because she was born on January 1, 2006. Daisy came to live with us together with Peter and Sebastian (reinstated). Daisy, together with her two siblings Basje and Pieter, was rescued and reinstated at our farm sanctuary. Little is known of their backgrounds other than they were rescued before and lived for a long time with another family. Daisy is very cuddly and playful. If you are working in the fields she comes for a cuddle, and if she gets the chance she’ll push over the wheelbarrow! She also likes to play with Sebastian, Peter and Katootje (our baby calf). When Daisy begins to bray, a big smile appears on everyone’s face.
Bregtje
Bregtje is a Jersey cow, born on March 12, 2012. This beautiful, small and wonderfully opinionated lady is the mother of Katootje. Bregtje was rescued from slaughter by our director Philippe. He was visiting a client for work in Belgium when he came across Bregtje and her sibling. They were to be taken to the slaughter house the next day, but Philippe discovered that Bregtje was pregnant and argued with her owners who didn’t believe she was carrying a calf. Confident that he was right, he paid the slaughter price for both to avoid them being taken to the slaughter house. The next day Katootje was born. Philippe drove 250 miles each day to take care of the family of three cows since they were without proper shelter or food during the winter. Since the situation was critical, we decided to bring them to our farm sanctuary so we could take proper care of mother, baby calf and sister. It took weeks for us to clear the paper work and medical tests to get permission to transport them to the Netherlands. On January 9th 2017, the three ladies arrived in the middle of the night at our farm sanctuary and we were able to give them the proper care and love they need in a warm and cozy barn.
Katootje
Katootje is the daughter of Bregtje, a Jersey calf, and was born on November 7th 2016. She steals the hearts of many with her beautiful almond shaped eyes. She is in a great phase of her life. The world is one big adventure for her. At first she was very shy, and she would not leave her mother’s shadow. Little baby calves grow fast and she is becoming bigger each day. She is very playful. When you scream: “Katoooooootje” her ears perk up and she comes running towards you. She also loves to play with the donkeys.
Saartje
Saartje is a Jersey cow and the sister of Bregtje and aunt of Katootje. She was born on July 9, 2003. Saartje enjoys her well-deserved retirement at our farm sanctuary. She saunters in peace over the fields enjoying the lovely the grass. She is a superior grazer. She enjoys cuddling and eating endive. She may not be the youngest, but she is still adorable.
Chopin
Chopin is a KWPN male horse and was born on March 4, 2007. He was competing at a high level in dressage and was rescued from being euthanized due to irreparable torn tendons of his legs. Due to this he can no longer compete in dressage neither can he ever be ridden again. His former owners allowed us to adopt Chopin so we can give him a for-ever loving home at our farm sanctuary for special needs animals. At KFAAF he can enjoy his well-deserved early retirement, the company of the other members of our family and grazing on the grasslands. Time will tell what the future has in mind for Chopin as his legs will always be problematic, but together with our veterinarian specialists we’re doing whatever we can to keep him in a stable condition and without pain.
Pommetje
Pommetje is a blue Texel sheep was born on March 14, 2017. Pommetje was rejected by his mother, fostered by a host family and placed at a pet farm where they forgot to bottle feed him regularly. When his host family heard about this, they brought him back home and contacted KFAAF with the request to adopt Pommetje as they feared for his life as he was underweight and malnourished. Pommetje lives currently with our roommates until he’s big enough to join our flock of sheep’s.
Beertje
Beertje is a Hampshire Down sheep, an ewe, born on January 3, 2013. Beertje has lived on a sheep farming all her life. Beertje has an abdominal wall rupture as a result of given birth to her lambs. As a result, she may never become pregnant again, so they would have taken her to the slaughterhouse. We have prevented this and gave her (and her little lambs) a for-ever loving home at our care farm. Beertje is a great mom for her little ones (Soofje, Ollie and Bommel). She is very caring and protective, but she trusts us and comes and allows us to cuddle her family of three.
Ollie
Ollie is a Hampshire Down sheep, a ram, born on January 20, 2017. Ollie has a broken leg – he got trapped with his paw between a steel crib – and he would be euthanized, because nobody is interested in a sheep with a broken leg. We’re asked to give Ollie a for-ever loving home. Ollie is now living with us, together with his mom (Beertje), brother (Bommel) and sister (Soofje). As for Ollie’s paw, we must wait and see. An operation is not possible. He can lean on his leg, but as he gets bigger and more weight is put on the paw he might need the support of a customized brace. Time will tell – we’ll keep you posted!
Bommel
Bommel is a Hampshire Down sheep, a ram, born on January 20, 2017. Bommel is a healthy boy. Since mom and his brother were saved from the death penalty and separating the family (Beertje, Ollie and Soofje) wasn’t an option for us, Bommel is now living with his family of 3 at the farm sanctuary.
Soofje
Soofje is a Hampshire Down sheep, an ewe, born on January 20, 2017. Soofje is Beertje’s daughter. Soofje is a healthy ewe and she will never have to get pregnant and can simply enjoy being a happy sheep. Since mom and her brother were saved from the death penalty and separating the family (Beertje, Ollie and Bommel) wasn’t an option for us, Soofje is now living with her family of 3 at the farm sanctuary.