Welcome to the ranch! The short and sweet of why we have so many animals here on the farm is simple - the meat and dairy industry. Cows and goats, like other mammals, do not just start producing milk at a certain age. They need to give birth. If the offspring are permitted to remain with their mother they would consume the milk used for sale and the farm profits would be very low. Therefore, the young are usually taken from their mothers shortly after birth or up to a few days old. Female young are sometimes kept and added to the herd as milk producers, however the males are often sold to be raised for the meat industry.
A majority of our rescues are those males destined for slaughter. Some animals were no longer producing profit and some were rescued by caring people who stepped in to save their lives. Unfortunately, a number of our residents started as a trendy pet that grew too big or proved to be more work than expected (think potbelly pig).
The circumstances of their arrival vary for each animal at Wonder Dog's Rescue Ranch, but these are the lucky ones who survived against the odds and will live out their natural lives lazy and happy with us.
Feeding and caring for our animals is expensive. In addition to their free-range grazing, they are also fed high quality, species appropriate food, minerals, and supplements. It costs an estimated $200 -$300 per week just to feed our residents. This does not take into account additional expenses for veterinary care, supplies, and equipment maintenance.
While these animals are not available for adoption, you can become a devoted sponsor of their care. You can choose to support the animal of your choice for a week, a month, a few months, a year ... Consider sponsoring an animal as a way to honor a friend or family member with a passion for saving lives. Click on the links below, under the animal bio. You will be taken to PayPal where you may choose the amount you wish to put toward the sponsorship and care of that animal. With permission, you and your honoree will receive special recognition as a sponsor with your name listed under their photo, and we'll even send them a card!
A majority of our rescues are those males destined for slaughter. Some animals were no longer producing profit and some were rescued by caring people who stepped in to save their lives. Unfortunately, a number of our residents started as a trendy pet that grew too big or proved to be more work than expected (think potbelly pig).
The circumstances of their arrival vary for each animal at Wonder Dog's Rescue Ranch, but these are the lucky ones who survived against the odds and will live out their natural lives lazy and happy with us.
Feeding and caring for our animals is expensive. In addition to their free-range grazing, they are also fed high quality, species appropriate food, minerals, and supplements. It costs an estimated $200 -$300 per week just to feed our residents. This does not take into account additional expenses for veterinary care, supplies, and equipment maintenance.
While these animals are not available for adoption, you can become a devoted sponsor of their care. You can choose to support the animal of your choice for a week, a month, a few months, a year ... Consider sponsoring an animal as a way to honor a friend or family member with a passion for saving lives. Click on the links below, under the animal bio. You will be taken to PayPal where you may choose the amount you wish to put toward the sponsorship and care of that animal. With permission, you and your honoree will receive special recognition as a sponsor with your name listed under their photo, and we'll even send them a card!
Our Cows: We perform regular fecal examinations for intestinal parasites, routine hoof care, and topical preventatives for biting insects. Our cows are free to roam the ranch and graze as much as they want but we also feed them a pelleted diet and hay twice per day. They have mineral blocks available at all times. It costs approximately $1.00 per day to feed a cow.
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Lakshmi - Holstein heifer
Lakshmi (affectionately known as Shmee) is named after the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. We got Shmee from the middle-man who buys dairy calves from auction and then sells them to farmers who raise them for meat. She was 5 days old and very unhealthy when we got her. She was dehydrated from diarrhea and coccidia, didn't want to nurse, and required subcutaneous fluids for several days. She's growing up big and strong and is now the dinner-time alarm. |
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Gary - Jersey steer
We got Gary from the same farmer at the same time we got Shmee. He, too, was born so his mom could produce milk and he found himself at auction at only 2 days old. He was 4 days old when we got him and, although he was also sickly, he never lost the urge to nurse and recovered more rapidly. Being a bottle baby, Gary loves affection and still enjoys having his head and ears rubbed like a dog. |
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Mia - Holstein/Angus mix cow
Mia was purchased with another calf to be home raised in the back yard for beef. Shortly after arriving at the man's property, the other calf was accidentally crushed and killed so Mia spent the first two years of her life alone in a small yard. She had no shelter, no grass to graze on, and no companions. Her ears were almost completely eaten away by flies and she was severely underweight. A neighbor's daughter discovered Mia living in her neglectful and lonely environment and began bringing healthy food to her. It took a lot of persuasion but she was finally able to talk the owner into letting Mia go then contacted us. Since arriving at our farm, Mia has made friends with Shmee and Gary and has gained a healthy amount of weight. Her ears have healed and she especially enjoys having her head rubbed. |
Our Alpacas: We perform regular fecal examinations for intestinal parasites and routine foot care. The alpacas are shorn once a year in the spring. They are free to roam the ranch and graze/browse as much as they want but we also feed them a diet of Chaffhaye and they have regular hay and mineral blocks available at all times. It costs approximately $.95 per day to feed an alpaca.
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Dinah - Suri Alpaca
Dinah came from a farm that raised alpacas for their fleece. It was time to "thin the herd" so she got to come live here. It is apparent that Dinah has been a mother as she is very interested in any new young arrivals and inspects them closely as she makes her "hmm?" sounds. She's very tolerant of the goat kids' playful antics! |
Our Sheep: We perform regular fecal examinations for intestinal parasites and routine hoof care. Our sheep are all hair sheep and do not require sheering. They are free to roam the ranch and graze as much as they want but we also feed them a pelleted diet twice per day and they have mineral blocks available at all times. It costs approximately $.35 per day to feed a sheep.
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Bob - Dorper wether
Bob is a product of the meat industry. His mother died from milk fever shortly after his birth. The ewe he was put with rejected him and the farmer didn't want the task of bottle feeding, so he came to live here. Bob was our first bottle lamb. He was a very loud and demanding only child for a few weeks and the only way either of us was able to get any rest was when he was on my lap. This made for some funny pictures but ultimately I was relieved when the call came for another orphaned baby needing bottle feeding because Bob got somebody else to Velcro himself to and I no longer had to sleep on the couch with a lamb. Bob still occasionally tries to get into my lap! |
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Bubba - Katahdin wether
Bubba was the first lamb born to a very young, inexperienced ewe who wasn't very good at mothering. The family had a small hobby farm and didn't want to be bothered with the work it would have required to keep Bubba safe and with his mom. We talked them into keeping him with her for the first three days (so he'd get his much needed colostrum) and then bottle fed him along with Bob. The two are inseparable! |
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Betty - Katahdin mix ewe
Betty is one of those stories you just don't want to believe. A long-time friend called in a panic, needing an immediate place for Betty to go. It seems she and her twin were purchased to be the main course of a religious holiday meal. Betty's twin was slaughtered (right in the front yard with her and the entire suburban neighborhood watching in horror) but Betty was spared thanks to people stepping up and not letting her meet the same fate. |
Our Goats: We perform regular fecal examinations for intestinal parasites, routine hoof care, and topical preventatives for biting insects. Our goats are free to roam the ranch and graze/browse as much as they want but we also feed them a pelleted diet twice per day and they have mineral blocks available at all times. Goats require additional minerals that sheep cannot consume so making sure they get them without allowing the sheep to accidentally ingest them is a challenge! It costs approximately $.35 per day to feed a goat.
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Moe, Rocket, Snickers, and Otis - Nigerian Dwarf Pygmy goat wethers
The original Pygmy Posse, these boys keep everybody entertained. If it can be gotten into, knocked over, or climbed on, these guys will do it! Although they're by-products of the increasing demand for goat's milk, these boys were treated more like pets and allowed to nurse from their mothers until being weaned and placed with us. Thank you, Carla Mercer, for sponsoring these boys! |
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Sue - Myotonic Fainting goat nanny
Sue isn't really so much a 'rescue' but a retiree. She lived her first 9 years as a pet with her mom. After her mom passed away, Sue attached herself to a resident horse but that led to frequent upset whenever the horse got to go out on a ride, leaving Sue behind. She is happy living here as mother hen to all the other younger goats. |
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Pete (Little Man) - Lamancha wether
When Pete was about 3 weeks old, his mother was brutally attacked and killed by a neighbor's pack of hunting dogs that were not kept secured properly. She was the family's only milking goat and they simply could not afford to buy milk to bottle raise her orphaned baby. Also, he is a boy and would not be able to replace his mom as the milk goat when he grew up. Pete is the friendliest and most outgoing creature on the farm and is buddies with everyone -- but his bestie is Gary the cow. |
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Albus, Bert, Chunk, and Doom - Nigerian Dwarf Pygmy goat wethers
The second Pygmy Posse, these boys are a little younger than the original pygmy gang and a little less rambunctious ... well that is, except Bert! He was born with springs where normal goat kids have legs. He's the youngest and the only one in this group that was bottle fed (from the age of 3 days) so, like Bob, he thinks he's a lap pet. |
Our Livestock Guardian: A lifesaving member of any farm, a livestock guardian is as important to have as sturdy fencing. Whether it's a dog or another guardian animal, having one can literally save the lives of countless animals on any farm. We provide our LGD with the highest quality diet, all vaccinations, and a monthly preventative for internal and external parasites. As with all of our dogs, he has been neutered. Before having an LGD, we regularly saw evidence of coyotes, bobcats, and foxes but thankfully, we have not lost a single animal to them.
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Farmer Ted - Maremma Sheepdog
Just like all of the other animals here on the farm, Ted was a rescue. He came from a farm that bred both sheepdogs and sheep. Unfortunately, the farm went bankrupt and Ted was left abandoned with several other animals. The dogs were surviving off the carcasses of the unlucky livestock who had starved to death before neighboring residents discovered them. Ted came to live with us when he was just under 5 months old . He was underweight and under socialized, but he is now the outgoing center of everything going on here and is an excellent protector of all the other animals. Ted can be sponsored for $1.75 per day. |
Our Pigs: We perform regular fecal examinations for intestinal parasites, routine foot care, and topical preventatives for biting insects. Because of their destructive rooting behavior, the pigs are not permitted to roam the farm. They get fed a commercially prepared pig diet twice per day and all the leftovers and donated produce we can manage to collect. They are also given fresh branches to strip the leaves off of daily. It costs approximately $.60 per day to feed a pig.
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Ruby - Juliana sow
Ruby was purchased as a trendy pet for the kids but quickly proved to be more than the young family bargained for. By only 3 months old, she had become nervous and fearful and began nipping the screaming children. It wasn't the people's fault ... they were told by the breeder they bought her from that raising a pig as a house pet was "just like raising a puppy" but, of course, it isn't. With a lot of work, Ruby is outgoing and friendly again. She will even Sit on command (if you're holding a treat!) |
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Wilhelmina- Vietnamese Pot Belly Pig sow
Willie was also originally a family pet but managed to remain in her home for a few years before her family realized keeping her as a house pet was no fun for her or them. She spent a lot of time isolated in a small, makeshift pen in the back yard and was morbidly obese from her diet which consisted mainly of human junk food. Willie loves human interaction and will flop onto her side for belly rubs but will not lower herself to doing dog-like tricks for treats. She currently maintains a healthy weight from her more appropriate diet. |
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Bonnie - Feral hog sow
Bonnie was found on the side of a rural country road as a tiny infant piglet and then bottle raised. She had grown larger than all the other pigs by the time she was 6 months old and is still growing! Bonnie doesn't have a shy bone in her body and gladly does dog tricks for food rewards. She loves being pet and sees no reason she shouldn't try to get into a person's lap. She will rub her head on anyone who stands close enough as a signal to "pet me." |
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Jane - "teacup" Pot Belly Pig sow
Regardless of what you hear or read, pigs do not stay 15 to 20 pounds if fed a special mini pig diet any more than overfeeding a pig will make it grow to be the size of a cow. Yes, if you starve them they will grow more slowly, but they do not reach their full size for 2 to 3 years of age and even "teacup" piglets will grow to be whatever size their DNA tells them they should be. At one year old, Jane is approximately 35 pounds which is about half the size the other pigs were at her age so she is on the smaller side of the mini pig standard but she is still growing and will be far from a 15 pound lap cat size when mature. Like Ruby, Jane is the result of a greedy breeder who profits from selling underage piglets to unsuspecting people by misinforming them. Jane was purchased by a teenager who wanted a trendy pet but whose parents didn't. |
Our Barn cats: Barn cats play an important role on the farm. Where there is animal feed, there are rats. These guys earn their keep by helping to keep the rodent population under control. They have been neutered, vaccinated, and receive a monthly dose of flea and tick preventative.
Either of the barn cats can be sponsored for $.75 per day.
Either of the barn cats can be sponsored for $.75 per day.
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Beezle - Domestic shorthair
Beezle was a neighborhood stray dropped off at the county pound by an irritated homeowner. He spends his days relaxing around the farm but, as is apparent by his battle wounds in the mornings, he spends his evening keeping other strays away. He regularly presents us with a gift of a dead rat or mouse. |
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Pee Wee - Domestic shorthair
Pee Wee was rescued from a hoarder who had close to 80 cats living in a single-wide trailer home. After getting him healthy and having surgery to repair an old, untreated injury to his eye, Wee proved to not have the litterbox habits necessary to be a welcome house guest and came to live on the farm. He's a little guy but manages to keep up with Beezle when it comes to rat wrangling. |
Ducks and Bunnies and Chickens, Oh My: This section could also be called Why You Should Not Give Live Animals to Children for Easter.
Many of the following animals are the lucky survivors of the disturbing practice of putting baby animals in children's Easter baskets. It is a sad statistic that the majority of animals given as Easter gifts do not live to see their first birthday. Most die from poor care and/or rough handling. These guys beat the odds and will live out their natural lives doing whatever it is ducks and bunnies and chickens do.
We're not exactly sure of how much it costs to feed and keep each of the animals listed below since, in addition to commercially prepared feed, they get a lot of donated fresh veggies. If you would like to sponsor one or a group of them, please click the Donate button and choose the amount you'd like to donate toward their care.
Many of the following animals are the lucky survivors of the disturbing practice of putting baby animals in children's Easter baskets. It is a sad statistic that the majority of animals given as Easter gifts do not live to see their first birthday. Most die from poor care and/or rough handling. These guys beat the odds and will live out their natural lives doing whatever it is ducks and bunnies and chickens do.
We're not exactly sure of how much it costs to feed and keep each of the animals listed below since, in addition to commercially prepared feed, they get a lot of donated fresh veggies. If you would like to sponsor one or a group of them, please click the Donate button and choose the amount you'd like to donate toward their care.
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Ducks -
We have a bunch ducks that came to us for different reasons. A few were orphaned babies, a few were leftover Easter ducklings, and one is so deformed it cannot eat normally on its own and requires special feeding a couple times a day to prevent malnutrition and eventual starvation. We have Rouens, Pekins, Anconas, a Crested, a Saxony, an Indian Runner, and a couple mixed ducks, plus a handful of wild Mottled ducks (and Ibis) that take advantage of the free meals. With all the ponds available, it is a duck paradise here. |
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Bunnies -
We have several bunnies of all different breeds and sizes. Male rabbits are neutered to prevent a population explosion and we try to keep all bunnies with at least one other bunny buddy so as not to be alone. There are both indoor and outdoor cages/enclosures so, regardless of the weather, they can remain comfortable and healthy. Two of the boy bunnies still need to be neutered ... will you help? Friendly bunnies who like to be handled go up for adoption to approved homes. Interested? Contact us via our email address and we would be happy to talk to you about adoption. |
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Chickens -
What farm would be complete without chickens? Spring time always provides us with more and more unwanted Easter chicks. These lovely ladies repay us for providing them with good food and care by helping to control some of the insects, composting all of our organic waste, and giving us plenty of fresh eggs. The dogs love eggs (and so do our volunteers!) plus the chickens are entertaining to watch. |