Jenna
Our sanctuary is named after Jenna. We had just gotten started setting up the sanctuary, putting up the barn, and rescuing our first three pigs, when we suddenly lost our beautiful girl. She was the sweetest dog with the softest fur. Fur of an angel, I used to say. I can smell her and hear her bark even today. Her spirit moves through the trees and I hear her sweet grunts in the wind. She inspires me every single day to be of service to our animal friends by providing food, shelter, and safety. Jenna will always live in our hearts. We'd like to think that she smiles down at us from Rainbow Bridge every time we rescue another animal from harm. I know she is proud!
Claire
Claire "the Wiggling Pit Bull" was with us for 13 years. She came to us from the Wake County Animal Shelter, a kill shelter in Raleigh, NC. She lived a healthy, happy life all the way up until her last year, when she developed a arthritis and a tumorous leg that eventually resulted in a broken femur in July of 2024. Claire taught us a lot about dog aggression and how to handle a dog with this type of special need. She was a perfect, beautiful animal, and we will miss her as long as we live. Her spirit definitely lives on at the sanctuary and in our hearts. To read a story about her grand arrival to Rainbow Bridge, see our blog.
Abigail
Abigail ("Miss Abby") has been our most urgent rescue to date. She was living in a pile of trash behind a trailer outside of Charlotte, NC. The people who were supposedly taking care of her had moved and had simply left her to die. Her hooves had never been trimmed, which caused her to develop severe arthritis over the years. She never regained full mobility in the three and a half years she was here at the sanctuary, but she was able to get around after we started treating her with medication. Abigail never integrated into the herd of pigs, but she made friends with her kitty friend Mabel, several roosters, and load of squirrels and birds. Abigail is the only pig buried at the sanctuary. Her resting place is now a place of meditation and prayer for our caretakers and visitors. Her spirit still lives with us, and if we listen hard, sometimes we can hear her soft grunts in the wind. To read a story we wrote about Abigail's passing, see She slept in a pile of trash. - Abigail's story.
Daisy
Daisy came to us from a livestock auction at the Durham County Animal Shelter in 2017. She had been surrendered as a stray pig found wandering the streets. Our friend Bridget Munger alerted us to Daisy's situation, and we immediately made arrangements to bring her home. Despite the fact that Miss Daisy had lost most of her sight, she lived an extremely comfortable life here with us.
Daisy was definitely a dominant pig, bossing everyone around and making sure she got her way. I guess you can say she was the mother of the group. She loved her food, especially her mid-day snacks, which was anything from sweet potatoes, apples, grapes, squash, to zucchini. Miss Daisy's presence was truly massive, and the sanctuary is much quieter without her.
Daisy was definitely a dominant pig, bossing everyone around and making sure she got her way. I guess you can say she was the mother of the group. She loved her food, especially her mid-day snacks, which was anything from sweet potatoes, apples, grapes, squash, to zucchini. Miss Daisy's presence was truly massive, and the sanctuary is much quieter without her.
Stella
Stella came to us very shy and introverted, and she remained that way even after living with the other pigs for over two years. She preferred to be alone most of the time, but not because she was mean. She just had a wise, old soul, and wanted to experience life in her own way. I would often see little birds flying around her as she rooted around in the woods exploring. I am sure they hovered around her because they knew they were in special company. Even in her shyness, she eventually bonded with a newcomer young pig named Little Ellie. Ellie was immediately drawn to Stella's calmness and stayed with her right up until the end. Visitors were also drawn to Stella's sweet personality. She had a way of looking right into your soul. And let's not forget the belly rubs. Man, did she love belly rubs! We are forever changed by Stella's presence and wisdom. We will miss Stella and her sweet little grunts for the rest of our days.
Rachelle
Rachelle Kitty was our baby!! We had her for almost 19 years! She was an indoor kitty who just melted the hearts of everyone who met her. We had comfy beds for her all over the house, because you just never knew which one she would prefer on any given day. As the years passed, her sweet meow eventually turned into a little squeak. Every morning, that little squeak would follow me to the kitchen for her breakfast. And just like her beds, I had to keep several different kinds of food around, because she demanded variety. She was truly the queen of the house, and we will miss her terribly for many years to come.
Petunia
Petunia ("Miss Tooney") was a beautiful black pig with a gorgeous pink heart on her nose. She also had a very distinctive high-pitched voice, which she used quite a bit when it was feeding time! She came to us with her "husband" pig Pedro from an awful situation in Virginia - living in filthy conditions with no fresh water. As soon as she arrived, she knew she was home. She bellied right up to her fresh water bowl and ran for the yummy food and treats that lay before her. The other pigs took to her immediately. I have no doubt that the heart on her nose was meant just for her. She was kind and gentle, and she adored life. We will never forget our little heart-nosed girl. Our lives are forever changed.
Lucy
Miss Lucy was dropped off at a friend’s house on a cold night with no note or explanation about her situation. It was a freezing, dark night, and our friends literally drove up in their driveway to find the crate with this scared pig shivering and wondering her fate inside.
Lucy was a very gentle, docile pig who often tended to root around the yard by herself. She was a very wise pig who would stare you directly in the eyes – right into your soul. She definitely understood that she is living in paradise with us, and she let us know her appreciation often with her gentle nudges.
One of the sweetest things she did every morning was sit in the exact same spot by the gate, waiting for us to come out with breakfast. We loved our Lucy girl and will miss her forever!
Lucy was a very gentle, docile pig who often tended to root around the yard by herself. She was a very wise pig who would stare you directly in the eyes – right into your soul. She definitely understood that she is living in paradise with us, and she let us know her appreciation often with her gentle nudges.
One of the sweetest things she did every morning was sit in the exact same spot by the gate, waiting for us to come out with breakfast. We loved our Lucy girl and will miss her forever!
