Noodle

Noodle was a mystery cat.  I found him in one of our sheds one day  - a shed I rarely entered and can't imagine how he even got in there. He was obviously very sick and neurologically impaired.  We took him to Dr. Jordan who felt Noodle's only chance was to get him to a neurologist in Charlotte so we quickly raised money to take him there.  We didn't know where he came from but he was emaciated and sick with no micro-chip.  For four days we fought to save him but it was not to be.  We take comfort in knowing that he died peacefully in my arms, surrounded by love after spending his last days in a soft bed, with kind words and gentle caresses.  We believe he was a stray when he got here but he is now forever a part of our FSFS family. 

Sissy

Sissy came to FSFS as our very first cow and she brought her week old baby boy, Elvis, who is still with us.  Sadly, poor Sissy had been bred over and over again and it took its toll on her body.  By the time she got to us, she was too thin and too weak.  We did everything in our power to get her healthy but after only about 9 months with us, Sissy went down and was too weak to get up so we helped her over the rainbow bridge in September of 2017.  After having all of her previous babies taken away from her, Sissy loved being a doting mother to Elvis and we're so glad that she got to spend the last months of her life safe and happy with her son. 

Annabelle

Annabelle was actually with us even before FSFS.  Rescued in July of 2012 from a terrible dog hoarding situation, starved and near death. She slowly recovered but was always a tiny little thing - weighing about 5 lbs on a good day. Despite her tiny size, she had the strength of will of a lion and she absolutely loved all dogs. She was a little intimidated by strange people and farm animals but she never met a dog she didn't love. Although she had her own comfy dog beds, we always found her sharing a bed with one or more other dogs except when she had the opportunity to climb into my lap. We lost Annabelle in February of 2022 after almost 10 years together. She was somewhere around 18-20 years old. It is amazing how such a tiny little creature could leave such a big hole in our hearts. 

Frannie

We adopted Frannie from a rural Georgia shelter in the summer of 2016. She was a senior, heartworm positive, scarred up, underweight pit bull with chronic ear infections who had been there for months. Her teeth were ground down almost to the gum line. Despite all of that, she was a love bug. 

We knew she was old but not how old so we called her 10 every year.  We got her healthy but her chronic ear infections left her deaf and she needed daily medication for her arthritis but she loved being part of our family, riding in the ATV with us and she never met a stranger.  She was nothing but love.

We helped Frannie across the rainbow bridge in July of 2022 and we have missed her every day since she left us.

Harry

Harry came to us in November  of 2018 and left us only 14 months later in January of 2020.  When he got to us, his back legs didn't work at all but he was such a happy, loving, determined pup that everyone fell in love with him and we were determined to help him walk again.  He had physical therapy multiple times a week acupuncture and steroids as he fought to walk again.  Then, just as he made progress and was able to walk and even wag his tail, he was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer. He lived for two more weeks after his diagnosis and then our precious little warrior dog left us.   Although he was only with us for 14 months, he left an indelible mark on our hearts. 

Lula

We adopted Lula in July of 2015 and she helped us start FSFS. Everyone loved her. If you search our FB page you'll see dozens of pictures of Lula - with people, cats, llamas, horses, ducks. She was truly one of a kind. Lula was only about 4-5 years old when she was struck by a car and killed.

In a perfect world, we’d all be more like Lula. She was 11 lbs of pure joy. She loved everyone, trusted everyone, assumed the best about everyone and forgave quickly if you accidentally stepped on her. She was the first to befriend newcomers (human or barn animal) to the farm and, despite her high energy level, she happily offered snuggles to all who requested them for as long as they wanted to love on her. If I can be even half as good-hearted and joyful as Lula was then I will have a life well-lived. 

Panda

Panda got here on December 17, 2020. Rescued from the notorious Miami-Dade Animal Shelter literally minutes before euthanasia. He had some sort of mobility issue that needed to be diagnosed and treated but he was total, pure, unadulterated love. Right up until the very end, we hoped that Panda's issue was treatable. We took him to specialists in Charlotte, we helped him walk with a sling, we gave him physical therapy and we loved him beyond measure. But, as much as we didn't want to see it, Panda slowly worsened.

In retrospect, I think Panda knew he wasn't going to be with us long. As the weather permitted, he spent his time outside - soaking up fresh air, sunshine and freedom. Almost like he knew he didn't have much time so he relished the good stuff as much as he could, while he could. Only 38 days after he got here, Panda broke our hearts and crossed the bridge on January, 24, 2021. He deserved so much more in this lifetime but we are forever grateful that he spent his last days feeling the love of a family and the comfort of a home. He was seen, he was loved, he was part of our family.

Riley

Riley was Kay's dog even before she met Richard.  He was adopted in 2006 as a puppy which means every single animal that came to FSFS, came after Riley and he welcomed them all. Never even a tiny twinge of jealousy when a new pup appeared. He shared his bed, his food and his people happily. Always plenty of love to go around.

Riley was shy when meeting new people so he could be aloof at first but, once he loved you, he loved you forever. He could go years without seeing someone he loved and still instantly recognize and run to them. His memory was long and his loyalty was unwavering.  Riley left us on June 17, 2022 and we have missed him every single day since.

Rosie

Little Rosie was the first ever FSFS dog.  We found her dragging herself down the middle of blazingly hot, southern Georgia road  in the summer of 2017 with no use of her back legs.    Eventually, she gained some function in her back end but she never did regain full function of her back legs and had to wear diapers in the house. Rosie spent as much time outside as she could and if she realized that her back legs didn’t work quite right she never let on. It was like her back end danced a little jig - independent of her front legs whenever she walked or ran but she never let that slow her down. When she wasn’t stretched out in the sun on the front porch, she’d be running around the farm making sure that everyone knew she was boss. She was one of those tiny dogs who thought she was a fierce wolf. Our tiny little warrior left us in October, 2024 - a little over 7 years after she joined our FSFS family. We don't know for sure how old she was but we believe she was around 13 so she had a good life but, of course, it wasn't nearly long enough for those of us who loved her. 

Wilbur

Wilbur came to us in November of 2018.  He was found as a stray, dirty, hungry and positive for heartworms.  He  immediately became one of our pack.  Once he finished his heartworm treatment, he relished being able to run all over FSFS with his dog friends. He was so happy to have a home and a family.  When Bridget got here, the two of them fell in love and were inseparable.  Unfortunately, despite our best efforts at containment, the two of them began running off into the woods together.  One day in December, 2022, Bridget came home without Wilbur.  We never did find him and he never came home again.  I will always hold out hope that he found a new home somehow but he was microchipped and we've never heard from anyone.  Wherever he is, we know he's not here and he is missed.

Wilson

Poor Wilson came to us with multiple orthopedic issues and severe PTSD from his former life.  He had surgeries, intensive rehabilitation - both traditional with hydrotherapy and PT and non-traditional with things like acupuncture.  We worked with dog experts and took him to special classes.  We feel like we left no stone unturned to help Wilson gain his equilibrium both physically and mentally.  But nothing seemed to help our sweet boy who suffered terribly from his physical woes and his anxiety so after being part of our family for a little over 3 years, we helped him cross the rainbow bridge where he could run pain free and rest his weary head - finally relaxed and comfortable in his own skin.  We loved our Wilson and will always feel terrible that we just couldn't figure out how to give him the life he deserved. 

June

June came to us in December, 2017 along with Gladys. After spending a couple of decades living with a herd of cattle, Gladys and June were on their way to a kill auction before we intercepted them and they came to us instead.  We were never sure whether they were sisters, mother and daughter or just best friends but, whatever their official relationship was, they were inseparable.  June developed a rare cancer and died in November, 2020.  June was a treasure -   a sweet, easy-going, wonderful lady.  Her loss left a big hole in all of our hearts, Gladys most of all. 

Roy

Roy was the first donkey ever at FSFS.  In fact, he was the first animal that we found to come to FSFS and he arrived with his pony friend, Oreo in the fall of 2016.  It was love at first sight for Roy and Kay.  Roy liked the other animals at the farm but he loved people and followed us around all over the farm, supervising our every project.  After years of a terrible life, Roy was finally living his best life ever.  He was our farm ambassador and unequivocal farm favorite.  Sadly,  only a little over a year after coming to us, Roy suddenly went down and couldn't get up.  Despite emergency vet care, we couldn't make him better or even figure out what was wrong with him.  He died with his head in Kay's lap.  One of our very first and, still, very hardest losses. 

Arthur

Arthur came to us with Merlin in 2016 - the first two goats at FSFS.  He was an older goat when he arrived and, as others joined us,  he easily slipped into the role of kindly grandfather goat to everyone although he always maintained his special friendship with Merlin.  He was a big goat but exuded such a gentle, calm spirit that new or scared goats naturally gravitated to him and he was just as gentle and careful when human kids visited too.  One night in January of 2018, kindly old Arthur curled up in the straw in one of the barn stalls, drifted off to sleep and didn't wake up.  We cried because we knew how much we'd miss him but we were also grateful that this gentle, old goat had such a gentle crossing. 

Billy

Billy, the goat, never actually made it to FSFS.  He lived with Fred, the cow, and their neglectful owner.  Their owner finally agreed to sell Fred to good samaritans who contacted us to take him in and we begged to be allowed to take skinny, sickly Billy  too but were denied.  When Billy worsened about 3 months later, the owner agreed to relinquish him and a volunteer picked him and drove him straight to Dr. Jordan's office late at night and then we rushed him to UGA vet school in the  middle of the night.  Sadly, it was all too late, Billy's lifetime of neglect proved too much to overcome and he was humanely euthanized.  Billy is almost the hardest loss to bear even though he never even got to FSFS because he never had a chance for us to try and give him a good life. 

Bob

Bob (a female) was a very special goat.  Her "real" name  was Sayyida but almost immediately upon her arrival, Richard started calling her Bob and the name stuck.  Bob was the funniest, goofiest, friendliest ,most entertaining goat of all time.  She came to us with several members of herd/family including her "husband" Swashi and her daughter Johanna (both of whom are still with us.)  Bob was incredibly thin when she got to us despite coming from an amazing home and getting good vet care for her entire life.  Our vets couldn't find any explanation for her gaunt appearance either and she seemed very healthy and full of life despite how thin she was.  Sadly, only a few months after she arrived, in January of 2018, with no warning at all, Bob died in her sleep. We still talk about her and her uncanny resemblance to Steve Buscemi.

Bonnie

Bonnie came to us with her partner, Clyde, in 2017 after being rescued by a German Shepherd rescue in Florida (we were never clear how that happened.)  Bonnie was equal parts wide and tall with short stubby legs and she was always one of the first goats to greet newcomers - human and goat.  She was gentle, sweet and always a fixture at the fence if she thought you'd stop by with a kind word, a back rub and, hopefully, a treat.  Clyde is still going strong but we lost sweet Bonnie in December of 2022.  I like to think she's still keeping an eye on Clyde and  I'm sure she'll be waiting for him on the other side of the rainbow bridge. 

Dae

Dae was originally rescued along with her brother Drogo when they were babies. When their rescuer could no longer keep them, they came to us in 2018. Dae was smaller, calmer and quieter than her brother but they loved each other dearly. When Drogo was off doing "goat boy" things like butting heads with other goat boys, Dae was happy in the company of the other lady goats and had a special friendship with Tulip, her surrogate grandmother. Sweet Dae was a quiet member of the goat herd - gentle, easy-going and loved by everyone.

We lost Dae in December of 2022 - only a few days after we lost Tulip. I feel certain that, just as when Dae arrived at FSFS and Tulip embraced her, Tulip was waiting at the bridge to welcome her and the two of them picked up where they left off.

Happy

Tiny Happy came to us as a four month old baby in the summer of 2018.  The youngest goat we've ever taken in.  He was tiny enough to keep escaping from the pasture to run to our house.  He loved to spend time with us and the dogs wherever we were.  It took him a little while to find his place with the other goats so his first, best friend was a duck.  He would squeeze himself through the tiny opening in the duck pen and spend all of his time with Willy, the duck and when he got too big to squeeze through that opening, Willy started joining Happy in the pasture.  Even after Happy bonded with the other goats, he still spent a lot of time with his best duck buddy, right up until Willy, the duck died in his sleep.

Happy was one of our smaller goats, always energetic and friendly.  We were never sure if he thought he was a goat, a duck, a dog or a person but there was no doubt that he was a happy boy.  Sadly, Happy got liver cancer at the age of three and we lost him in the Spring of 2021.

Lucky

Lucky came to us in Georgia with his bonded mate, Tulip, in July of 2018 and moved with us to South Carolina in 2020. They were considered “very senior” when they came to us and as they aged, I promoted them to “super seniors.” Lucky was a friendly, gentle goat - an elder statesman who happily took younger, smaller goats under his wing. He had an uncanny ability to steal away from his goat herd and find me alone in order to get treats without competition so I always kept a treat in my pocket just for him.

Lucky died in April, 2022 on his own terms, in his pasture, surrounded by his friends. He had not given us any indication that he was feeling sick so we believe that he just went to sleep and didn't wake up. A well-deserved peaceful, gentle ending for this peaceful, gentle goat.

Shirley

Tiny Shirley, with her wonky horns,  lived in a tiny, dirty, awful pen with Laverne, the pig when we rescued them in September of 2020. Laverne was too fat to move much so tiny little Shirley felt like her protector and, until she decided we were trustworthy she positioned herself between us and Laverne - ready to protect her if needed.  Eventually, Shirley moved in with the other goats and Laverne moved in with the other pigs but they visited each other often.  Shirley was one of those quiet little goats that everyone - human and goat - loved and she was special friends with Tulip and Dae.  We lost sweet Shirley in December of  2022.  Don't worry Shirley, we'll keep an eye on  Laverne for you. 

Tinkerbelle

Tinkerbelle was a one week old goat born with a cleft palate. Tinkerbelle crossed the rainbow bridge during surgery to repair her cleft palate.   She fought incredibly hard to live but between the long anesthesia for her unexpectedly complex 5 hour surgery, the blood loss and her tiny little body with no reserves, it was just too much for her. 

Her UGA caregivers are crushed, we’re crushed.  I know that you are all crushed.    Her cleft palate was far more extensive than preliminary exams revealed.  If it’s any consolation, I was told that she was already on her way to pneumonia just from walking around with that deep hole in her mouth - it was absolutely incompatible with life so surgery was her only chance.  I was so certain that we’d be bringing her home to FSFS that I had been making plans for her stall and introductions to Charlie and Delilah. 

I have told UGA  that we want to cremate her and bring her ashes back to our memorial garden.  Thank you for giving this tiny, precious girl her only chance to have the life she deserved.  We didn’t the happy ending we hoped for but she’s running free and whole over the rainbow bridge.

I just need to add that Tinkerbelle’s family loved her and took great care of her, including finding us so that she could get this necessary, but expensive, surgery.  So, from the minute tiny Tinkerbelle was born on March 16 until she went to surgery this afternoon, she knew nothing but love.

Tulip

Tulip came to us in Georgia with her bonded mate, Lucky, in July of 2018 and moved with us to South Carolina in 2020. They were considered “very senior” when they came to us and as they aged, I promoted them to “super seniors.”  We never had an exact age but  our vets all told us that Tulip was even older than Lucky and definitely the oldest goat at FSFS.  She happily assumed the role of grandma goat and had a way of making even the tiniest, most frightened new goats feel safe and loved.  Although the goats all wrestle with each other, no one ever messed with Tulip.  They all loved her and pushing her around would be like pushing your grandmother.

As Tulip aged, she slept more and more until, finally, one day she just didn't wake up.  In December, 2022, eight months after she lost her partner, Lucky, she just slipped away - gently across the bridge where I'm sure that Lucky was waiting for her.

Haggis

Haggis was rescued  from a terrible situation by Lester and Diane at Horse Creek Stable Sanctuary where he bonded with Atlas and Razor.  All three came to FSFS together in July, 2020, when Lester and Diane retired and closed their sanctuary.  Sadly, only a couple of months after arriving,  we got up one Sunday morning and found Haggis down in the middle of  a pasture, his leg badly broken in two different places.  We had no option but to help him across the rainbow bridge.  Haggis was a funny, affectionate horse and we had only just started getting to know him but he was easy to love. 

Penny

Penny came to us with Flash from a terrible situation.  Unfortunately, Penny had heaves ( like human emphysema.)  Heaves is a progressive, incurable disease even with proper treatment but Penny had been neglected and untreated for years so, by the time she got to us, her heaves were very advanced.  She was such a gentle, quiet soul who happily served as a mother figure to smaller, frightened Flash.  She was visibly relieved to be at FSFS and the treatments we provided gave her some relief.  Even when she was fighting to breathe, she was gentle and trusting and we easily fell in love with her.  But, eventually, her heaves became unmanageable, her flare-ups  were happening more and more frequently and she was exhausted with no reserves left so we helped her across the rainbow bridge in January, 2020.  Every time I look at Flash, I think of sweet Penny. 

Renny

Renny came to us in the summer of 2018.  He had been rescued by Redemptive Love Farm & Rescue who had spent months trying to get him healthy.  By the time he got to us, everyone believed that he was dying and probably had only a few months to live.  From the moment he stepped off his trailer, I was in love and we dubbed him King Renny.  We were all surprised when Renny seemed to be getting better rather than worse.  He was older and we knew we wouldn't have him forever but we began to think that we'd have him longer  than we originally thought.

Renny was a people-loving horse and sought out human companionship whenever he could.  When we moved the sanctuary from Georgia to South Carolina, we didn't have a barn but Renny needed extra feed to maintain his weight so he became a yard horse.  Every morning we let him out of the pasture and he had free run of the farm but what he liked best was hanging out by the front porch and visiting with us.  He loved meeting visitors, happily posed for pictures and gave hugs freely.  We lost Renny in June, 2023.  He was King of FSFS for 5 years.  So much longer than we thought we'd have him but not nearly long enough.

Cantara

Cantara came to us in the summer of 2020 and died less than two months later.  She was very old and very thin but oh so sweet and gentle.  We knew that we wouldn't have this sweet old lady with us for long so we spent  as much time with her as we could.  Then, one day, I came out to the pasture and found her already gone.  She was out in the pasture, surrounded by her llama friends, looking for all the world like she decided it was her time to go so she just laid down and crossed over.  We are so grateful that we had the opportunity to know and love her even if it was only for a short while. 

Dali

Dali came to us after being seized by animal control because she and other animals at her farm were severely neglected.  Despite her prior mistreatment, Dali was an easy-going, friendly girl who instantly made friends with everyone she met.  She was very well-liked by her llama friends here but had a special relationship with Ethel, the cat, and we frequently found them together.  Dali was also our most water-loving llama who spent most of everyday standing in the kiddy pool that we provided at the barn. We had Dali with us for almost two years when she developed cancer and crossed over the bridge.  We wanted her with us longer but feel so lucky to have known this special girl.

Marimba

Marimba was a very, very special llama.  All of our animals are very much loved but some of the characters who live here are just a little larger than life.  So full of funny quirks, so friendly and social and with such big personalities that , in a farm sanctuary filled with amazing animals, they manage to stand out.  That was our Marimba.  She was messy, funny, friendly and impossible not to love. I adored her. 

Moon

Moon came to us in May of 2020 and suffered a spinal cord stroke only about 3 months later.  She was just shy of her 20th birthday when she died.  Moon was a huge llama who might look intimidating but who was actually a gentle lady who loved to give nose bops to anyone who came into her pasture. She spent her whole life with llamas, Marimba, Rose and Mystique and always acted as their guardian - making sure that they were safe.  We think she went across the rainbow bridge to scout it out for her friends and, finding it a wonderful place, was there waiting for them as they crossed over after her.

Mystique

Mystique was old, frail and much too thin when she came to us in May of 2020 and that's how she remained.  By all rights, she should have died on  May 28, 2021 when we found her down in the pasture with a temp of 106.  We brought her to the barn to make her comfortable and that's where she met tiny, frightened, baby Charlie, the goat, who was recuperating from his leg amputation and terrified of everything.  We were thrilled when they bonded and flourished.  We began to celebrate each "bonus day"  of Mystique's life after May 28th.  Her bonus time ran out on December 15, 2021 when she laid down to sleep and never woke up.  A gentle death for a gentle lady who  left a lasting legacy  - the bond between our llamas and their two mascots - our tripod "llama-goats," Charlie and Delilah.

Pink

Pink was a joy who, despite a chronic, debilitating bone infection in her jaw remained steadfastly gentle and cooperative right up until her last breath. She came to us from another sanctuary and we, like they, tried everything in our power to fix her jaw but it was unfixable and, eventually, led to her death. Pink lived for years with a painful jaw and often uncomfortable treatments but remained unfailingly cooperative and friendly. She was that rare combination of serenity and strength. How lucky we were to have known and loved her. 

Rose

Rose came to us with  horrible arthritis.  We gave her supplements and meds every single day that she was here and added laser treatments toward the end.  Despite the fact that she was always uncomfortable, she was one of our most social llamas - happy to meet (and take treats from) anyone who came her way but she and Marimba were best friends. Rose was gorgeous and she knew it, always happy to pose for a photo.  A little over three years after Rose got to FSFS and only about 3 months after Marimba crossed over,  Rose's time came.  She was 21 years old and incredibly loved.  I have no doubt that Marimba was waiting at the bridge to greet her.

Tommy Llama

Tommy Llama was our very first llama and was such a character.  He loved our goats and had a special relationship with our dog, Lula.   He was a master of the "asleep or dead" game and would wait for all of the goats to gather around him and then pop up with a "gotcha!"  But his favorite thing to do was to wade into the pond deep enough for just the top of his back and his long neck to poke out - looking for all the world like the Loch Ness monster.  We lost Tommy to an overwhelming infection but he paved the way for all of the llamas who found their way to FSFS ever since.  

Hamilton

Hamilton came to us old, arthritic and blind in July, 2023. Although he had significant physical impairments, he had the heart of a lion and a huge personality. Hamilton was a uniquely lucky pig in that he was well-loved and pampered his whole piggy life. First, by his original mom until her death and then by the entire FSFS family. When Hamilton got to FSFS, we promised to give him his best life so he got his own stall, his own bed, private dining and a PNN (piggy night night) at the end of every day which included terrible singing, lots of laughing and Hamilton's favorite cookies. He was quite the character and beloved by more people than he could ever have imagined. Eventually, Hamilton's arthritis worsened and he made it clear that it was time to go find his first mom on the other side of the rainbow bridge and be set free from his ailing body which was putting a crimp in his big personality. So, on October 23, 2024, he got all of his favorite treats, drank four beers with his breakfast, endured a few more silly songs and then was helped over the rainbow bridge. He is forever remembered, forever loved and now he is forever free.

Tiny Tim

Tiny Tim was the runt of Molly's litter and fought unbelievably hard to stay here, with her and his siblings but after 36 hours of struggle, he was too weak and tired to go on.  Wrapped in the softest, pink blanket imaginable and cradled in Kay's arms, he took his last breath.  Tiny Tim's life was tragically short but in that short time he knew nothing but kindness, gentle touches, warm blankets, soft words and love.  He was buried wrapped in that same soft blanket, cradled in Hamilton's arms (who crossed the bridge the next day.)  A tiny little precious soul with the heart of a lion.