Memorial Page

 

Each special soul who comes to Wildwood Farm Sanctuary is here forever. Always safe from harm. Forever loved and treasured. And when they pass on, they remain a beloved part of this special place. Our memory garden sits near our entrance, next to our main pasture and the big barn. It is a reminder of the priceless friends who spent their final days or years with us and graced us with memories of their sweetness, bravery, and unique personalities.

Handsome boy Doc Martin, one of our beloved senior sheep, came to live at our sanctuary in early 2014 after being rescued from a cruelty case that involved several other animals. Already an elder when he arrived, Doc was a bit arthritic and shy, though he learned to trust his human friends over time. Here he had soft bedding, safe shelter, loving care, and arthritis treatment so he could enjoy his golden years in complete comfort.

 

 

Gentle bunny Milo began his life on a rabbit meat farm where he lived among many other rabbits, stacked in cages, one on top of the other, so urine and feces would fall from the higher cages onto the rabbits in the lower cages. After his rescue from those terrible conditions, Milo lived alongside our other rescued bunnies, spending his days in our safe rabbit play spaces, eating fresh grass, resting in the shade or stretching out in the sun, and enjoying the peaceful life he deserved.

 

Nancy was one of our very first rescued goats. Her story had many chapters, beginning on a farm near the Oregon coast where she suffered terrible abuse and neglect. She spent some time at another farm animal sanctuary and then was adopted to a private home before she finally found her forever home at Wildwood. After so much turmoil and suffering, Nancy’s final years offered only peace and comfort. When Nancy ultimately suffered age-related health issues, and the best medical treatment couldn’t restore her to health, she spent her final days at Wildwood under tender loving hospice care. 

 

Beautiful, tiny Twinkle got his name because of the nearly magical qualities of this unforgettable little man. He came to us desperately sick and undernourished from a large animal cruelty case in which law enforcement removed dozens of sick and dying animals from a hobbyist farm. Twinkle quickly captured the hearts of all who met him while he bravely fought to get healthy. Ultimately his serious illnesses proved to be too much to overcome. We were devastated – so much so that we decided to wait for a special moment to scatter his ashes on the sanctuary. That moment came when we got word that Twinkle’s abuser was convicted on all counts and no other animals would suffer the way Twinkle had. 

 

Blackbeard came to us in 2016, rescued from a horrendous neglect case in Southern Oregon. He earned himself the “wild” reputation by being the hardest to catch during the rescue and the most elusive at the sanctuary. In his last couple of years, he learned to trust. He would seek out his favorite volunteers and hang out with his best buddy, the big goat named Bowie. When he died very suddenly in 2021, a part of our world tipped upside down. We are grateful that he knew years of love and care and happiness. After the abuse and neglect he suffered in his earlier life, Wildwood showed him the life he truly deserved.

 

 

Charles was the stately ambassador who greeted all guests at the sanctuary. Patriarch of all the bird residents here, he presided with peace and a touch of humor over the entire flock. Originally bound to be the centerpiece of someone’s holiday table, Charles lived to a stately age in his loving sanctuary home here. He died of a heart condition in December 2020. Charles was especially well known for his stunning appearance and need for praise and affection. His natural ability to charm and need to be loved and admired was the perfect antidote to the myths that turkeys are aggressive or dumb. He was anything but! And he was loved by all he met.

 

Sir Randolph was simply majestic. Another stunningly beautiful ambassador for his kind, he sat watch every morning and evening, perched on the deck rails like a royal master surveying his estate. He most enjoyed coming to the kitchen window on weekend mornings for a treat of blueberry pancakes. We miss his regal presence and friendship.

 

 

Buddy suffered a fate of far too many domestic ducks and geese: he was fending for himself at a park pond, apparently abandoned by people who grew tired of caring for him. Here at Wildwood, he became a friend to several other geese and enjoyed the freedom of his own pond coupled with the security of having humans to feed and care for him. His death was sudden and left us grief-stricken. Each of our friends leaves a mark on our hearts.

 

Coco was a goose who became best friends with a cow. Coco and Charlotte had a long and adorable love affair that reminded us of the strong bonds animals can form with members of other species. The cruel conditions of factory farms prevent these cross-species friendships and separate bonded mothers and siblings from each other. Here at Wildwood we love to observe the friendships that form, and enjoy creating an environment that allows our beloved family members to choose their friendships and form the bonds they choose to form. Coco’s loss broke our hearts and we are certain Charlotte felt the loss as well.