June’s journey to SASHA began when she was raffled off as a prize at a church fair. The “winner” was a kindhearted woman named Jenny (now a volunteer) who had no intention of winning a pig, let alone sending one to its death so the pig could be dinner on someone’s table. So, you can imagine Jenny’s surprise when she heard she had won and was asked where she’d like June to be delivered and “processed”. Her answer: “Nowhere. I’m sending her to a sanctuary.”

Once June’s destination was announced, the offer to deliver her was withdrawn. Monte Jackson hooked up the SASHA trailer and started down the road to pick her up. June arrived on a Sunday, hopped off the trailer, and with no hesitation she joyfully explored her new living quarters. After a brief period of living by herself, where she was still able to see the other pigs and touch noses through the fence, she was gradually introduced to her new pals in person, and introductions went very well. June’s friendly and playful demeanor from the start had a lot to do with how well she integrated with the others so quickly. Although she was destined for slaughter, she came to SASHA with her spirit still intact, so we imagine her early days pre-SASHA may have been spent with caretakers who treated her kindly.

Her name, June Carter Cash, was a “no brainer”. She has become the perfect good buddy for Johnny Cash.

Today, you can observe her running and playing in the grass, splashing in puddles, throwing her bowls around like frisbees, and playing with the scrub brushes that staff and volunteers use to clean water troughs and bowls. Our animal care manager tells us more about her personality: “June is a leader and has taken over the matriarch position of the Big Pigs. She is super friendly and extremely sweet. June enjoys human company, which includes tons of belly rubs. She lives for rubs. You will often catch her wandering around the yard rooting around with her tongue out (typical look for this queen) or snuggling with Johnny Cash during nap time. Also, she’s a tail wagger. Whenever you visit, and especially when you call her name, her tail goes nuts. She’s an amazing part of the pig family. Everyone loves June!”

Now, June Carter Cash has a beautiful life, one that most pigs will never know. Thank you to Jenny, June’s rescuer, who made it possible for all who come in contact with June at SASHA to share the joy of her life.

“Runaway sheep on the loose!” That was the news in a small Southeast Michigan town that summer of 2014. A sheep, complete with tags on each ear, and spray paint on her back, signifying she was destined for slaughter, broke loose from her owners’ back yard, and gave the “concerned citizens” quite a chase for over two weeks. We were eventually asked to help catch her. We agreed, but only if they surrendered her to SASHA Farm so she would never be someone’s dinner. On the early morning of June 21, 2014, SASHA Farm staff headed to the neighborhood to help catch this frightened sheep who had been tromping through everyone’s neighborhood. After a long morning and assistance from the neighborhood residents, she was caught and loaded into the SASHA Farm trailer.

Left, Runaround Sue checking out the dog barn after first arriving. Right, Sue spending her first night at SASHA in the cozy barn – first thing on the agenda tomorrow – ear tag removal!

Once at SASHA, she was understandably very leery of any person who came close to her. After all, she had been running for her life. She had no way of knowing that she was now safe and free. Our director Dorothy Davies appropriately named her Runaround Sue, after the “oldies” hit song of the same name! We removed her ear tags and the spray paint on her back which marked her for slaughter finally wore off. No longer “129”, she is now a “someone” with a name, living the good life with all the other SASHA sheep who have come from similar circumstances. She has found freedom and love with us at SASHA Farm.

In our Meet the Animals series, we have loved telling you about the many animal residents at SASHA Farm like Bhima and Daisy Belle who have responded to our loving care and seek out human companionship. But Runaround Sue is not a Bhima or Daisy Belle – she is a sweet docile sheep, and like many sheep, she is timid and shy around her human care givers and keeps her distance from us. However, she has bonded with many of the other shy sheep, like Chia, and we know she finds comfort and solace in her friendships. We humans often sing her song to her, though from a distance. We are certain she is wondering, “what’s up with the crazy humans?”

“Yeah, I should have known it from the very start – This girl will leave me with a broken heart – Now listen people what I’m telling you – A keep away from a Runaround Sue , yeah”

We love Runaround Sue just the way she is, and we don’t try to change her into someone she was never meant to be. We are so grateful that she has found her place in the world – here at SASHA, safe forever.

There are different versions of Moo’s story, but as reported by the Associated Press in 2007, Moo was purchased by a farmer on Long Island to be raised for beef. He wasn’t there long when he made a break for it, first hiding in the farmer’s extensive vegetable farm and then starting his travels through 10 miles of backyards, swampland, roadways and beaches. He was only 600 pounds then, but sighted often as he stopped cars on the roads, munched on grass in backyards while people ate dinner inside, and was chased by police and a veterinarian for six weeks. He was finally captured on a crowded beach and returned to his owner who immediately tied him with a rope and made sure he had a dog and a horse for company. Moo didn’t seem ruffled by any of the fuss and showed no aggression towards his captors– he just knew he wanted to be free.

But the story didn’t end there. A compassionate citizen negotiated his release from his owner, and with the help of Farm Sanctuary, this gentle, docile steer, finally found his way to SASHA Farm. These days he enjoys the comfort of relaxing in the pasture, having plenty to eat, and hanging out with lots of other cows that he calls his friends. Moo is the “quiet leader” of the herd. He is one of the older cows, which means he is in charge a lot of the time. His name is very fitting, as he moos often, and loudly, to get our attention for snacks. Though he is still a little timid around humans, he gets along with everyone. He enjoys produce and is always one of the first to greet us at the trough.

Moo is a polled Hereford steer, brown and white, with no speckles on his white face. Being one of the SASHA “old timers”, he is pals with other escapees, notably Fargo and once Jefferson, until Jefferson’s passing in 2018. You will see pictures of his photo shoots with Fargo and Jefferson, but we understand he loves MacGregor (Highland steer) most. The Hereford is a British breed, and a certain number of them are born without horns, like Moo (hence “polled”). They are known to be docile, as is Moo, and are mostly slaughtered for their beef.

Anyone who meets a Hereford falls in love with his or her sweet, innocent face and shy nature. We are so grateful that Moo made his way to SASHA – we’re pretty certain this is what he was dreaming of when he made his run for freedom. If your diet is not yet plant based, please, just look at his face. He wants to live, and he proved it. Make the change TODAY in Moo’s honor and in memory of all the “Moos” out there who haven’t been as fortunate. You can make a difference right now, and Moo will thank you forever.