Mother’s Day through the lens of a cow

Today is Mother’s Day and I spent a large part of it in the Bourke Street Mall in a cow suit.  A sign around my neck a stark reminder of why I was there, “I’m a mother too” it read.  So I came, albeit for a few short hours, to view the world through the lens of a cow.  I was struck by the many and varied attitudes from people passing by and how they mirrored the same attitudes people have towards mother cows and all farmed animals.  Some people defiantly pretended not to notice a rather large cow in their path offering them a leaflet and a ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ cheerio, or perhaps they really didn’t notice, so consumed in the passion of their next purchase.

Some children insistently delighted in pulling my tail, despite my protests ‘you’ll break it’.  Others on seeing a really large cow suited person were heard to cry ‘hey, quick take my picture’ to their friends as they rushed to hug the cow, offering an obligatory peace sign.  But most politely took a leaflet and from my distorted view I could see many stop, smiling inquisitively as they read about the cute little calf named  Hansel who innocently peered back at them.  The picture told that Hansel was one in a million and posed the question ‘want to know why?’ Some pensively turning to the back to find the answer, others folded up the leaflet for later reading.  Perhaps wounded by the new found awareness that indeed cows were mothers too who dearly loved their babies and suffered from the loss by separation and human complicity to this, some people returned to learn a little more.

Coming to know cows as I do was all the reason I needed to be where I was today – to make a plea to human decency that we can do better.  Cows are naturally cheerful and innocently inquisitive.  They form strong and ongoing bonds with those they like and will harbour grudges against those they don’t.  Cows have a keen sense of smell, so watch out if you come bearing concealed wheetbix in your bag.  It won’t only be the piggies you’ll have to keep an eye out for.  Their babies, given the chance, will play together and mother cows will even form a nursery-like alliance allowing others to wander off while they look after the crèche.  Stories abound of cows who have walked over great distances to find their separated calves.  And they like to spend their days eating grass, chewing cud and looking into the distance having peaceful ‘cow’ thoughts.   Sadly, it is often this facade of nonchalance that causes people to think cows are dull and dim, yet their world is an emotional one.  Of happy, sad, and even ‘eureka’ moments when they find something new and interesting, or solve a problem.  All these things are supported by science not just anecdote.  In short cows really are ‘cool’!

Today may have been bitterly cold, wet and miserable, albeit the suit kept me warm, I was hungry, and it was unpleasant standing with my large cow head constantly flopping forward and obscuring my view, but at day’s end, I got to go home, hang with friends and wish my mum a happy Mother’s Day.  Something so few cows ever get to do…

Friends

Compassion, loyalty, forgiveness, affection and love- are all found in abundance in the animal kingdom. Animals touch our lives in so many profound and beautiful ways, they speak to our hearts and minds of a gentle and kind way of living, of not harming others.  I really don’t think it is the want of any decent human being to wish to harm or cause harm to others, human or non human. One of our greatest lessons will be, can we too learn to get along as they do?

Wish list of the month – new projector

A huge thank you to everyone who has expressed an interest in helping us with a new projector! We have been heartened by your response and it means a lot to us that Edgar’s Mission means so much to you.  Many have asked just what type of projector we are after, and after much consideration we have determined, that with your support we can obtain a start of the art projector that will service our needs most fully.  One of the difficulties we have faced is finding a projector that works brilliantly in daylight, as many of our school or farm presentations are during the day, to this need we have settled on a BenQ MX717 which is available for us at the special price of $1100 from our friends at TECS.

If you would like to contribute towards our new projector please click here to donate. Any additional funds will be directed towards our Humane Education Program.

Together we can change the world and we thank you in advance for your support!

Today is International Respect for Chickens Day!

Use this as your Facebook profile pic by right clicking and save the image to your computer, then upload it to your Facebook account and spread your love for chickens

Chickens are inquisitive, intelligent, affectionate and fun loving creatures, they have cognitive abilities that rival some cats and dogs and they outnumber humans more than 6 to 1.  So where are they?  With over 43 billion chickens on the planet today, most live their short and unnatural lives either crammed into tiny wire cages or confined into ammonia ridden sheds.  Chickens are indeed amongst the most maligned and abused land animals today.  And the only reason they are treated like this is because people buy the products of their suffering.

We know in our society the harshest penalty we afford those who transgress our laws is to lock them away in prison, we take away their liberty and we take away the things that give their life meaning and purpose.  Yet we do these things to gentle chickens and call it industry, simply because we can however we can choose not to do this and we can do better! Here are some fun, creative and delicious ways to make the world a kinder place for all!

UPDATE: See how the Edgar’s Mission resident chickens celebrated here.

Check out some recipes below and also visit these links:

Scrambled Tofu by Vegan Easy

200g tofu, crumbled
2 spring onions, finely sliced
2 tsp tamari
2 tsp savoury yeast flakes
½ tsp turmeric
2-3 tbsp water
Chopped fresh parsley and/or chives to garnish
Freshly ground pepper
Olive oil for frying

Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan. Fry onion and tofu for a minute or two.

Add tamari, yeast flakes, turmeric and water to pan and fry for a further minute.

Remove from heat and stir through the fresh herbs. Add cracked black pepper to taste.

Berry Pancakes by Vegan Easy

Pancakes
1 cup self raising flour
Pinch salt
2 tablespoons vegan margarine, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave nectar
1 cup soy milk (or other non-dairy milk)
1 teaspoon egg replacer
1 tablespoon water

Berry mix
1 cup mixed frozen berries
1 tablespoon agave nectar or sugar

Put the berries in a small pan, add the sugar or agave syrup and place over a low heat. Cook gently until berries are soft.

Mix together flour and salt. Combine the egg replacer and water then add the margarine, maple syrup and soy milk and mix thoroughly. Add the wet mixture to the flour and whisk until smooth.

Heat a frying pan over a medium to high heat. Brush pan with a little oil and then pour in about ⅓ to ½ cup of the pancake mixture. Each pancake should be about 4-5 inches across. Spread into a round shape with the back of a spoon if necessary.

Cook pancake on one side then gently loosen with a spatula and flip over. The pancakes should take about 1-2 minutes on each side and be golden brown when cooked. Keep pancakes warm between kitchen paper when cooked.

Pile pancakes on a plate and spoon over the warm berries. Drizzle over extra maple syrup if required.

Mirrors

I recently had the good fortune to take a friend’s advice and go and see their recommended “you’ll love this must see movie Pam!” For someone who hadn’t been to the pictures for, well, um I’m not sure how long, oh yes that’s right, 2006, I welcomed the chance to just sit for more than a minute. And how could I forget that world premiere event Charlotte’s Web where Burpy (better known to the world as Wilbur) trotted down the red carpet in the arms of Dakota Fanning, stopping off for photographs, cuddles and a well concealed pee!!

While Charlotte’s Web caused many to rethink their relationship with pigs, Buck, the movie would cause many to rethink not only their relationship with another animal, namely horses, it would moreover cause many to look a little deeper into their own soul.

Buck was the real life tale of Buck Brannaman described as a true American cowboy and hero. He travels the world in what he describes as helping horses with people problems and he has had phenomenal success in doing so. As someone who became enchanted by this most noble of beasts the first time I saw one I am truly grateful people such as Buck exist. While Buck’s statement

“Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.”

is very telling, I feel it more broadly applies to our relationship with all the entire animal kingdom.

The movie poignantly moved through some of Buck’s life, from his Dickensian childhood where his brutal, domineering and demanding father forced him and his brother to perform rope tricks, to the ‘horse whisperer’ who champions a better deal for horses. With Buck being one of the inspirations for the movie, The Horse Whisperer which earned him the respect of Hollywood actor Robert Redford.

One of Buck’s messages in the movie, although simplistic in words so often proves difficult in deed – the need for us to put our emotions, moods and personal goals behind when we engage with a prey species who relies on us for just about everything. We are responsible for how they live, what they do, what they eat and even how and when they die. Buck’s message that animals are not meant to be slaves resonated beautifully with me, and that empathy was the key to a successful relationship with an animal whose life we had so altered from their wild ancestors.

Buck is quick to point out the anomaly in using the term natural horsemanship, as he explains there isn’t really anything natural about taking a prey animal, strapping the skin of another dead prey animal to its back then a predator jumping on their back as well. Riding a horse involves the greatest degree of trust, and the success of doing this should be based on empathy and kindness, not threats and punishment. Sadly though, the later has become the hallmark for much of our relationship with equines.

I gave credit to the producers of the film and real life individuals for including the raw emotions and the telling tales people experienced on their journey with Buck. For me, the most haunting memory was of the lady who had bred several horses and had kept around 18 stallions. From her Pollyanna world she clearly was way out of her depth and failing them badly with one young colt paying the ultimate price. Buck pulled no punches when he relayed that the horse was now a victim of her actions and that she had created an unpredictable time-bomb monster which she was not able to handle and she could well have ended up getting killed. While many will condemn what followed, and I too moved uncomfortably in my seat, it is worth considering that it is easy for us to tout the high moral ground when few would be in a position to accommodate what this woman had created. So what do we do in these most difficult situations? I have no doubt Buck could have worked with this horse and achieved a good outcome, investing countless hours, days and even months at the expense of all his other commitments, but where do we draw the line and should he be the one to bear the brunt of the failings of others? These are indeed the most difficult questions, and the answer far simpler if we were talking about a car that had been driven into the ground and simply needed a new motor, but we are not.
At that heart stopping moment it was difficult not to reflect on the many calls I have had from individuals over the years who too have failed animals so badly, with the caller wishing to pass on the legacy of their actions to Edgar’s Mission, oft times with the words “I don’t care if you have XXX put to sleep so long as I don’t have to do it”. For this reason it is no accident that the very first quote we have on the kindness trail comes from Antoine de Saint-Exupery and reads

“Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”

I truly believe we humans can have wonderful, rich, and mutually beneficial relationships with animals. Even as a write this piece, my little dog ET, sits by my side, when I leave the room for a minute, he trots right there along with me for no other reason than he likes to ‘hang’ with a ‘me’, the human. We can share our lives with animals and do this with honour and dignity, albeit we are not going too good on that score so far, but we can do better, a lot better and we should. Not only for them but for us, to be the best we can.
Buck was not a movie solely for horse lovers, it’s message casts a far bigger net and the greatest message that I hope people take from seeing the movie and even visiting Edgar’s Mission, is that whether it is a horse, cat, dog or cow, that comes into our life, this is not complete without our responsibility for and duty to that animal. Not just for food and shelter, medication and grooming, and a life worth living but education on boundaries and making good decisions for them. Animals are not motor cars we can repair, or library books we can return, nor are they surrogate children, they are unique individuals shaped by their own biology, evolution and experience and how we treat them is indeed a mirror to our soul.

Cooking with kindness

Proving a mouthwatering success was Saturday’s vegan bake sale at Bendigo Wholefoods.  Cupcakes, pies, sausages rolls, lamingtons and more, all made without animal ingredients proved where there is a will there really is a delicious way.  And with just over $970 dollars raised for the not for profit animal sanctuary Edgar’s Mission, the day was a winner all round.

Organized by Maiden Gully resident Zerin Knight, the bake sale was part of a worldwide initiative which saw over 150 bake sales taking place across six continents and all raising funds for their chosen causes.

“I am deeply touched that Edgar’s Mission and its 250 plus rescued animal residents will be the beneficiary from today’s event” said Edgar’s Mission founder and director, Pam Ahern.

Pam, and a most amicable sheep named Timmy, who is one of the star ambassadors of the sanctuary, were on hand to talk about the work of this much loved sanctuary.  Timmy certainly proved a crowd favourite and even managed to lure some treats his way.

Meet rabbits, Brenda and Jacqui…

Meet Brenda and Jacqui, two very lucky rabbits, and here is their story.  The imminent closure of a factory farmed meat rabbit facility in Southern Tasmania spelled reprieve for 300 lucky bunnies, of which Brenda and Jacqui are just two.  Securing their safety was the Tasmanian based animal sanctuary Big Ears who have worked tirelessly along with Victorian organisations, Freedom for Farmed Rabbits and Radical Rabbit to bring about the best animal welfare outcomes for the hapless New Zealand White rabbits.  Sadly several rabbits were in such a poor state of health upon their rescue the only humane thing to do was to help them peacefully pass from this world – a passing that is never afforded a factory farmed rabbit.

Equally sad is the plight of factory farmed rabbits like Brenda and Jacqui who endure lives of misery, boredom, depravation and compromised health.  While Australians are increasingly becoming aware about the plight of factory farmed pigs and chickens and are voting with their dollars accordingly, many are not aware that the factory farming of rabbits even occurs in this country.  Rabbits are friendly, inquisitive and intelligent creatures, much loved by many.  Statistics on farmed rabbit numbers are difficult to obtain, yet in 2003 it was estimated around  119,000 -132,000 rabbits on 80 – 100 farms were held captive in tiny wire cages suspended over concrete or earthen floors.  The wire floors are far removed from what nature designed rabbits to spend their days on and can cause sores and injury, making it impossible to find a comfy bed, and ammonia ridden sheds can cause respiratory and eye problems.

Rabbit Farm - Photo credit: BigEars Sanctuary

Hopping about, burrowing and exploring their world are all fundamentals in a rabbit’s life, yet these simple things are an impossible dream for factory farmed rabbits.  Severe confinement can not only compromise physical wellbeing but also lead to psychological stress resulting in stereotypical behaviours or fighting.  Disease can quickly spread amongst the captive rabbits due to the cramped quarters and their lowered immunity due to stress.  With high mortality rates, and a slaughter age of around 10-14 weeks, time on earth for a meat rabbit could well be described as hell on earth.

Proving rabbits can have wings, Brenda and Jacqui were flown to Victoria to take up residence at Edgar’s Mission.  The girls have recently been desexed and are comfortably recovering enjoying grass, treats and kindness, things totally devoid from their previous life.  Already they are proving wonderful ambassadors, being incredibly friendly, trusting and forgiving to the species that has so wronged their kind.  And how do we tell the difference? While they certainly do look very similar, it is the individual personalities of Brenda and Jacqui that  make them easy to identify.  Brenda is far more outgoing, while Jacqui is somewhat shy and reserved.   It is hard not to muse when cuddling these adorable girls, “what on earth were humans thinking when we decided to cage, confine and consume such an innocent creature”.  The answer, I don’t think we were….

Rabbit facts:

  • Rabbits are not rodents. They are lagomorphs. Other lagomorphs include hares and pikas.
  • Rabbits are mammals as they warm blooded and nurse their young, feeding them milk.
  • A well cared for rabbit that has been spayed or neutered early in life can live for 8 to 12 years.
  • The gestation period (pregnancy) of a rabbit is about 31 days.
  • A male rabbit is called a buck, a female rabbit is called a doe and a baby rabbit is called a kit.
  • Rabbits’ teeth never stop growing.
  • Rabbits can be trained to use litter.
  •  A group of rabbits is called a herd and they live in a warren (or a wondrous place called Edgar’s Mission!)

The beat goes on

Today has been one hell of a day as you can imagine, but we have been overwhelmed by the community support for Edgar’s Mission.  We thank each and every one of you for letting council know that Edgar’s Mission is important to you also.  Please accept our sincere apologies as we may not get the chance to thank you individually for this tonight.  Our day didn’t stop with spreading the word about the important issue of the expansion of gun club activities in our area.  Polly and Kenny carried the flag at Gracecourt Hostel in Kew, where senior members of our community clapped and cheered, smiled and laughed as they met our inimitable ambassadors, and the message of kindness was spread.    While a call from an outer Melbourne Veterinary Clinic about a tiny duckling that had been found doing a very poor job of directing traffic on Bell Street, saw an about turn to collect the little fella.  Once home animals all fed and tended too, then it was off to Melbourne Airport to collect two very lucky rabbits who were destined for the dinner table until our friends at Big Ears Sanctuary in Tasmania intervened.  Brenda and Jacqui are now happily taking a well earned rest, with the possibility of this for us a distant dream.  Rest assured we will always move heaven and earth to do what we can to make the world a better place for animals and people- it is our privilege to do so.

 

 

Making it right

Cows, kids and kindness proved just the right mix on Sunday at Edgar’s Mission when all three merged together for Kids Day Out 2012.  Held this year in conjunction with the Jane Goodall Institute Australia, Roots and Shoots Program, around 35 excited young people searched for birds’ nests, woodworm carvings and snake skins as part of the nature trail.  While the farm tour gave the youngsters the opportunity to get up close and personal with pigs, goats, chickens and the farm favorites, Bambi and Gemima Deer.  The turkeys too were a huge hit as they showed a side of turkeys few people rarely get to see.

“Wow, I never knew turkeys were so friendly and inquisitive” said one newly devoted turkey fan.

“It’s just wonderful seeing the enthusiasm all the children had for wanting to find ways to make a positive difference in the world” said Edgar’s Mission founder, Pam Ahern.  “Fostering their innate awe and interest in the natural world have so many positives in encouraging young people to think deeply about the impact they are having on our world.  They will after all be the decision makers of tomorrow”

Alicia Kennedy, of the Jane Goodall Institute Australia, spoke of their exciting upcoming “Live the change challenge” starting May 16, where every day for 21 days participants are asked to commit to 3 simple actions each day.  Ranging from bringing your own coffee cup, planting a tree, turning the lights out while you watch television (or even not watching television) or writing to a politician; individuals pledge to find ways to make the world a better place.  For more information please click here.

And what would a day out at Edgar’s Mission be without tricks from the pigs? The inimitable Polly carried more than the flag as she not only fetched her toys from her toy box but put away when finished.  Now only if we can teach the kids to do the same!

For the full photo album please click here.

Meet Melvin

Meet Melvin.  Left for dead in a ditch by the side of the road amongst the dead bodies of his companions, little Melvin somehow found the will to survive.  But he couldn’t do it alone.  By some divine intervention a council roadside worker came upon the grizzly scene along the little used road and both lives would change for the better.  Shaking his head in disbelief he caught sight of what he thought was something moving.  Taking a second look, nothing did move, but just as his heavy heart told him to move on a tiny ‘baa’ pierced his soul and he saw the young wether.  “I couldn’t leave the little blighter there could I?” he would later tell.  A severely underweight and recently shorn merino, with infected sores from where he lay, was the lamb that would be named Melvin.  The only movement the poor little chap could muster was to lift his head.  It took the love, kindness and innovation of the worker and his wife to get Melvin on the road to recovery.  Quickly fashioning a sling to keep the resilient Melvin upright would prove livesaving as sheep left on their sides for too long will succumb to bloat, a condition which results in difficulty breathing and often death.

Offering physiotherapy, glucose filled syringes, manual feeding of grass and hay along with all the love the Good Samaritans could muster ,saw Melvin rally.  While it took some days for him to gain the strength to walk again, Melvin would soon befriend the family dogs.  Seeing Melvin happily playing in the yard with their pets caused the line between friend and food to blur.  The couple soon realised that their work was done and a new home was needed for Melvin.  But where? Their hearts sank when they considered that life on farms means an untimely end and a conversion into lamb chops and Sunday roast if you are a sheep.  News of Melvin’s recovery was shared with friends who mentioned Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary.  At first incredulous at the thought a farm could exist that would provide sanctuary and a long and happy life, not only for sheep but all farmed animals, seemed too good to be true.  But that was before they made the trek to Edgar’s Mission.  The tear filled eyes of the wife and beaming smile of the worker will bear testament that Edgar’s Mission indeed changes not only the lives of the animals who are fortunate to find their way to us.

Welcome little Melvin, welcome.

 

Little Women

Meet Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy and Louisa-May, five beautiful little women who arrived at Edgar’s Mission last week.  These plucky White Leghorn hens are now recovering from the trauma of life in a battery cage.  As you can see several of the physical manifestations of this are still evident, excessively long toe nails (which have now been trimmed), poor debeaking and feather loss from rubbing against the wire cage.  While these we are successfully able to deal with, it is the psychological suffering that while unseen will be our greatest challenge.  Even something so simple as walking normally has to be learned.  Each day their awkward goose steps are fading and they are welcoming the soft understory of straw- something so much more natural and comfortable than the wire floor they once had.  The girls can now find lots of safe and private places to lay their eggs, and if you are a chicken this is something that is vitally important to you.   Our ‘little women’ are also being introduced to the delights to grass (they instantly took to this), grains and seeds (their favorite is sunflower seeds but only in moderation) and melons (still unsure about this one).  One can only imagine what it would be like to live in the area the size of a toilet with a few of your companions for an incredibly long and boring 18 months, devoid of anything to stimulate your naturally curious nature.

Locking Horns

“To lock horns with someone” is an expression oft times used today. Its origins are found in the early 1800′s and refer to horned animals tussling with one another. They would use their horns as weapons as they reared up, charged towards their opponent and locking horns they would become stuck, unable to move on or away and a caprine Mexican standoff would ensue. While the animal contests of bravado were often playful, humans locking horns is certainly of a more serious nature. ‘Joe’ locking horns with ‘Bob’, would see the two becoming fiercely embroiled in conflict. And sadly when it comes to conflict in our lives there is none greater than that we have with animals – making friends with some and food of others. It should then come as no surprise that so much conflict exists in our society today whilst we have failed to heal our poor relationship with the animal kingdom. It was the great humanitarian, Albert Schweitzer, who back in 1923 encapsulated this thinking so succinctly when he said “Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.”

Finding peace is something we at Edgar’s Mission strive to do each day. Whether it be through our life changing outreach work or life saving animal rescue. Of late we have enjoyed witnessing and assisting several animals find a more peaceful world. Our recently rescued goats Eric, Annie, Colly, Woody, Callie, Crumpet and the magnificent Carl Lewis, joined our resident goats in Goatville. Carl Lewis being the most recently rescued goat of this group arrived at Edgar’s Mission on 06/02/12. As with all new residents, he received a full health check, was drenched, received a parasitic treatment and pedicure and was introduced to the delights of wheetbix.

While Carl Lewis the human, and one time fastest man on earth, earned fame and fortune with his deft turn of speed it was swift Carl Lewis the goat who earned his reprieve with an equally impressive 100metre dash. Legend has it Carl Lewis, the ruggedly handsome Boer goat, jumped ship from a truck that was abattoir bound. Serving his time in the local pound saw no one come forth to open their heart or paddock to the wily and somewhat odoriferous goat. So with a slight detour to the vet for castration for Carl to keep in line with our strict no breeding policy he was Edgar’s Mission bound. Uncastrated male goats, for the uninitiated, have quite a ‘distinctive’ smell which not only comes from their testosterone charged urine they delight in spraying upon themselves but also from sebaceous scent glands located at the base of each horn.

Our ‘no breeding’ policy has nothing to do with us not liking baby animals – far from it, who cannot be taken in by the cute and cuddliness of baby animals? Rather it is borne out of the realisation that the number of farmed animals in need of sanctuary is in inverse proportion to the number of people wishing to offer it, so for us to bring more into the world would only mean they would be taking the place of rescued animals. We do, however, play doting midwives to any hapless pregnant farmed animals that are fortunate enough to find their way to us; and theirs are indeed lucky babies. To be born at a sanctuary and always knowing the touch of human kindness is a blessing we are honoured to give.

It seems February must have been goat month for another goat found a special place, not only in our hearts but the hearts of people around Australia and beyond. The world came to know her as The Runaway Goat, a diminutive, female kid goat who caused mayhem to city commuters as she poorly managed traffic on the Tullamarine Freeway and surrounding Melbourne inner city roads. For several weeks the young goat had been sighted on the freeway deftly dodging cars and would be rescuers. However, it was in parklands surrounding the Melbourne Zoo that animal control officers and a camera crew had formed a posse to capture The Runaway Goat. Exhausted from exploring the new frontiers Calamity Jane, the goat, underwent more than a name change as she has found new digs at Edgar’s Mission. But not before a short stint in the lock up at the Lost Dogs’ Home upon capture by a very agile cameraman.

We fielded many calls and emails from concerned members of the public who had learned of the plight of The Runaway Goat, begging that we intervene and ensure she could find sanctuary with us at Edgar’s Mission. Over and over, we see how animals like dear little Calamity Jane can touch people’s hearts and are reminded of the goodness of the human spirit – when we see a fellow creature in trouble we want to reach out and ease their suffering. It is indeed one of our most noble traits, but sadly for so many animals in this world, their suffering is hidden from human view. They have no freeway to escape to, headlines to capture or voice we can understand. Their only hope for a brighter world rests with our conscience, praying it will expand with the seeds of compassion to one day reach Albert Schweitzer’s vision of peace.

So for now all these lucky goats can breathe a collective bleat of relief, surrendering lives of uncertain futures for goat jungle gyms and ‘mountains’, watermelons and wheetbix, and never again having to fear the hand of human indifference, oh and locking horns with one another till their hearts are content!

 

Above all be kind


“It started with a pig”, said Pam Ahern, founder and director of not for profit animal sanctuary Edgar’s Mission on Tuesday. Addressing the students of Beveridge Primary School, Pam told how her rescue of a tiny piglet she named Edgar Alan Pig changed her life and brought about Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary. The invitation was the brainchild of year 6 student Isha as part of the schools community awareness letter writing project.

“Every day we have the opportunity to vote for kindness with the choices we make” said Pam “and empowering the children of today, who will be the decision makers of tomorrow, with knowledge whilst fostering their natural sense of justice and compassion will help create a brighter world for all”

Animal ambassadors, Hip Hop Bob and Timmy, proved almost too much for the youngsters as squeals of delight rang out. Hip Hop showed how smart, friendly and fun loving pigs are, while Timmy, the ever amicable sheep, enjoyed lots of hugs and even offered a hoofshake to show sheep are not all that wanting in the brains department!

Edgar’s Mission regularly visits schools as part of their humane education program Joining the Dots. This program aims to encourage students to develop their own sets of values based on knowledge and critical thinking while developing compassion and respect for animals, the environment and each other. For more information or to arrange a visit click here.

What the world needs now

Sharing love and kindness for all beings has become the hallmark of Edgar’s Mission, a not for profit sanctuary for rescued farmed animals but their love and kindness doesn’t only extend to animals. Recently, Edgar’s Mission founder and director, Pam Ahern, loaded up her Kindness Van and headed on down to Arcare Westwood’s Age Care Facility in Burnside.

Polly Piglet and cheeky Kenny Goat spent an enchanted hour mingling with the residents and judging by the smiles all round the venture south was well worth it.

Long ago humans and animals were drawn together when a curious wolf wandered into the campfire of man, and the benefits were mutual. Long established now is the importance of touch, just stroking an animal lowers the heart rate and blood pressure as well as releasing the feel good hormone oxytocin. Evidence no more profound than when the residents availed themselves of stroking Kenny and petting Polly.

“Coming here today is very important to me” said Pam “as animals and the elderly are often the forgotten ones in our community. It is heartening to know places such as Arcare Westwood exist, to give the senior members of our society the quality of life and dignity they so richly deserve”

Polly rounded off the day with a performance of her tricks which included fetching, rolling out her mat and sitting on command – some pig indeed!

Farewell Moppsy

That rabbits do not live as long as humans is something tragically known all too well by those who have had a bunny hop into their heart and home.  Dear Moppsy, along with her friend Floppsy, became the first rabbit residents of Edgar’s Mission on the 10th of July 2006.  Surrendered by their ‘owners’ who had tired of the fury wonders, Moppsy and Floppsy delighted us each day with peaceful antics.  Floppsy, the larger and albeit shyer of the two dwarf black rabbits, loved to play hide and seek in a huge hollow log we had found, while the feisty little Moppsy would inquisitively run up to you and sit on her haunches, front paws outstretched, to accept your offering.  Gentle to touch and precious to hold, our lives became richer for knowing them.  While dear Floppsy passed away some years ago, it is dearest Moppsy who has now hopped away with a piece of our heart.  Just a quietly as she came into our world she peacefully left, passing away in her sleep on the weekend.  Edgar’s heavenly farmyard is growing.  Travel sweetly my lovely, travel sweetly.

Sadly, rabbits get a pretty raw deal when it comes to their interactions with humans; we eat them, wear them, experiment on them, treat them as pests and keep them as things of amusement in tiny cages.  But it doesn’t have to be this way, the hope that bunnies can live rich and full lives rests with us.  With so many rabbit free ways to clothe ourselves, test chemicals  and cosmetics and conduct research, as well as feed ourselves,  why cause harm to these gentle and innocent creatures?

Reggie

While we may never know what terrible turn of fate saw Reggie end up in a local pound and be looking down the barrel of a dubious future, his friendly docile nature and long lean body suggest he is a Large Black breed of pig. At first we thought it would be nigh impossible to get Reggie safely ensconced into our horse float, but that was before we knew just how amicable the large black boar was. Despite no loading ramp or race and a rather boggy paddock, Reggie happily grunted and chatted his way up the tail gate into the straw filled horse float. We strongly suspect the Hansel and Gretel breadcrumb trail and scattered oats was a great bargaining tool! A short stop off at the vet clinic on the way home to comply with our strict no breeding policy means there will now be nothing boring about dear Reggie ever again. Reggie and his fate is a stark reminder of how animals are the most vulnerable and voiceless in our community, but in that they also represent the opportunity for us to be our most noble, kind and good. We welcome Reggie to Edgar’s Mission and very much look forward to showing him the delights of watermelons, wallows and walking with branches!

Stop Stalling

Geoff Howard, Joanne Duncan and Pam Ahern with Polly Piglet

Thursday, March 1st is National Pig Day in the USA, and while Americans were toasting their porcines friends down under Australia’s celebrity pig, Polly was trotting for a cause.  Representing the voices of nearly 1,000 caring Victorians Polly made an impassioned plea on the steps of Parliament House Melbourne.  Calling for an end to the small metal crates used to immobilise mother pigs, otherwise known as sow stalls, Polly reminded everyone how naturally friendly, fun loving, and intelligent pigs really are.

On hand to receive the petition was state Member for Macedon, Joanne Duncan, who will present the petition to Parliament next week and Geoff Howard, state member for Ballarat East.

Geoff Howard, Joanne Duncan and Pam Ahern with Polly Piglet

Joanne Duncan with Pam Ahern and Polly

Sitting on Parliament Steps

Interview with Denis O'Kane from 3AW and The Age

Reasons

reason-n argument, motive, cause, or justification, intellectual faculty by which conclusions are drawn from premises. plural reasons

On the 23rd of September, 2005, a forlorn looking sow with a look of distrust in her eye arrived at Edgar’s Mission.  She arrived in the back of a trailer driven by the pig farmer who had used her as a breeding sow.   Up until that point in time she had only been known by a number.  I named her Alice, she was tragically beautiful and I instantly fell in love with her.  As soon as her four trotters found terra firma she plunged her snout down and grabbed huge tufts of green grass, turned her head skyward and savoured the succulent juice like it was the most delicious thing in the world.  And to her it no doubt was.  This poignant moment when for the first time in the life of this intelligent and emotional creature that she had the opportunity to see and do something so natural was not lost on all present including the farmer who stood agog and in amazement said “wow, that’s the first time she has seen grass”.

 ”All things are possible until they are proved impossible – and even the impossible may only be so as of now.”

- Pearl S. Buck

 Alice, I was to learn, was about five years old and she had been a piglet making machine for her entire life, save the months prior to her sexual maturity.  Her world, I believe, existed of metal bars, concreted floors, and the rations necessary to sustain life. No sunlight to bask under, wallow to splash about in or environment to explore, these would remain an impossible dream.  She would produce 2.4 litters of piglets each year and they would be weaned off her at approximately 3 weeks of age, and I truly believe she would love and miss them.  At around 4-5 years of age, like all breeding sows, her ‘productivity’ was in decline and a one way ticket for her servitude would be in order.

 But Alice was a lucky pig, her ‘get out of jail’ card came when she was plucked from the obscurity of the factory farm to play the mother of Wilbur in the Paramount Pictures portrayal of E B White’s classic book Charlotte’s Web.  Charlotte’s Web indeed saved the lives of many more pigs than the movies star’s.  While Paramount Pictures, ably assisted by Animals Australia, secured loving and lifelong homes for the 42 little piglets that played Wilbur, the movie took pigs into the hearts, homes and minds of people everywhere.  But finding a suitable home for the sow would be a challenge.  We felt up for just that. Unlike all the cute little piglets who had known little other than human kindness, Alice was a 200kg plus adult pig who had barely taken more than a few steps in her entire life, had never seen sunlight or smelt fresh air.  Her body was stiff from getting up and down on the barren hard floor, the many scratches on her sides showed the legacy of this, and her interactions with humans had always been driven by human wants not hers.  She would run from me when I entered her pen and she showed little interest in the world around her.  In fact, when I first met Alice I knew it would take some work for me to earn her trust - the look in her eye said hers was a world without hope.  And so I began to give her reasons to live.

The first came with introducing her to the wondrous world of gastronomic delights far removed from the bland diet afforded commercial pigs.  Deliciously sweet smelling pig mash, apples, carrots, kiwi fruits, mangoes, pears, grapes, fruit buns and wheetbix, were all offered and she would just sniff at them, unsure of what to make of their inviting scents.  But boy she did love grass, and so when she had eaten all the grass in her pen I would head out each day and cut her bucketfuls.  I would even carry a bucket in the car and stop along the roadside and cut long grass whenever I saw it.

It was no accident that four of the porcine stars of Charlotte’s Web were to find sanctuary at Edgar’s Mission.  E B White’s tale of Wilbur and his barn yard friends is the classic tale of loyalty, trust and sacrifice, all qualities those of us in the animal protection movement know well.  When word got out that Wilbur’s day were numbered his friends who had come to know him as a terrific and radiant pig realised that it would take a miracle to save him, and it was Charlotte, an unlikely spider who saw miracles in the ordinary that made this possible and in doing so convinced the farmer that Wilbur was indeed some pig and worth saving.  Sometimes it just takes a gentle pig to touch hearts and make us realise miracles can happen.

I gave Alice the most wondrously soft straw bed but at first she was frightened of the sight of it.  She would stand in the doorway and stare, waiting for the huge straw monster to move, then step by step she would inch closer.  One of my most happy memories is finding that Alice had not morphed into Houdini and escaped the yard but had found sanctuary in the inner workings of my straw bed!  Her happy piggy grunts were a dead give-away she was there.  As the days grew warmer I made her a wallow, right there in the middle of the yard.  That the muddy patch would spell ruin for the yard meant nothing to me, Alice was my friend and a wallow is a reason for a pig to live.

My greatest challenge was for Alice to see me as a friend.  As the months rolled on Alice did find reasons to live but sadly I had not become one of them.  It would be nine long months before I could lay a hand comfortably on Alice and from there I was to dexterously manoeuvre it to her tummy, then she got the idea – my smile could not betray my joy.  I think the greatest things that Alice ever showed me was the capacity to forgive and the importance of trust.

Many people measure their life in awards won or prizes gained.  That Alice did find reasons to live will stand as one of my greatest lifetime achievements.  Her antics with her buddy Daisy were truly heart-warming.  There was the time when we had a pile of screenings delivered to make pathways around the farm in readiness for one of our open days.  After a heavy morning shovelling we knocked off for lunch only to return and find the ever adventurous Alice and Daisy had found the pile and made themselves a comfy bed.  We didn’t have the heart to move the two sleeping beauties.

Countless were the times we would open a stable door, go to the straw stack or shavings pile and find the intrepid Alice and Daisy all curled up asleep, no one having spied their entry.  And Alice loved Edgar and she would go in search of him each day.  But sadly this was unrequited love, or so I thought.  If Edgar hadn’t already made his way to his day bed he would scoot off as fast as his short, fat, little piggy legs would trot, screaming all the while.  If Alice stood on guard outside his day yard grunting her love, Edgar would lie really, really still and hope she would not notice his mammoth form amidst the straw.  While Edgar became famous for the raucous belly grunts he would deliver whenever he heard my voice, he would refuse to answer my calls to him when Alice lay in wait, least he give the game away.  Alice could often be found in the stable Edgar had just vacated lying stretched out in the straw drinking in Edgar’s masculine piggy smells.

A priceless moment came when I spied Edgar on one of his daily jaunts about the farm, standing outside Alice and Daisy’s paddock grunting piggy delights to Alice.  “Edgar, you sly one” I uttered.

Alice’s world indeed, became rich and full, she loved watermelons, wallows and walking with branches.  Boy did she love branches!! Whenever she found one in what had become her vast home, she would seize it between her teeth, carting it back to her bed and fashioning a nest.  Each day when I would tidy her bed I would move the branches out, Alice in clear indifference would storm past me, grab the branch and storm back past me giving me one of ‘those’ glances as she would defiantly plonk the branch back down.  I learned that mother pigs would go to great lengths to fashion a nest to safely give birth to her babies in, something Alice was never allowed to do, yet something so clearly natural.  Mother Nature did not get it wrong.

Over the years I was able to find so many reasons for Alice to live and I truly believe hers became a life worth living, but sadly I am all too keenly aware that pigs do not live as long as humans.  I guess I saw the writing on the wall a little while back when Alice’s dear buddy, Daisy, passed away.  For two days and nights Alice slept on Daisy’s grave, refusing to eat or move.  While grief is one of the most natural of human emotions, it is not ours alone.  Elephants grieving their kind is something that is becoming well documented and here before me was a pig grieving her buddy.  I do not believe it is anthropomorphic to think this but human arrogance to not do so.  I knew then that it was going to be tough to keep coming up with reasons for the aging Alice.

Each day, Alice would move less and less, getting up and down, even on the huge straw bed, became more difficult.  Her favorite treats failed to excite her.  Her back became more roached and walking tougher.  I dug deep into my bag of tricks with pain relief, sweet smelling food and kindness beyond belief.  Each day I could see the light dimming and me facing yet another of life’s great challenges.  Many sleepless nights would follow.

And today I ran out reasons and I recognised my mortality in that I am not God and that I cannot wave a magic wand to restore youth and remove the pain of old age, yet today I would play God.  A good age for a pig is about 10, for Alice to reach almost 12, incredible.  I told Alice softly I loved her and said “Go find that handsome big pig, he will be waiting this time”.

I tell the stories of the animals who have found a special place in my heart by finding their way to Edgar’s Mission not to break people’s hearts, but to help put them back together again.  I believe in an age not too far off humanity can rebuild its fractured relationship with the animal kingdom.  For when we love unconditionally all creatures with whom we share the planet, we are whole.  My heart aches dear Alice as salt water wells in my eyes.  One truly has not lived until they have loved a pig.

“The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men.”

Alice Walker

Brand New Video! Pop Pigs

This delightful video is what happens every morning at Edgar’s Mission :) The Piglets come out of the barn from their restful nights sleep straight to 5 trays of breakfast! But hey… I  bet that one tastes better than this one :) This one will have you laughing all day :)

Great Wheetbix Drive!

Lee Butler, Pam, Honey and Tooborac Branch President Jean Bradsley


Our thanks to the Tooborac Branch of the Country Women’s Association for their sterling efforts with the Great Wheetbix Drive.  On Thursday Honey and Pam had the pleasure of collecting 64 boxes of wheetbix.  Our thanks to Lee Buttler, Branch Secretary for her initiative in rallying the troupes to action. For more information about the Great Wheetbix Drive please click here.

Love Conquers All

Love is in the air!

Love comes in all shapes and sizes and now according to Pam Ahern, of   the not for profit sanctuary for rescued farmed animals, Edgar’s Mission, this applies to all species as well.  Celebrating that special day reserved for lovers, February 14, Pam and the much travelled Polly Piglet, headed down to Southbank to share a little love.

“Our society abounds with expressions of love, including that for our pets” said Pam “but what most people do not realise is that given the chance pigs, cows, sheep, goats and chickens are every bit as friendly, fun loving and intelligent as cats and dogs and equally importantly, all respond to love and kindness”

Polly was certainly a hit in Southbank setting hearts a flutter and winning many new adoring fans.  While Polly happily posed for photographs and performed her repertoire of tricks, people grabbed for their mobile phones and cameras and no doubt lively chats ensued that evening about ‘you won’t believe what I just saw in the city’.

Pam, Polly and all the crew from Edgar’s Mission, regularly hit the hustings, spreading their special message of kindness for all animals.  Their base camp is Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary set on 60 peaceable acres in Willowmavin, Victoria and home to over 250 rescued farmed animals.

Sandy and Merin about to celebrate their 40th year Anniversay!

Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane – a life worth living. Today is the first day of the rest of my life, I am out in the sunshine with my new friend Oakley. People are kind to me and there are no fast cars whizzing past. Chickens and ducks come and go. Things are good, and I like these treats called wheetbix :)

Giant Zuchini!

          

Forgot to check the zucchini patch for a couple of weeks… this is what we just found!! Piggies are going to looooove these :)

There are thousands of websites about how to grow your own fruit and vegetables! Just Google ‘Growing Organic Vegetables’ and let the fun begin :)

For your chance to win a 2012 Edgar’s Mission Calendar simply email Kyle, or leave a comment below with your guess of how much the Giant Zuchinni weighs!

Hint ** It is a weight between 0 and 10kg :) It is also a Prime number and a Fibonacci number! :)

Calamity Jane

New kid on the block, meet Calamity Jane (also known as Houdini), the run away goat that hit the headlines earlier this week. Found exploring new frontiers on the Tullamarine freeway and surrounding roads. Many thanks to the The Lost Dogs’ Home for making her rescue possible! Tune into Channel 9 tonight at 6pm to see Calamity Jane. She is now resting comfortably in the stable with her new buddy Kenny :)

January Trottings – O Romeo, O Romeo

Romeo knew his name and loved going for walks with me around the farm.  He loved scratches under his chin and falling asleep with his head on my arm.  He let me know his favorite treats and would get excited and even do a little happy dance when he saw me coming with them.  I would call his name and he would come running as fast as his big bulky legs would carry him.  I had planned to get a video of this but sadly I never did and never will.  All I have are memories tinged with sadness for a life cut short because of human ingenuity.

Romeo’s final hours were spent soaking up the sun’s rays, eating watermelon and being stroked by his human friends.  He passed away peacefully as so few of his kind ever get the chance to.  Romeo was a broiler chicken.  He grew to be a big bird with an even bigger heart – friendly and gentle, he quickly endeared himself to many.  It was no doubt his big heart, surrounded by his huge muscle mass,  that was no longer able to cope that brought about his demise.

In September 2009 the ABC aired a BBC documentary, Pedigree Dogs Exposed.  What followed was outrage and disdain from a community enraptured by man’s best friend.  The show highlighted critical animal welfare issues that had resulted from the selective breeding for appearance traits that had nothing to do with the welfare of the animal.   King Charles Spaniels that suffered epilepsy due to their skull being too small, German Shepherds suffering hip dysplasia and Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs rejected because they lacked the genetic fault of a ridge along their back, were just some of the appalling legacies of animals bred to meet human expectations.  The British KCC copping an extra bite from the RSCPA who pulled their support for the largest dog show in the world, Cruft’s, due to their concerns that the exhibition was encouraging the breeding of deformed and disabled dogs.

However, beyond the back yard and across the paddock, tucked away on factory farms a congratulatory high five was being done, acknowledging the fast tracking of meat chickens (broilers) to slaughter weight in as little as just five weeks.  Fifty years back it took more than three times as long.  Sadly, these infant birds, complete with baby blue eyes and chirps,  are the size of huge adult birds and they pay a huge price.  Gentle laying hens faring little better as their bodies are pushed to exhaustion pumping out around 300 eggs a year compared to their wild cousins of just a handful.  At just two years old no happy retirement home exists for ‘spent hens’.  ‘Spent’ because their short, miserable lives have been spent crammed into tiny cages, devoid of mental stimulation or means to satisfy their innate natural behaviours and they are no longer viewed as economically valuable.

Given the chance, and devoid of human manipulation into their genetics, chickens can live happy and fruitful lives for up to ten, even twelve, years. Recent studies have further shown that chickens are far from ‘bird brained’ having complex lives with cognitive abilities that rival mammals and even primates.  That the pecking order describes their ability to recognise and remember their cohorts says more about their intelligence than it does for our ability to discount it.  Equipped with around thirty vocalisations they indeed have their own language that can communicate a wealth of meaningful knowledge.  And those that have come to know chickens will quickly attest to their unique personalities.

And if you need any more convincing that chickens command far more respect than currently afforded, consider that they have even been shown to possess the knowledge that an object exists despite the fact it has been taken away and hidden – a capacity that is beyond that of small children.
While my life with Romeo was short, it taught me many things none more so than birds like him are much, much more than the before of a chicken nugget.

January Trottings 2012