Little Oak Sanctuary

27/10/2025

24/10/2025

Every year in Australia, around 15,000 foals are bred into the racing industry.

Before they even make it to the track, 3,600 young horses will die, be injured, or discarded. Of those who do reach training, only 30% ever race — and most will never earn a cent in prize money.

Last year alone, 140 horses lost their lives on Australian racetracks. That’s one horse every 2.6 days. Behind the glamour, the numbers tell a heartbreaking story.

We knew the governments contribution to this industry was huge, but this morning during an interview on 2XX radio alongside ACT Greens Shane Rattenbury MLA, we learnt the actual magnitude - Get ready for it - the ACT Government gives $8 million a year of taxpayer money to support the racing industry — more than is given to all other Canberra sporting organisations combined.

Research shows that 95% of horses examined after racing have lung bleeding. This is not sport, it’s suffering.

At Little Oak Sanctuary, we believe in compassion over cruelty, and joy without exploitation. We’ll be showing what that looks like at our Compassionate Stakes: Nup to the Cup event this Sunday at Glebe Park — a celebration of life, fun, and kindness.

Be the change. Choose compassion. Say Nup to the Cup, and let your local member know how you feel about horse racing.

23/10/2025

URGENT HELP – DONATIONS NEEDED – PLEASE SHARE

Animals are suffering, and unfortunately, it is only getting worse. This year, we have received more requests to help animals in need than ever before. Animal shelters in our region are full. People are desperate, and animals are being dumped or left to die.

Let me tell you a story that affected me greatly. Sunny is a young sheep that we rescued on the very brink of death. He was left to die alone, too weak to stand, covered in maggots, and overgrown wool blinding him in one eye.

As the sun was low on the horizon, I drove for hours to meet his rescuer halfway from where they had found him. I lifted his limp body. I could feel his painfully thin frame through his prickle-filled fleece.

The smell of his raw, infected wounds is something I'll never forget. I placed him gently onto blankets in our van and rushed him to after-hours emergency vet care. I really did not know if he would survive the trip to the vets.

Arriving at the vets after dark, I carried the little sheep into the clinic. I lay him gently onto the vet table, his body was weak and deathly still. I feared he had already given up. The vet rushed around, checking his vitals and preparing life-saving medications.

We trimmed back the wool that had grown over each of his eyes. His rough, thick wool had pressed on one eye, causing it to rupture and leaving him blind. Half of his side was raw and bloody from the maggots eating him alive.

He was very thin, very weak, very sick. The vet ran tests and gave fluids and pain relief, and soothing cream for his eye. He was on the very brink of survival. Now, it was up to us. We drove him home to the sanctuary.

That first night, we set him up snug in the stables. We left him, our hearts heavy, unsure if he would survive the night. But the next morning, Sunny lifted his head and gave the faintest little bleat. He was still with us. He was fighting to live.

But the truth is, calls to help animals like Sunny are increasing — we're getting more and more calls, and from further and further away. People are desperate, and they’re asking for help we can’t always afford to give.

Sunny is why, from the heart, I’m asking if you will donate today. Your support keeps over 330 rescued animals alive.

Feed, water, vet care, shelter — we urgently need support to get through this hot, dry summer.

Please help us say yes to the next Sunny.

💚 $37 feeds 100 chickens

💚 $80 buys hay for cows and horses

💚 $125 provides 6 months of vet care for 2 animals

💚 $658 covers care for 12 animals

Here's the truth: when each of us does what we can, compassion multiplies. Every gift has a powerful impact. And more than that — it is compassion made real. This is what your kindness does - it saves lives.

Please donate today. Link in the comments, and please comment below if you've donated so we can thank you!

22/10/2025

18/10/2025

We hope to see you tomorrow at A Vegan State Of Mind 2025 in Glebe Park, Canberra! We'll be there with our info and merchandise from 11am-5pm so drop by and say hello, find out more about what we do and how you can get involved!

15/10/2025

Vera is home and recovering ❤️

Yesterday was a big day for little Vera. She underwent surgery to have both her infected joints flushed — a delicate procedure to remove the build-up of pus that’s been causing her pain and stopping her from using her legs.

The good news is that her back joint flushed really well, giving her a much better chance of recovery in that leg. Her elbow was trickier, as the infection there has thickened and was harder to clear completely, but our vets were still able to remove a lot of the infected material. Both joints were treated with antibiotics injected directly inside, giving her the best possible chance to fight the infection locally.

We’re now waiting on culture results from the samples taken earlier in the week. These will tell us exactly what type of bacteria caused the infection, and which antibiotics will work best for her going forward.

Vera’s resting comfortably tonight after a long and tough day. She’s been through so much, but her spirit remains strong — and thanks to your support, she’s getting the very best care we can give.

12/10/2025

We need your help! Can you help promote the Compassionate Stakes Day Novelty Races? If you're able to put some posters up at your school, work place, favourite cafe or sporting club, we'd love your help sharing the word about this super fun event that aims to raise as much awareness as we can about the dark side of horse and dog racing - all by demonstrating how much fun we can all have without exploiting animals!

Event details: Sunday 2nd Nov 10am-4pm
Location: Glebe Park Canberra
Food: Au Lac Vegan Cuisine food truck and dessert quartets plus our famous veggie sausage sizzle
Event is free to watch and you can sign up via our website for any of the races or dance offs, we provide the T-Rex & Unicorn suits. PLUS! events for the kids, with lots of prizes.

If you'd like to help us spread the word, send us a message and we can send you the poster file to print and put up!