12/29/2024
As we close out 2024, I have been reflecting on a year that has been both challenging and healing. 2024 tested us in ways we never imagined, but it also reminded us why we do what we do—and why your support means everything.
This year began with heavy hearts as we continued to heal from the loss of Humphrey, my soul animal and our first pet, who inspired us to create this sanctuary. Humphrey was not just a beloved member of our family—he was the heart of our mission and a reminder of why we fight for a better world for animals.
In June, we faced another devastating loss when we had to say goodbye to Roo unexpectedly, Humphrey's wifey. She was a bunny who brought us so much light with her playful and steady spirit. Barry had a deep connection with Roo and her absence left our house very quiet and lonely. Losing Humphrey and Roo has felt like losing a piece of ourselves.
This summer, we had to bid farewell to Scarlet, one of the first hens we welcomed when we moved to the farm in 2019.
Our flock faced additional heartbreak as we said goodbye to four of our rescued battery hens: Gaia, Aphrodite, Belle, and Gal (Gadot). These brave girls came to us after lives of unimaginable hardship, and we are grateful we could give them peace, love, and freedom in their final chapters.
If I can let you into our world a little bit; each goodbye to a hen is undescribably awful. The idea of a hen dying of old age is, frankly, extremely rare. Our vet is fantastic, but the research into caring for chickens/hens is insufficient at best, and surgery for chickens has a very low survival rate. Every goodbye to our 5 hens this year was uniquely painful; dealing with expensive X-rays, bloodwork, maggots, infections, worms, etc. The decision to euthanize is the most unnaturally-feeling decision I've ever had to make, and it really, really takes a toll on us. All of our animals are buried under the mulberry tree in the far field of the farm.
These losses have weighed heavily on our hearts and minds and more than once this year, we found ourselves hesitating to expand the sanctuary, wondering if we were ready to open our hearts to new animals when so much of it felt broken. We’ve learned to give ourselves grace, to take time to heal, and to honor the legacies of those we’ve lost by continuing to care for the animals who are still here.
Cheryl, or as the animals call her, Aunt Cheryl, has been an absolute Godsend of a human being to us, this year especially. She comes to feed the animals often when we are out of town, and she loves those animals like she birthed them herself. She is a light in this world and I'm just thankful this amazing human lives only 5 mins from us!
The piggies are absolutely thriving with the new fencing we were able to install late last year. Every day, the piggies can roam on their whole predator-secure 2 acres of land and root around to their hearts' content! We often find Puddles out exploring while the rest of the herd is napping. We've also discovered that Cornbread LOVES bananas (he's now earned the nickname Bananabread). Maggie, although still at the bottom of the pecking order, has been so affectionate and sweet with me this year. You can find us cuddling in the barn most afternoons. The pigs are living their best possible life.
In November, we added four 6 month-old chickens, Percy (the new rooster on the block) Pearl, Fern, and Ruby (Ruby is Scarlet's same breed, so we had to name her something similar to honor Scarlet!), whose futures were uncertain living with our neighbors down the road. They have been so sweet to watch out pecking around, though we're still trying to integrate them with our OG flock. We also started fostering buns again in September with the Indiana House Rabbit Society, and have been housing bunnies Simon and Henry, two little cuties looking for their furever homes.
As we move into 2025, we are cautiously hopeful. We know that the work is hard, but we also know that it is worth it. The animals who find refuge here remind us every day that love and kindness can transform lives—and that includes ours.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this journey in 2024. We couldn’t do this without you. Your compassion inspires us to keep going, even on the hardest days.
Here’s to a brighter 2025—for us, for the animals, and for all of you who make this work possible.
With love and gratitude,
Olivia
Haven Farm Animal Sanctuary
PS - I am headed to Graduate School for a Master's in Social Work at IUI in 2 weeks, to be some type of mental health professional. I would love to focus on research about animal therapy - especially with potbelly pigs (can you just imagine Maggie Rodriguez walking around a rehab center or something?! I would die! Wish me luck.
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