Memorials
Pigget came to us in 2005 as a baby. She came from a crumbling petting zoo that had turned her over to one of their volunteers to socialize. After getting to know Pigget, the woman refused to return her to the zoo due to the horrible conditions there and instead signed her over to Ching. The woman sponsored Pigget for a year and would hand-make jackets for her to stay warm and cozy in. Pigget died suddenly in her sleep for unknown reasons on 12 May 2012 at the young age of seven.
Bo Diddley came from Salt Lake County Animal Services in 2003. He had been confiscated along with 300 other goats from people who had them all on a small plot of land running wild and all unfixed. They were constantly getting out looking for more food as their people did not feed them and the whole situation was just out of control. There were many newborn goats, and babies were being born as animal control was confiscating the goats from the property. Bo was the only goat we took from that group; the rest went to California to eat weeds along the freeway. We have not been able to find out about the others since then, but Bo Diddley lived out his life in peace and comfort at Ching. We don't know how old he was, but he was probably 15 or 16 when he had a stroke and passed away on 29 April 2012.
Image provided by Smyer Image Premier Utah Photography.
Mikey was born in the spring of 2000 at the Ching Farm Rescue and Sanctuary along with two sisters (triplets!). Their mother, Valley (who just passed away a few years ago), was rescued when she was four months pregnant. Valley was going to slaughter because her people didn't think her body was "right" for them. Soon after arriving Valley had these adorable triplets: Mikey, Cassie Cassedine (passed away in 2010), and Cassie (passed away earlier in 2012). Valley was the best mom in the world, many goat moms will abandon one or two of the siblings when they have twins or triplets, so they can ensure the survival of at least one infant. But Valley fed and cared for all three of them. Mikey was the last triplet born, and Faith was there to see him come into the world. We are very happy that the sanctuary is all Mikey and his sisters ever knew. Mikey passed away from old age 25 April 2012.
Gidget had lived with neighbors up the road from Ching Sanctuary, she was the families dearest companion. They took her everywhere with them, even hiking and camping, but sadly after living with them for 2 years, the family fell on hard financial times and they lost their house and property and were forced to move into an apartment in the city. They couldn't take their Gidget with them, so they turned her over to us. The whole family had been great Ching supporters, and had even adopted turkeys from us in the past. They even sponsored Gidget for a few years. She came in 2003 and died of old age on 15 April 2012.
Image provided by Smyer Image Premier Utah Photography.
Norman was a very loving and hug-able jersey steer. He was found roaming the streets and picked up by animal services. He was all set to come to Ching when some paper work got mixed up and he was sent to the petting zoo at Thanksgiving Point. Ching asked the petting zoo to sign papers stating that it would keep Norman and never sell or send him to slaughter. Shortly after, Faith was talking to a lady about pigs and they were discussing other animals she cared for. She mentioned to Faith that she had a steer named Norman. They called around and figured out it was the same steer that Thanksgiving Point had signed they would keep forever. Faith told the woman that if she ever couldn't care for Norman to call her, so eventually Norman was signed over to Ching in 2003. He was 20 years old when he passed away on 27 March 2012.
Aggie was a turken rooster who was picked-up stray by a couple of Ching volunteers in October of 2011. He had been living at a strip mall in Salt Lake City with no shelter from the elements or predators, and very unreliable food from the shop owners. Aggie was yet another rooster that was abandoned, adding to the growing problem of rooster abandonment in Utah that has spiked with the growing trend of backyard coops. There just are not enough farm animal sanctuaries or safe havens for all the roosters that are a product of this trend. He died very suddenly of a heart attack on 21 March, 2012, probably not even a year old.
Shakey has been at the Sanctuary since the beginning. She was a LaMancha goat, 13.5 yrs old and she came when she was just a baby at 2 months old. Shakey would have been a "freezer pet", if we did not take her. A "freezer pet" is someone who is loved as a pet until they are slaughtered and packed away in the freezer. She was too sweet to suffer that terrible fate and lived with us until old age caught up to her and her hips gave out. She was euthanized along with her old friend Norma on 29 February 2012.
Norma came to Ching in the spring of 1999. She was just two years old living at Thanksgiving Point, a local petting zoo, and she did not have babies that year. Most petting zoos get rid of animals if they don't reproduce because babies are what bring in money from the public at large. In their eyes, she was not a good breeder, so worthless to them. We disagree with this practice and do not believe goats should be used as breeding machines for profit. We were able to intervene when she was on her way to slaughter. She had lived with us ever since and was euthanized on 29 February 2012 due to complications from old age (she was 15!).
Evie was a big pig with an even bigger personality. On Christmas Eve 2004, when she was only two months old, she jumped off the back of a meat truck. Some people behind the truck picked her up and tried to catch up with the moving vehicle. When they were unable to catch up they turned the piglet into Animal Services where she was held for ten days. When she went unclaimed, she was turned over to Ching where she lived happily for years. Unfortunatly, she developed severe arthritis in her front legs from her escape and subsequant injuries as a baby and was euthanized 10 February 2012. We will miss our special girl greatly!
