2-23-10

You will probably want to get some popcorn, some coffee, maybe even call in to work sick, this may be the biggest blog we have ever written. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll say "Ahhh, how cute."

This blog starts Monday morning at 5:30 am. The rescue rig started up, warmed up, getting ready for the days events. Dedicated volunteers were on their way to the rescue, anxious to help out how they could. It was an auction rescue day and Tawnee, April and Briana were going to be attending Petaluma Livestock Auction.

Jazz, Smokey and Valentino were very curious why they were haltered and led to the trailer so early in the morning. The staff tried to let them know that they were being transfered to a very good rescue, but they just didn't quite understand. All they knew was their sleep was being interrupted by humans.

All the boys were loaded without incident and were ready for the long trip.

Quite often you see beautiful sunset photos on the blog. This one is a bit different, it is a sunrise photo. Tawnee, April and Briana enjoyed the peaceful sunrise, little did they know that was the last peace they would get until 11:30 pm.

They were heading to Petaluma livestock auction. The plan was to drop the boys off and pick up 2 horses that were being transfered to our rescue from SAFER. After that, they were going to head to the auction. It was a long drive, and then to make it seem even longer, fog started developing.

About 15 minutes from the destination, while they were still on schedule, all of a sudden their leisurely trip was abruptly interrupted. The entire northbound 101 was detoured onto side streets to avoid a terrible accident that had occurred up ahead.

Briana used her iPhone and the GPS system to navigate directly to the auction as the detour used up all the time that had been scheduled to drop off and pick up the horses.

Finally, after winding around through back streets, they were pulling into the familiar Petaluma Livestock Auction yard. It is rumored they do not like camera's at this auction, so the camera's were kept in the truck.

Tawnee April and Briana looked around the auction. It was Briana's first time at a livestock auction and of course she fell in love with all the adorable day old calves waiting to be sent through the sale. There were two horses, from their behavior of the one, Tawnee could tell it was a stallion but unfortunately she was not allowed to go back to check. She was hoping the other one was not a stallion. The auction started so they all went inside to sit down. Tawnee was really hoping there would not be another emaciated goat that no one wanted.

Shortly after the auction started, a few baby goats were brought into the ring. Tawnee thought "Ahh, just a few, Mr T would surely enjoy having a few new little friends." No one else was bidding and soon Tawnee had 7 baby goats. She knew she had to leave the auction ring before she got herself in worse trouble. When she came back into the ring, April and Briana excitedly told Tawnee that there were over 40 baby goats that no one wanted and they had gone down to $1 each and were a no sale. Over 40 babies? No way!

By the end of the auction Tawnee had rescued the two horses, 4 day old calves and 50 day old baby goats, all male. Dairy byproducts. Dumped heartlessly at the auction, worse than trash because at least Waste Management will come pick up your trash. Folks, this is what the diary industry does to male baby's, it dumps them like garbage at a livestock auction, knowing they are losing money on them, but not caring. It's just the luck of the draw, if a goat or calf is born a girl, it is kept, bred and hooked up to machines to suck the milk out. If they are born a boy, they are thrown (literally) out at the auction where hopefully someone will pay enough for them to pay the auction fees. Soymilk, as best we can tell, is cruelty free!

After the auction the quick trip was made up to SAFER's foster home. The 3 boys (Valentino, Jazz and Smokey) unloaded without a hitch, thankful they had food and water and could go back to sleep without human interruption.

Then the 2 new arrivals were led out to the trailer.

They loaded without a hitch, wondering why the 3 guys got out before they could get in. We would like to welcome Tia and Tante to the rescue.

The 3 staff and volunteers couldn't wait to get back to the auction to pick up the 58 (!) animals that were rescued. The two horses and the baby goats and calves needed to be loaded up so they could make the trip back to the rescue, hopefully arriving before nightfall. They all wondered what 50 baby goats must look like.

It was almost standing room only when all the little babies were in the front of the stock trailer. There were just lots and lots and lots of little faces looking up, wondering where their next meal would come from.

It's so sad that these precious little lives are just garbage to the dairy industry. We believe they are cute and precious and we have a sneaking suspicion you do too.

Both of the horses that were rescued at the auction this trip were stallions. They shared a stall in the trailer, and were kept under sedation the whole trip. When the rescue rig pulled off the road for a quick bite to eat, the stallions decided to talk to each other, which caught the attention of the alert security guard. He came over to make sure everything was "Ok" and then got distracted by something else...

When he (the security guard) looked in the front of the trailer, this is what he saw. He couldn't' believe his eyes! Here they are all asleep, curled up for the trip.

Briana really fell in love with an extra special little goat. He curled up on her lap and slept so soundly. It was so adorable!

He slept all the way to Tractor Supply, where the rescue rig stopped to get Goat Formula. The little guy was so content, that it was decided to take him shopping.

Into Tractor Supply they went. The little guy had never been to town before, and he was quite dazzled by all the bright lights.

Once he was inside one of the Tractor Supply workers couldn't keep his hands off of him either. He is just like a fuzzy teddy bear.

Finally, after dark, the rescue rig pulled into the rescue. The horses were safely unloaded and settled in for the night.

Then, it was time to feed, ID, triage and take intake photo's of all 50 baby goats.

Tawnee had called Claire on the way back to the rescue as she knew Claire would love to get in on this. Shortly after getting back to the rescue, Ron and Claire came over to help out. They also agreed to take 10 of the baby's as foster baby's.

While Claire and Ron were figuring out goat bottle formula, the calves were being fed. They really loved their nice warm milk, it always makes the tummy feel so good.

Tawnee and Jason put some of their emergency animal training to practice and soon had a flowing operation going on. There were 6 adults and a few kids (human kids) all lending a helping hand, which made the monumental task go smoothly. One person would put the ID tag on the goat, while another person was writing the tag and entering the data, another was taking adoption photo's, while the other people were mixing bottles and feeding.

This cute little guy loves his new collar and id tag. Soon all the baby goats were fed, named with their ID tags, and ready to get some sleep.

Claire loves her babies!!!

You can see the exhaustion in Tawnee's eyes as the last goat was finally fed and tagged. By this time it was about 10:30 pm and Tawnee had been going solid for 17 hours.

This morning, at 5:30 am, Tawnee hopped out of her bed, and began preparing meals for hungry babies. All of the babies made it through the night and were very anxious to get another yummy bottle of milk.

When Tawnee got into the trailer, they literally attacked her. They learn quickly who brings them food, who shows them love.

This little guy is trying to get some nourishment out of Tawnee's jacket. He couldn't wait for his bottle, he needed a pacifier.

Soon the hungry mouths were being fed and they were getting happy once again.

After all the babies (calves and goats) were fed it was time for Aztec to be taken out of his pen so he could get ready to go to the vet for his gelding operation.

Then the baby calves were put in his pen to stretch their legs before the rain storm showed up.

Poor Love Bug looked on at the calves with wonder. She has had so many different neighbors recently, but she thinks these top them all.

Aztec was safely loaded into the trailer for the short ride to the vet.

Some of the baby goats that had some medical concerns were loaded up. They were scheduled to be checked out by out vet. Some were born crippled, one with bleeding from his rectum, and a different one had organs coming out of his rectum.

It was really sad to see some of the babies really suffering, eye infections, runny noses and coughs.

Once all the animals were loaded up that needed to go to the vet, the rescue rig was on the road once again, this time to the vet.

Aztec hopped out of the trailer, excited to see what might be happening at this place. He probably won't be so excited after his surgery. He will be spending the night at the vets and his surgery is scheduled for the morning.

In the office waiting room, Briana was holding the cute little guy from yesterday. He developed a runny nose, and we were all very concerned for the poor little guy. As he sat there, he cracked a smile, as if to let us know "Everything will be ok, I know what love is now."

Soon the examination was taking place. The little guy was given medication to help pull him through his early days. He should be healthy once again, we are all keeping our fingers crossed for him.

Another goat had an ulcer in its eye and had a fever. We were able to give him the help he needed to hopefully pull through and make it to adulthood too.

Sadly, 10 of the babies were unable to be saved and humane euthanasia was the best possible option for them. At least they knew what love and a full tummy of milk was instead of dying from neglect because no one wanted them. We were thankful that 2 were able to be given the medical help they needed to hopefully pull through.

After leaving the vet, which should have been a full day and the rescue rig should have been heading back to the rescue, instead its nose was pointed to Yuba County Animal Control.

Soon they were pulling into the parking lot.

A horse had been abandoned and was brought into the shelter. They asked us to bring it into our rescue to evaluate him for adoptability to hopefully find him a home.

He is thin and is wearing shoes, 2 in the back. It is odd that he has a couple shoes in the back. He loaded up without any problems. He seems to be a sweet boy and prefers men they say.

They also donated a bunch of horse feed and a few bags of chicken scratch. They asked if we wanted the chicken scratch, and we said we have a few volunteers that have chickens we can give it to, so they sent it along.

There was some great help to get it all loaded up quickly.

We would like to thank Yuba County Animal Control for saving bags of feed for the rescue. We can really use it!

Briana's little buddy fell asleep on her lap on the way back to the rescue. He loves eating and sleeping.

Back at the rescue the Animal Control horse unloaded and was put into a waiting stall for the night.

Then the monumental task of feeding all the babies began once again. We would like to thank the volunteers for taking care of the babies while the rescue rig was out and about.

This little guy has a special message for you: "Hi, I'm Briana's little buddy and I am so glad that I was rescued yesterday and given so much love and great food. I know it takes a lot of money to take care of me, and my 57 other friends that were rescued too, so can you maybe help a little? If you could donate $58 in honor of all 58 of us that were rescued yesterday, I would really love it! Thank you so much!" To donate in honor of the huge rescue yesterday, click here.

Many thanks to Donna A., Pamela N. to help with Aztec's gelding, Priscilla B., Margaret O., Suzanne F., Gail G., Theresa P., Rebecca O., AT&T, and IBM for their generous donations. Thank you so much!