Tuesday, November 14, 2017

A Visit To One Of My Favourite Places

I have spoken about Big Sky Ranch Animal Sanctuary before. It is a wonderful 'farm' where several of my adult clients (who have autism) volunteer a couple times a week.  They do the farm work that is required to keep the animals safe and healthy.

The farm is getting ready for winter so the animals are moving inside. During my visit last week, one of our jobs (and this included me) was to catch ducks and chickens and put them in a coop. Someone had accidentally let them out, and the birds would either freeze or become coyote food. 

Now I am a country girl, but I am NOT a farm girl. The catching part was not something I was willing to do, especially after a duck splashed mud all up my face. (Being dirty is something that is very stressful for me.) I was more willing to chase and corner the birds so someone else could catch them. I managed to herd two ducks into the coop and went through the deep woods to flush the chickens out. The job coach for my clients is very skilled at scooping the birds up. She did an excellent job, while I ran around and the clients laughed at us. 

Unfortunately, because I was working, I wasn't able to get pictures of the bird chase, I did get a few other pictures to share. 


Diesel the Llama

A new arrival cat. My clients were responsible for cleaning her cage.

I was started when the cow started licking the window of the cat room! 

Two roosters. They were fighting before they were caught.

Feeding the goats

This cat things she owns the place and is on one of my client's snack bag

Sheep - Mom, Dad, I feed the one with the black face.



15 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    Oh I have always loved your visits to this place... we have 'farm schools' dotted around teh UK, where children can learn about where their food really comes from and also for those with learning difficulties, to calm and focus them. Fabulous initiative! YAM xx

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  2. That does sound like a fun place to volunteer. We agree with you that catching birds would not be our idea of fun either (or our mom's).

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  3. Mom says this brings back memories of before dad had bubblers installed in the pond to keep open water for the waterfowl. She and dad and others circled the ducks on land to round them up and catch them and put them inside the barn in a large pen. Mom always "pretended" to help with her arms open wide but she had no intention of catching a duck or goose or swan and getting dirty☺
    The pictures of the animals are just wonderful!

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  4. A fun place to visit! Like you I am not a farm girl (despite the fact I grew up on a small farm).

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  5. Ohhhhh what fun to visit the animals but mom is with you she is (as you know kind of a germaphobic) she would not want to be wallowing in mud on a farm either...CAUSE there are probably 87 kinds of bacteria in that mud.

    Phoddy when I saw you on the bath mat yesterday I knew you and I must be at least kissin' cuzzin
    Hugs madi your bfff

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  6. Sounds like you had some good teamwork going there.
    And Diesel the Llama is a most handsome fellow.

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  7. We wish there were photos or videos:) That is a great place and so good to let your clients be of such good service. Our KC Zoo is now working to get all the animals indoors that can't tolerate the lower temps. There was an interesting story on the news about it and showed how they have toys and games to keep the animals engaged during the winter.

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

    Pee Ess - Mom wonders if you ever get a chance to see the TV show The Good Doctor - one of favorites on this fall's new lineup.

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  8. It was nice to see all those animals! I bet they'll have a great winter with your clients taking care of them.

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  9. Couldn't help but smile, since we have chickens, and I know how hard it can be to catch them! :)
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  10. What a fun visit to a wonderful place(although I do think a small video of you chasing birds would have been pretty cute ;-))! Thanks for taking us along!

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  11. Yes that would have been fun to see!
    hugs
    Hazel & Mabel

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  12. Wow that looks like a great place. My youngest son was hit by a truck when he was 5 and has some brain damage. When he was in high school he was in a program where they worked at a place like that. He LOVED going to "work" and won an award for cleaning the cat house.
    Thanks for the wonderful memories!
    Love Barb

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  13. Seeing the cow lick the window was priceless!

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