This is Helen, a blind bison who has lived at the Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary in Oregon for several years without making a single friend. She was anxious, wary, and suspicious, and it appeared that she was destined to spend the rest of her life miserable and alone. But after that, there was Oliver. Helen overcame the obstacles she had erected around herself very quickly because her little Jersey calf was naturally inquisitive from birth. She eventually gained his trust, and from that point on, they became close friends.
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The two people are now inseparable from one another. It would appear that Helen has “adopted” Oliver, as evidenced by the fact that Oliver’s fur has darkened as he has gotten older and now resembles Helen’s.
Jakubisin compares the two to a kind nanny and her charge, a little child. “Oliver’s mom, Betsy, normally drops him off at ‘daycare,’ and then she goes about her business while Helen watches over him for the remainder of the day, and Helen has no problem with that,” she said.
“It’s wonderful because I don’t think Helen has ever had the opportunity to exhibit that motherly urge before,” said the observer, “since I catch them grooming each other.”
Jakubisin compares the two to a kind nanny and her charge, a little child. “Oliver’s mom, Betsy, normally drops him off at ‘daycare,’ and then she goes about her business while Helen watches over him for the remainder of the day, and Helen has no problem with that,” she said.
“It’s wonderful because I don’t think Helen has ever had the opportunity to exhibit that motherly urge before,” said the observer, “since I catch them grooming each other.”
Helen has emerged from her reclusive state due to the transformational friendship, which has given her the courage to approach and make friends with other animals at the refuge.
The sanctuary’s mission is to save abused and neglected farm animals, get them back into good health, and find new homes where possible. According to the information on their website, the facility is home to over 200 animals, some of which include pigs, cows, horses, chickens, sheep, and goats
“help cast a light on the realities of animal agribusiness and lead the path to a more compassionate world” is the mission statement that guides their work.
To accomplish this, we facilitate meaningful relationships between people and the animals they care for and those who provide care for those animals.
They declare that “at Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary, we believe that every individual has the right to freedom.” This is one of their core tenets. “Liberty from suffering, freedom from dread, and liberty from those who would hold you back. Those who come to us with the most tragic tales receive the gift of hope and the assurance that they will one-day be free to be themselves. A promise of companionship, love, and care for one another.”
Even after all the-terrible things that have happened to them, the non-human creatures that live in our sanctuary continue to astound us with the depth of their capacity to love and to be loved, even though they have witnessed the worst that humanity has to offer. Our mission is to educate the public about their experiences and inspire society to regard them more deeply and compassionately
“We are transforming the future for the people who mean so much to us by cultivating beautiful, meaningful ties between humans and the creatures that they may regard as “food” or as “things.”
“Those who come to the sanctuary, as guests and volunteers, frequently remark on the unique sense of calm they get from being in this location. Everyone who lives here maintains a harmonious environment, and many of them are good friends with one another. They have the assurance that they are loved and protected. We prefer to think of it as a special kind of magic born out of love, trust, and comprehension
