Our Rescues

GHASi’s Sponsor an Animal Program

Would you please help out with a monthly sponsorship of one of our sanctuary animals? For a monthly donation you can sponsor an animal of your choice at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary. We have ongoing food, medical and supply costs. Your sponsorship helps us to provide the animals with quality food, veterinary care and vaccinations, hoof care, dental care and other supplies needed to keep the animals healthy, happy and safe. So please, read the stories below and choose which animal you would like to sponsor. Everyone at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary would like to thank you for your generosity.

To assist the greatest number of animals in need, and to make sure your gift does the most good, your donation will be used in combination with other sponsorship donations to help, care for, feed and save the lives of farm animals at risk. The animal sponsorships are symbolic and all the donations received go into our General Operating Fund and are not used specifically for the sponsored animal only. Doing so would be next to impossible as we purchase our feed in bulk and animals are not fed individually but rather in groups as they are housed. We understand that sometimes animals pass away unexpectedly. In general we only offer sponsorship for animals that are healthy. However in the event of a death we will make every effort to notify you as soon as possible so you can then make the choice to discontinue sponsorship altogether or select another animal so sponsor.

Marley

Marley is a former BLM Burro. Her birth Mother was rounded up by the BLM and put into a holding pen at a BLM site where she gave birth to Marley. Shortly after her birth, Marley’s birth Mom tried stomping her to death so they had to be separated. When Marley was 2 months old her human Mommy adopted her. She lived a good life, in the desert, for 13 years. Marley’s owner found out that she had a serious medical condition and decided to make some life changes which included moving closer to family out of state. She was very upset that she had no way of taking Marley with her and just wanted Marley to have a good home where she would get the love and attention that she needed. Anyone who has met Marley knows just how important it is to her to have that love and attention, and she in return loves to give it back. Marley is truly a very special burro. So through a friend, Marley’s human Mommy reached out to Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary to see if we would give Marley a forever home. Marley was our first Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary resident coming to live here in October, 2019. Marley is a blessing to all who meet her!

Houdini

Houdini, our big black and white pot belly pig, was at the shelter. He was found wandering the streets in the high desert of Adelanto. After a period of waiting to be adopted with no potential adopters, he was slated to be euthanized. Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary stepped in and rescued him from his death sentence. He was a challenge to get into the extra large airline crate we had to transport him in! He wasn’t even interested in the apple we oﬀered! It took four of us and a large hog board to finally get him in. On the way home he broke free from his carrier using his brute strength! He tore the door oﬀ of it, so for the rest of the trip he walked around the back of the SUV looking out of the side windows, much to the amusement of passing cars. We named him Houdini because it didn’t take long for us to realize that he could escape out of the temporary enclosure we quickly put together for his arrival. For two solid weeks he would escaped his enclosure daily and we would find him hanging out with the horse! Because of this we thought naming him Houdini after the legendary escape artist would be appropriate. Houdini has such a fun personality! He loves being scratched on his back, sides and cheeks and really loves belly rubs! When the weather is warm he enjoys frolicking in the mud pit and getting covered with mud. He came to live here at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary in February, 2020. Our vet came out once he was here to give him his vaccinations and do a wellness check up. Houdini was on the heavy side so his diet has been adjusted to help get him to optimal health. He was estimated to be approximately 8 year’s old at the time of rescue.

Lolipop

Lollipop is our rolly poly happy go lucky little pot belly pig. He is approximately 3 to 5 years old. He was found wandering the streets in the high desert of Lucerne Valley when animal control picked him up. He was taken to the shelter and after a period of waiting to be adopted, without any prospects of adoption, he was slated to be euthanized. Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary stepped in to save him from this fate. Lollipop is a sweat little guy and that’s why we gave him the name Lollipop. Besides eating, his favorite thing to do is to root, which is digging with his nose. He digs and digs and digs all day long! It’s amusing when all we see is this little pig bottom sticking out of one of the holes he’s working on. Lollipop can be taken for walks with a harness and a leash. He is extremely food motivated so getting him to go where you want is pretty easy. He also loves piggy massages! Lollipop came to Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary in February, 2020. Our vet came up to give him a wellness check and vaccinations and determined that he was overweight, so his diet has been adjusted to help get him to optimal health.

Isabella

Isabella is our first Livestock Guardian Dog. She is a rescue from Northern Arizona. Isabella is Abkash and Great Pyrenees mix. She was 1 year and 8 months old when she came to us on March 12, 2020. Her original owner was a goat rancher. He decided he was done with ranching, sold all his goats and was going to put Isabella down since he no longer had use for her. Thankfully his sister stepped in, took Isabella away from him and made the eﬀort to find a home for her. That is when we stepped in and arranged to take her in. Isabella is an intense protector of the goats and sheep here at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary. We have seen her chase after a coyote with a fierceness that you would never know she had! Anything that threatens her “family” she will attack and defend with her life. At the same time she is an extremely gentle dog. She is amazing with children and visitors. She is part of our family, not just a working dog. We are blessed to have her.

Poppy

Poppy is a super friendly potbelly pig! Her time was up at the Animal Shelter and was going to be euthanized. We couldn’t let that happen. On the way to her new home here she was too cramped in her crate so we opened the door for her and she stuck her head between the driver and passenger. She is so sweet! Poppy loves belly rubs and massages. She is a gentle girl.

Wilbur

Wilbur’s time was up at a local Animal Shelter. He was going to be euthanized because no one adopted him. We stepped in and brought him to Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary. He was estimated to be 6 months old and was very timid. He has grown significantly and we believe he is not 100% potbelly pig, but has some other type of hog in him. His legs are much longer than potbellies and his face and ears are a bit different. We predict that he’s going to continue to grow bigger also. Wilbur loves the mud pit and will come running when it’s time to fill it with water! He gets his snout in there and digs away! He’s a good happy go lucky piggy!

Tilly

Tilly was confiscated by Animal Control. She was used as bait in a dog fighting ring. Her ears were badly chewed up and are permanently deformed. Tilly is an older potbelly pig. We estimate that she is around 10 to 12 years old. She is slower than our other younger pigs and isn’t as industrious. She prefers to be a lady of leisure! She was quite obese when she came to us. We put her on a diet and she is now at optimal weight and is actually more active than she was before. She likes to cool off in the water when it’s hot outside. She’s very mellow and only allows a few special people to give her belly rubs. It takes her a long time to trust strangers. Can you really blame her? She’s been through a lot. She deserves to live in peace now. She’s a sensitive sweetie. She is not afraid of our Livestock Guardian dogs at all. She knows that they are there to protect her and will, so she feels safe with our big family that is here to love her, care for her the way she deserves to be cared for and protect her.

Schnookums

Schnookums was an owner surrender case. He was one year old and had a lot of sagging skin because he was so underweight. He was kept inside our Founder’s house until he was strong and well enough to live outside. He was kept in a cage most of his life. He was malnourished when he came to us. He is our special needs pig and is very dear to us. Because he was in a cage so much of the time, didn’t get enough exercise and wasn’t given the proper nutrition, his front left leg didn’t grow properly. It is thinner and shorter than the others and he limps when walking even though he stands on the very tip of his toenails. That leg was also fractured at some point in his first year of life. We are working to get him a brace or prosthetic to help him walk more comfortably and so his joints don’t take a beating. He has gained much needed weight and loves his freedom and life outdoors! His favorite pastime is rooting and digging holes for Tilly to lay in. Schnookums adores Tilly! They are roomies and share a night enclosure and heated dog house together. Schnookums holds a special place in our Founder’s heart.

Cloud

Cloud was originally saved from a Texas Kill Pen. He was sent to a rescue in California where he was re-homed after about a year. About 4 months after he was re-homed the owners said they didn’t want him anymore. The rescue didn’t have room for him so we opened our hearts and doors to Cloud and gave him a forever home so he wouldn’t be tossed around anymore. Cloud was used as a tripping horse in a Mexican Rodeo. He has the scars on the back of his hooves. He must have been trained by a very “heavy hand”. He doesn’t like a saddle and bridle on him. He has a lot of anxiety if someone tries to ride him. He has emotional scars as well as the physical ones, so we retired him, which means no one is to ride him. He just gets to enjoy a leisurely life roaming the 5 acres at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary. Cloud is a very gentle loving horse here. He loves being groomed, massaged and hugged. He has bonded with our Founders 33 year old Morgan Horse, Captain.

Moonlight, Freedom and Sky

These three hens were owner surrenders, Their owner’s were losing their home and couldn’t take the hens with them to wherever they would end up renting. Moonlight is a very pretty blue grey and lays white eggs. Freedom is a white and buff Ameraucana and lays light greenish blue eggs and Sky is white and lays white eggs. They are all very friendly and don’t mind being petted. They get along well with all the other chickens, roosters and ducks.

Mack

Mack came to us from another rescue that had to downsize. He is a very handsome boy and is very protective of our hen, Freedom. You will often times find the two of them sitting on a branch in their day enclosure. Mack doesn’t really like to be touched. He is approximately 10 years old. He rules the roost and doesn’t put up with anything from the other rooster.

Othello

Othello is a kitten that was left on the doorstep of one our volunteers one snowy night. She couldn’t keep him, so we agreed to take him in. He was only about 6 weeks old, just a tiny little guy. Othello is very shy. He will sit with our Founder and allow her to snuggle and pet him, but no one else. He loves to play with Puddy Tat. Othello has the tiniest little meow. He’s a real cutie pie!

Captain

Captain was my inspiration for opening a sanctuary focused on farm type animals. Captain’s previous owner wanted him to be euthanized. Our Board Director John Buchanan rescued him and took him in. Captain was starving and neglected. He had been sitting alone in a small stall full of junk for many years. His owner gave him just enough hay to keep him alive. John worked hard to get him back to optimal health and when Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary officially opened their doors Captain was the very first resident. Captain is now 35 years old and despite the grey on his face and wrinkles on his lips he still acts like a young stallion running around the grounds and scratching each part of his body on the many trees we have here. He is in great health but does have a small bone spur and mild arthritis in one of his knees. He is so good with children, adults and all the other animals at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary. He is a very gentle soul and very much loved by all who meet him.

Cutie Pie

Cutie Pie came to us as a special needs goat. She was born with a birth defect. The top jaw of her mouth was not fully formed. Due to this she could not be bred so the goat rancher asked us if we would take her in. We were so happy about this. That is a rancher who truly cares about his goats! Cutie Pie has learned to make adjustments to be able to eat and is thriving here at the sanctuary! She is a very happy, sweet and friendly goat. She loves to have her back scratched. Since being here she has grown which makes us all so happy!

Marley's Story

Marley is a former BLM Burro. Her birth Mother was rounded up by the BLM and put into a holding pen at a BLM site where she gave birth to Marley. Shortly after her birth, Marley’s birth Mom tried stomping her to death so they had to be separated. When Marley was 2 months old her human Mommy adopted her. She lived a good life, in the desert, for 13 years. Marley’s owner found out that she had a serious medical condition and decided to make some life changes which included moving closer to family out of state. She was very upset that she had no way of taking Marley with her and just wanted Marley to have a good home where she would get the love and attention that she needed. Anyone who has met Marley knows just how important it is to her to have that love and attention, and she in return loves to give it back. Marley is truly a very special burro. So through a friend, Marley’s human Mommy reached out to Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary to see if we would give Marley a forever home. Marley was our first Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary resident coming to live here in October, 2019. Marley is a blessing to all who meet her!

Houdini's Story

Houdini, our big black and white pot belly pig, was at the shelter. He was found wandering the streets in the high desert of Adelanto. After a period of waiting to be adopted with no potential adopters, he was slated to be euthanized. Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary stepped in and rescued him from his death sentence. He was a challenge to get into the extra large airline crate we had to transport him in! He wasn’t even interested in the apple we oﬀered! It took four of us and a large hog board to finally get him in. On the way home he broke free from his carrier using his brute strength! He tore the door oﬀ of it, so for the rest of the trip he walked around the back of the SUV looking out of the side windows, much to the amusement of passing cars. We named him Houdini because it didn’t take long for us to realize that he could escape out of the temporary enclosure we quickly put together for his arrival. For two solid weeks he would escaped his enclosure daily and we would find him hanging out with the horse! Because of this we thought naming him Houdini after the legendary escape artist would be appropriate. Houdini has such a fun personality! He loves being scratched on his back, sides and cheeks and really loves belly rubs! When the weather is warm he enjoys frolicking in the mud pit and getting covered with mud. He came to live here at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary in February, 2020. Our vet came out once he was here to give him his vaccinations and do a wellness check up. Houdini was on the heavy side so his diet has been adjusted to help get him to optimal health. He was estimated to be approximately 8 year’s old at the time of rescue.

Lolipop's Story

Lollipop is our rolly poly happy go lucky little pot belly pig. He is approximately 3 to 5 years old. He was found wandering the streets in the high desert of Lucerne Valley when animal control picked him up. He was taken to the shelter and after a period of waiting to be adopted, without any prospects of adoption, he was slated to be euthanized. Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary stepped in to save him from this fate. Lollipop is a sweat little guy and that’s why we gave him the name Lollipop. Besides eating, his favorite thing to do is to root, which is digging with his nose. He digs and digs and digs all day long! It’s amusing when all we see is this little pig bottom sticking out of one of the holes he’s working on. Lollipop can be taken for walks with a harness and a leash. He is extremely food motivated so getting him to go where you want is pretty easy. He also loves piggy massages! Lollipop came to Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary in February, 2020. Our vet came up to give him a wellness check and vaccinations and determined that he was overweight, so his diet has been adjusted to help get him to optimal health.

Isabella's Story

Isabella is our first Livestock Guardian Dog. She is a rescue from Northern Arizona. Isabella is Abkash and Great Pyrenees mix. She was 1 year and 8 months old when she came to us on March 12, 2020. Her original owner was a goat rancher. He decided he was done with ranching, sold all his goats and was going to put Isabella down since he no longer had use for her. Thankfully his sister stepped in, took Isabella away from him and made the eﬀort to find a home for her. That is when we stepped in and arranged to take her in. Isabella is an intense protector of the goats and sheep here at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary. We have seen her chase after a coyote with a fierceness that you would never know she had! Anything that threatens her “family” she will attack and defend with her life. At the same time she is an extremely gentle dog. She is amazing with children and visitors. She is part of our family, not just a working dog. We are blessed to have her.

Poppy

Poppy is a super friendly potbelly pig! Her time was up at the Animal Shelter and was going to be euthanized. We couldn’t let that happen. On the way to her new home here she was too cramped in her crate so we opened the door for her and she stuck her head between the driver and passenger. She is so sweet! Poppy loves belly rubs and massages. She is a gentle girl.

Schnookums

Schnookums was an owner surrender case. He was one year old and had a lot of sagging skin because he was so underweight. He was kept inside our Founder’s house until he was strong and well enough to live outside. He was kept in a cage most of his life. He was malnourished when he came to us. He is our special needs pig and is very dear to us. Because he was in a cage so much of the time, didn’t get enough exercise and wasn’t given the proper nutrition, his front left leg didn’t grow properly. It is thinner and shorter than the others and he limps when walking even though he stands on the very tip of his toenails. That leg was also fractured at some point in his first year of life. We are working to get him a brace or prosthetic to help him walk more comfortably and so his joints don’t take a beating. He has gained much needed weight and loves his freedom and life outdoors! His favorite pastime is rooting and digging holes for Tilly to lay in. Schnookums adores Tilly! They are roomies and share a night enclosure and heated dog house together. Schnookums holds a special place in our Founder’s heart.

Wilbur

Wilbur’s time was up at a local Animal Shelter. He was going to be euthanized because no one adopted him. We stepped in and brought him to Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary. He was estimated to be 6 months old and was very timid. He has grown significantly and we believe he is not 100% potbelly pig, but has some other type of hog in him. His legs are much longer than potbellies and his face and ears are a bit different. We predict that he’s going to continue to grow bigger also. Wilbur loves the mud pit and will come running when it’s time to fill it with water! He gets his snout in there and digs away! He’s a good happy go lucky piggy!

Tilly

Tilly was confiscated by Animal Control. She was used as bait in a dog fighting ring. Her ears were badly chewed up and are permanently deformed. Tilly is an older potbelly pig. We estimate that she is around 10 to 12 years old. She is slower than our other younger pigs and isn’t as industrious. She prefers to be a lady of leisure! She was quite obese when she came to us. We put her on a diet and she is now at optimal weight and is actually more active than she was before. She likes to cool off in the water when it’s hot outside. She’s very mellow and only allows a few special people to give her belly rubs. It takes her a long time to trust strangers. Can you really blame her? She’s been through a lot. She deserves to live in peace now. She’s a sensitive sweetie. She is not afraid of our Livestock Guardian dogs at all. She knows that they are there to protect her and will, so she feels safe with our big family that is here to love her, care for her the way she deserves to be cared for and protect her.

Cloud

Cloud was originally saved from a Texas Kill Pen. He was sent to a rescue in California where he was re-homed after about a year. About 4 months after he was re-homed the owners said they didn’t want him anymore. The rescue didn’t have room for him so we opened our hearts and doors to Cloud and gave him a forever home so he wouldn’t be tossed around anymore. Cloud was used as a tripping horse in a Mexican Rodeo. He has the scars on the back of his hooves. He must have been trained by a very “heavy hand”. He doesn’t like a saddle and bridle on him. He has a lot of anxiety if someone tries to ride him. He has emotional scars as well as the physical ones, so we retired him, which means no one is to ride him. He just gets to enjoy a leisurely life roaming the 5 acres at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary. Cloud is a very gentle loving horse here. He loves being groomed, massaged and hugged. He has bonded with our Founders 33 year old Morgan Horse, Captain.

Moonlight, Freedom and Sky

These three hens were owner surrenders, Their owner’s were losing their home and couldn’t take the hens with them to wherever they would end up renting. Moonlight is a very pretty blue grey and lays white eggs. Freedom is a white and buff Ameraucana and lays light greenish blue eggs and Sky is white and lays white eggs. They are all very friendly and don’t mind being petted. They get along well with all the other chickens, roosters and ducks.

Mack

Mack came to us from another rescue that had to downsize. He is a very handsome boy and is very protective of our hen, Freedom. You will often times find the two of them sitting on a branch in their day enclosure. Mack doesn’t really like to be touched. He is approximately 10 years old. He rules the roost and doesn’t put up with anything from the other rooster.

Othello

Othello is a kitten that was left on the doorstep of one our volunteers one snowy night. She couldn’t keep him, so we agreed to take him in. He was only about 6 weeks old, just a tiny little guy. Othello is very shy. He will sit with our Founder and allow her to snuggle and pet him, but no one else. He loves to play with Puddy Tat. Othello has the tiniest little meow. He’s a real cutie pie!

Captain

Captain was my inspiration for opening a sanctuary focused on farm type animals. Captain’s previous owner wanted him to be euthanized. Our Board Director John Buchanan rescued him and took him in. Captain was starving and neglected. He had been sitting alone in a small stall full of junk for many years. His owner gave him just enough hay to keep him alive. John worked hard to get him back to optimal health and when Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary officially opened their doors Captain was the very first resident. Captain is now 35 years old and despite the grey on his face and wrinkles on his lips he still acts like a young stallion running around the grounds and scratching each part of his body on the many trees we have here. He is in great health but does have a small bone spur and mild arthritis in one of his knees. He is so good with children, adults and all the other animals at Grateful Heart Animal Sanctuary. He is a very gentle soul and very much loved by all who meet him.

Cutie Pie

Cutie Pie came to us as a special needs goat. She was born with a birth defect. The top jaw of her mouth was not fully formed. Due to this she could not be bred so the goat rancher asked us if we would take her in. We were so happy about this. That is a rancher who truly cares about his goats! Cutie Pie has learned to make adjustments to be able to eat and is thriving here at the sanctuary! She is a very happy, sweet and friendly goat. She loves to have her back scratched. Since being here she has grown which makes us all so happy!