Lilly

Sponsored By
Sarah Menzel

Lilly joined the Iowa Farm Sanctuary family in November 2022 after she was rescued from a horrific neglect case in Washington County, IA. There were over 100 starving sheep, goats, and pigs living on the property among their dead friends and family members. The property was littered with piles of deceased animals. Nobody had access to adequate food or water, and everyone was starving. The poor souls on this property were languishing in some of the worst conditions we’ve ever seen.

Like the many others, Lilly was malnourished and uncared for, with severely overgrown hooves and untreated medical conditions. She’s likely the oldest individual we helped rescue from the property, and its heart-wrenching to know that she suffered greatly for so many years. During her initial assessment, we noticed an ominous abscess and later learned that Lilly is positive for CL, a chronic bacterial disease for which she will need lifelong specialized care and accommodations.

When she first arrived at the sanctuary, Lilly would guard her food fiercely. She was so hungry and so unaccustomed to having proper nourishment that she hoarded her food out of fear that others would eat it. As Lilly began to understand that food was no longer scarce, she quickly softened her defenses. Today, Lilly knows she’ll never have to go hungry again, so she gladly shares everything she’s got. The trauma of starvation fades away a little more each day, and despite everything she’s been through, she’s always been so trusting of her sanctuary caregivers. It’s been such an honor to watch Lilly settle into safety and freedom.