One otherwise ordinary day, Sherman decided that peace was too boring.  For reasons known only to him, he picked a fight - with the pigs. Yes, the pigs. The pigs who love birds, are willing to share their food with them (which is just about the highest honor a pig can give) and who have never had a bad word with any of our bird family.  

Unfortunately for Sherman, the pigs are pretty good at fighting when they want to. Charlotte, who had been cornered by Sherman, was not in the mood to be bullied and did what any self-respecting pig would do: she defended herself. We’re pretty sure she or one of the pigs landed a quick and well-deserved counterattack with a tusk.

We said goodbye to our beautiful Tesla this week.

Tesla was a gentle soul with bunny spunk - sweet, yet mischievous. She would boldly steal food from the pigs (something no one else ever dared to do) and they allowed it. She befriended anyone she met, no matter their species. She vigorously guarded doorways from unknown foes. She loved to play ball, tossing it back and forth with us. And she wasn't afraid to give us a good foot stomp to show her feelings. She also loved to snuggle and have her head pet.

She was a cancer survivor once already, beating the odds after losing her ear to an earlier tumor. For a long time, she enjoyed a peaceful, happy life here, surrounded by love and sunshine and her favorite snacks.

Recently, another cancer appeared, and it spread quickly and couldn’t be stopped. True to her spirit, Tesla kept fighting right up until the end. Even when it was clear her body was tired, she found the strength to attack her banana slices and snuggle with her favorite humans.

From the minute Ryan met her at a post Easter rescue event to the very last minutes of her life, she was adored and loved wholeheartedly and is missed in ways that are indescribable. Only one word can truly make clear how we feel about our fluffy little girl: irreplaceable.
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This October is Tesla’s month in our 2025 calendar, a bit of perfect timing that lets us see her sweet face every day.

Over the past several weeks, we’ve noticed that Indy the hen has been losing weight, despite her usual  bright spirit. Concerned, our veterinarian ran bloodwork and parasite tests, but they came back normal.  Given that, the most likely explanation for Indy’s continued weight loss is cancer.

To get a clearer picture, Indy has been referred to Stahl’s Exotic Animal Veterinary Services for a CT scan. We are grateful that our trusted vet, Dr. Carothers (who took such good care of Miles and Quincy this year), will be the one caring for her. Still, we are deeply worried as we wait for answers.

Life at the sanctuary is always full of surprises, and this week our sweet Huckleberry gave us quite a scare. It all began with his neuter surgery, a simple but important step in his growing-up journey. He handled the procedure bravely, and we were so proud of how calm and trusting he was throughout. But a couple of days later, we noticed something unusual: his urine had turned a shocking, bright red.

If you’ve been following Betty’s story, you know she’s always been a sweet, curious turkey who loves to explore and practice flying with her brother Rachel and her mom Tia. But over the past month, we noticed something unusual: Betty kept squinting her right eye, almost like she was giving us a secret little wink.
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We tried everything we could with the help of our vet, multiple exams and medication, but the squinting continued. So, Betty got a referral to Animal Eye Care of Virginia Beach, where she made history as the first turkey patient ever seen at their office!

We have some really difficult news to share about our sweet Tesla. She almost certainly has metastatic cancer, most likely a blood vessel type such as hemangiosarcoma. Because of how quickly the mass has grown and how much blood it is taking up (and the likelihood of other masses present internally in her body), our vet felt it would not be safe to anesthetize her for a biopsy. This means we cannot know with absolute certainty, but the prognosis is not good.

Even so, we are not without hope. Tesla has started on an experimental dose of a common antibiotic that has shown anti-cancer properties for this type of cancer. Whether it is the medicine or the daily banana she happily eats it with (and perhaps both), we have seen an improvement. Her appetite is better, her energy is brighter, and her Tesla personality has been shining through. She has been asking for extra cuddles, stealing the dog’s food again, and filling the house with her unique spark.

Right now, her vet does not believe she is in any pain, and our focus is on making her life as wonderful and comfortable as possible. She gets special cuddles at night in bed with us, and receives extra treats of course.  We are so thankful we are the lucky ones who get to spend her life with her.  

Quincy’s toe amputation surgery was a success, and our brave boy is already back to strutting around the sanctuary in his special shoe! Nothing keeps him down for long. He has reclaimed his role as Commander in Chief, with Sherman faithfully patrolling at his side as his number two in command. The Puffalumps all clearly look up to Quincy, and we can't get over how cute he is with his little "mini me" beside him.  

At the same time, we this is just one step in the process. The toe on his other foot has not improved and remains painful. Quincy will be returning to Stahl’s for regular IV antibiotic infusion treatments, either weekly or every other week depending on how his body responds. These treatments are our best hope of saving this toe and sparing him from another amputation. His culture results showed that the infection is resistant to most common antibiotics, which means he has to receive a stronger medication that can be hard on his body. There is also the option of systemic antibiotics, but we are holding off for now because of the difficult side effects.

Even with all of this, Quincy carries himself with the same pride and determination that he always has. He keeps watch over the sanctuary with his steady presence, reminding us daily of his resilience and his desire to protect his family.  We will protect him too.  
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If you have a moment, please drop a kind word for our Commander in Chief. 

Quincy isn’t just a turkey: he’s one of the founding family members of Life With Pigs. He came to us as a tiny baby and quickly grew into the heart and protector of our sanctuary family.
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From the very beginning, Quincy seemed to know his purpose. He proudly struts around the sanctuary, chest puffed up, following visitors everywhere they go. But despite his big, confident presence, Quincy is the gentlest of souls. He loves nothing more than nibbling blueberries, curiously peeking through windows to see what we’re up to, and making sure every animal (and every human) feels safe under his watchful eye.

For years, he has self-appointed himself as the protector of everyone here. Whether it’s keeping an eye on new rescues or greeting school groups on tours, Quincy has always been the one watching over the family. He is a constant reminder that turkeys are not only intelligent and social, but deeply compassionate beings with unique personalities and bonds.

Tesla is one of the most resilient souls at Life With Pigs. This gentle rabbit, who loves exploring cozy corners and nibbling her favorite greens, and who is one of the only animals who is every brave enough to steal food from the pigs, has already overcome more than most animals ever face.
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Last year, Tesla underwent a major surgery to remove one of her ears after a severe infection revealed something more serious: cancer. It was a difficult ordeal, but Tesla pulled through bravely, adapting quickly and showing us once again the incredible strength of animals when they are given love and care.