Yesterday was a BIG day for Tia and her babies, Rachel and Betty. After weeks of spending their days safely in the covered run, we finally let them out into the yard to explore.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live in a peaceful, harmonious animal sanctuary where everyone coexists in perfect serenity… we can confirm that we have no idea.

Because lately, Life With Pigs has been less Little House on the Prairie and more Real Housewives of the Barnyard.

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.

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.
​
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!

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.  
​
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.
​
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.

Tia has always wanted to be a mom. She sat on empty nests, with a heart full of hope, year after year.  Finally, we were able to rescue some poults for her to care for.  The first was a beautiful little girl named Suzy, who came earlier this year.  
​
But Tia faced an unimaginable loss when her beloved Suzy passed away. In the weeks that followed, she tried to connect with the Puffalumps, but something never quite clicked. Though she longed for companionship, she seemed unable to find the bond she was searching for and was still grieving the loss of her daughter.