Guest guest Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Winter 2009 WISHING YOU AND YOURS A Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas! Whatever holiday your family celebrates, This is a special time of year for us all, when we wish peace and goodwill for all creation. We hope the holidays find you and yours well and in good cheer! Our warmest wishes today and every day of the new year to each of you! Sincerely,Dale, Elaine and all of the animals who have found peace, love and safety here at Rooterville, A Sanctuary The Gift that Keeps on Giving... COMPASSION, the one gift that is never out of season and that the world can never have enough of.Please share the gift of compassion every day. A compassionate diet is a powerful witness to those around you and opens the door for you to share with others the reasons for choosing to eat a diet that does not cause suffering and death.Remember, it is better to light a candle than to rail against the darkness. Be the light! Its That Time of Year Already, CHRISTMAS! We hope you are enjoying the festive spirit of the season as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus! This time of year brings many feelings and memories, we hope all of yours are merry and fond and that you know the blessed peace that the Savior gives! Here at the sanctuary, its time to hunker down for the cold weather that will be with us for many more days. This means lots of hay for the piggies to munch on and nest in. If you can find it in your heart to make a piggie's Christmas merry and bright (and toasty and warm), no one would appreciate it more than one of those here at Rooterville. There are many available for sponsorship. A sponsor gets the pleasure of having a nice photo of their special piggy with his/her individual story. We recommend a donation of $25 per month, but we know times are tough, so any donation amount will be accepted at this time of year to share the season with a pig of your very own. They make great gifts, why not consider sharing a gift of compassion with your friends and family? Chickens and turkeys would love to be sponsored too! Please contact Elaine for more information.Have a Merry Christmas and a Hoggy, er, Happy New Year! New Rooterville Videos and Photos! Check them out! For a Great Time, Here's an Idea! Wouldn't it be fun to actually do something that brings alot of comfort and joy to animals and yourself? Well here's an idea for you to take a break from shopping and experience the pleasure that treats bring to the animals here at Rooterville: You can stop by the Flower's Bakery, off of 53rd Street and 43rd Street in Gainesville and for $6.oo, buy a shopping cart full of bakery items. Then, come on out to Rooterville and feed it to the animals! The pigs will squeal with delight, the turkeys will gobble with gratefulness and the hens will cluck with glee as you toss them goodies! Priceless! That is what you will be saying to yourself as you see what incredible joy you can create with such a small sum of money! Please let us know when you'd like to schedule a day to dole out the pastries and bring your camera because you won't have this much fun anywhere else!Please call or email us for details and recommendations! We'll only be doing this during the cold months to help the animals with extra calories to stay warm, so don't miss your chance! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We are looking for people to help with feeding every day. Feeding time is the very best part of a trip to Rooterville so if you'd like to be a part of feeding, just let us know and we'll get you on the schedule. "Tea Cup" Pigs--NOT!!! Oh my goodness! They are popping up everywhere, just in time for Christmas, and people are paying huge sums of money to get their hands on one of these "pocket" pigs! Those of us who have been around see this fraud perpetrated every few years and our hearts sink as we hear of gullible people being duped into buying these tiny porkers, only to be upset when they don't stay as tiny and cute as promised (shock of all shocks!) The bad thing is that THEN, they call sanctuaries, like Rooterville, to take the problem porker off their hands. And because they paid so much, they think that they are doing us a service "donating" such a high-priced pet. Its enough to make us scream. Already, we are getting calls about pigs that have gotten bigger than promised. Unfortunately for this next round of adorable porcine victims of human greed, there is no room left at any of the established sanctuaries in the entire country! Where will the poor piggies go when their proud new owners decide that they are NOT the perfect apartment or house pet? In the south, pot bellied pigs are favorites of hunters who scour the "free to good home" ads looking for bait to train their dogs. What a horrible fate for an animal that is defenseless against a dog and who has learned to trust humans. Some will end up locked in tiny pens or basements, receiving little or no care. Some might find their way to a shelter, though very few will take them in. Some will be dumped, left to fend for themselves, and die a slow death of starvation or exposure to the elements. Friends, we have seen it all and this new promotion by the irresponsible media hawks just tears us up because we know that there is no room left for the flood of unwanted pet pigs that will be coming. There are very few humane options for unwanted pet pigs. That is the cold, hard truth. So, where will they go? Anyone want to start a sanctuary????The truth is that ALL pigs start out very tiny, even farm pigs that mature over 500lbs, start out under 5lbs at birth. A newborn pot bellied pig will be not much larger than a hamster, thus the pictures of them standing next to soda cans or coffee mugs! This is not unusual, it is NORMAL. The breeders peddling the hapless animals fail to tell people that they do not reach full size until they are 3-4 years of age. Usually breeders will show prospective buyers the parents of the babies but they don't mention that the parents are not full grown either. A female pig comes into heat at 3 months of age and a male can breed at 2 months of age, just babies themselves!The normal weight for a mature, not obese, pot bellied pig is 100-150lbs, about the size of a Labrador. They do not make good housepets for the average person as they possess the intelligence of a 4 year old child. Pigs are amazingly smart and they learn very quickly how to open cupboards and refrigerators, sparing their people the trouble of feeding them, they prefer to help themselves!Please, if you hear of anyone talking about getting a baby pig for Christmas, please slap them silly... oh, sorry.... Please send them to Rooterville or the nearest sanctuary to learn the truth about pet pigs so that they can see what they are really getting into. Otherwise, when their new pint sized piggy turns into a ballooning behemoth, they will have few options available to rehome him/her. Once the "cuteness" wears off, there will be few, if any, takers. This world needs less suffering, not more and this is what these reprehensible breeders are producing. Please help us nip this fraud in the bud! Stuffed toy piggies who don't eat, don't squeal and don't poop are the best option for the average person. Trust us! We have many "pocket", "micro mini", "teacup" pigs living here at Rooterville already and until we win the lottery or find more kind people willing to contribute on a regular basis to help the sanctuary grow, we just can't take in any more. All of the sanctuaries in the country are in the same position and it is tragic. Nothing hurts us more than having to turn away an animal in need, especially a pig as there are very few humane options for them. Rooterville's Website Take a Break from Shopping and Visit Rooterville!During the Holiday season, things can get hectic so we'd like to invite you to come and spend some time relaxing and enjoying the residents of Rooterville. Nothing calms jittery nerves like rubbing a pig's tummy, guaranteed! We always welcome visitors and volunteers by appointment and we'll be here Christmas Day and the day after Christmas from 1-4PM if you'd like to come and visit. If you need directions, below or just email piggyparade or give us a call at (352) 495-7473. We hope to see you soon! Mapquest Directions to Rooterville More Ways to Help Rooterville! Winters are the hardest time for Sanctuaries, the grass doesn't grow, so we have to buy hay and extra feed; it gets cold, so the animals need hay, blankets and some need heat lamps/pads to stay warm; the elderly animals need supplements and pain meds to manage their achy joints; Publix generously donates out of date produce, but much of it is out of season now, so we need to buy more pelleted feed to make up the shortfall. At $11 per bag, up to 5 bags per day, well you can do the math! Keeping everyone's tummy full is no easy undertaking.Won't you help us care for the animals for the next few months? You can donate online, mail a check or if you would like to buy something specific for the animals, here is a list of what they need and the approximate cost: Hay $6.75 will keep one piggy warm for the winter, $55 will buy a roll of hay to keep 10 piggies warm for the winter. Joint Supplement: $118 will keep 17 piggies joints pain free for a month.Pain Medication: $60 will buy a bottle of Banamine that will last 3 months to help the old pigs when they have bad days and $8 will buy a large bottle of asprin to help with aches and pains. Truck: $70 will buy gas for a month, every day produce has to be picked up, $360 will make the monthly payment, $12,000 will pay it off.If you are interested in making a donation to help pay off the tractor, the property, purchase a permanent barn structure, or some other special project that you would like to sponsor, please let us know! Our feed store is Midwest Feed at 352-495-9090 if you wish to place an order directly with them on Rooterville's behalf. Rooterville is an all volunteer organization, we have no paid staff. All donations go directly to help the animals and they are tax deductible as allowed by law. We appreciate every dollar that is donated and also your prayers and well wishes! Caring for nearly 200 animals is a big job, your support and kind words mean more than we can express. We see it in the faces of the animals every day though! Vegetarians Less Prone to Cancer Vegetarians are 12 percent less likely to develop cancer, compared with meat eaters, according to a recent study in the British Journal of Cancer. After following 61,000 meat eaters and vegetarians for more than 12 years, researchers also discovered that rates of cancers of the blood--such as lukemia, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma--were reduced by as much as 45 percent among those following a vegetarian diet. Previous studies have shown that vegetarians have as much as a 40 percent reduced risk for all cancers. Taken from "Good Medicine", Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Autumn 2009/vol. xviii, no. 4 Visit the website at www.cancerproject.org Going vegan is the best thing you can do for your heart and your health! More Great Info on Improving YOUR Health! Rooterville Recipe Corner Scooter's Spectacular Mushroom GravyThis is a favorite at Rooterville, the BEST gravy you'll ever enjoy and its easy to make too! You can use portobello mushrooms, shitake or button mushrooms. Strain it when finished for a smooth, silky gravy or enjoy it chunky style, like we do. This is sure to be a holiday favorite at your family get togethers. 1 Tbs olive oil1 medium onion, finely chopped2 cloves garlic, minced1 1/2 cups chopped cleaned mushrooms (portobello, shitake, or button)2 1/4 cups vegetable broth (we use Better Than Bullion Vegetable Base, 1 tsp. per cup of water as directed on jar)1/4 tsp. dried thyme 1/8 tsp. dried crumbled sage1 Tbs. corn starch2 Tbs. cold waterFreshly Ground Pepper to Taste 1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until they begin to release their juices, about 10 minutes. 2. Add broth, thyme and sage. Simmer for 10 minutes. Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl or cup. Stir into the sauce and simmer, stirring often until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes more. Season with pepper. If you prefer a smooth gravy, pour through a strainer and discard mushrooms and onions. Serve hot. Goes great with garlic mashed taters! Note: If you do not use a hearty boullion, add 3 Tbsp. soy sauce or Braggs Liquid Aminos for extra flavor before serving. Enjoy! For more great compassionate recipes, check out the link below! Cruelty Free Recipes Sanctuary Pig of the Month Well, this feature will be a pair of piggies, I couldn't resist. Since we mentioned "teacup" pigs, meet Gideon (L) and Valentine ®. These little guys are approximately 10 years old, they were sold for hundreds of dollars as "micro mini" pigs by a breeder to a person who kept them in an apartment for their first 5 years of life. Because they never went outside for fresh air or sunshine, they had the most awful looking skin and not a hair on their bodies. Their smashed faces make breathing a challenge, but when they are babies, the look is irresistably cute.Poor Gideon and Valentine ended up being tossed from place to place when their original owner gave them up. They had changed homes more than 4 times in a year by the time they found their way here. Everyone who tried to keep them said that they were too "aggressive" and had to go. They had grown much larger than was expected, too. They each weigh approximately 80lbs, which is quite small for a pot bellied pig, but much larger than the 40lbs they were supposed to be. When we heard their story and that they were about to lose another home due to their aggessive behavior, we promised them that they would never be moved again and welcomed them to Rooterville. We discovered an amazing thing about them that no one else seemed to notice. Their "aggression" was really fear. They were so traumatised by having their lives turned upside down so much, that they were terrified. These two little guys are very, very sensitive. So sensitive, that Gideon would scream in fear if approached and Valentine, the valiant, would do his best to protect his little buddy, barking and snapping as ferociously as he possibly could. So, they were misunderstood and labeled "aggressive". I knew they were all bluff the moment I met them and could see the fear that gripped their poor souls, so I set out to put them at ease. It took several months to be able to touch Gideon without him recoiling in fear and crying pitifully. It really was a heartbreaking thing to see one so fearful. Gideon has the most mournful cry. But, time and patience paid off, eventually I won their trust and had them going down for belly rubs.Gideon and Valentine have lived with us for 5 years now and every year, they get more hair on their little bodies. They both have to be treated for arthritis and an occasional sinus infection, due to their pug faces. But, they are very happy now and well adjusted. They even let strangers pet them if approached slowly and calmly. If Gideon crys in fear, Valentine is still quick to come to his defense but Valentine knows that we will not hurt his friend. In the summer, you can find them both grazing in the yard or laying in the sun during the day. On nice evenings, they will pull up mouthfulls of grass and tear off branches from small trees to make an elaborate nest where they will lay side by side, one facing out opposite of the other. Its quite an adorable site to behold.We call them our "little buddies" and they are a delightful pair. Please make sure to meet them when you visit!Fact: Potbellied pigs are herd animals. In the wild they live in tight family groups, forming strong social bonds. When they live with people, they form those same strong ties with their human counterparts. Pigs are very territorial and like routine, change is disrupting to them and being given up to a new family or sanctuary can be very traumatic for them. Older pigs especially have been known to grieve themselves to death, so adopting a pet pig is a serious committment. Potbellied pigs can live 20 years if kept in good health. A Simple Step to Help Pigs NOW... Please take a moment to go to www.factoryfarming.com and sign this petition to help the pigs. Legislation helping "Downed" animals would force farmers, transporters and slaughterhouses to provide better care to the animals to preventthem from being injured, its a small step,but neccessary.Thanks!Let Obama Know: Pigs Deserve Better!Sign our Petition for the Pigs and urge President Obama to protect pigs and other farm animals who are too sick, injured or weak to stand or walk from being dragged, beaten, shocked, and left to suffer Link to sign petition and learn more about modern farming. Did you know? According the the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), US Agricultural facilities, including factory farms, are a significant source of water pollution. Animal agriculture requires huge inputs of water and energy. Producing one pound of "broiler" chicken requires 420 gallons of water, 1/4 lb of ground beef uses over 600 gallons of water. Factory farms produce 500 million tons of waste every year in the US. The average American consumes over 200 pounds of meat a year. This is simply unsustainable.If you want to make a difference for the environment and the animals, then replacing meat and dairy with fruits, vegetables and legumes is the best thing you can do. Learn more by clicking on the link below. You will also find helpful links on our website on the "links" page. Humane Farming Association Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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