Bucket

Bucket was saved from a livestock auction where he had been discarded and ripped from his mother at less than a day old. Bucket was bottle raised and became instant friends with Colton. He is the sweetest, gentlest big boy. He is a simple boy who simply likes his hay, green grass, grain and loves pears.  His name is from my 2017 bucket list that included saving a life, which ended up being his. See our About our Story page for more details.  His name inspired our sanctuary name.as well. 

Birthday: March 27, 2017

Bucket has an amazing sponsor.

Miles & Journey

I was contacted very early in 2019 by Jason Bolalek who lived in Vermont and who has since formed Destination Liberation and was wanting to save the male calves at several dairy farms nearby as he had gotten the farms to agree to surrender them as they are no use to dairy farms sadly. A few months later and we were ready and Jason drove Journey who was a week old and Miles a day old from Vermont to Virginia in the back seat of his sedan. Jason named the boys after the trip. The boys had just  been ripped from their mother and instantly befriended each other for comfort. The trip took it's toll as both fought scours and fevers but they fought hard and got well. They were both bottle fed and moved from being in a quarantine field to the Eight is Not Enough gang of goats until they were big enough to be in with Bucket and Bailey. They would literally moo to each other. Once they were together, the four have become four peas in a pod. Journey's moo is loved by all and both are incredibly sweet and handsome. Miles having such unusual markings and awesome eyes. 

Miles's Birthday: April 21, 2019

Journey's Birthday: April 15, 2019

Miles has an amazing Sponsor Mom.  Journey is in need of a Sponsor. 

Cooper

Cooper arrived in February 2022 from Animal Protection Society of Person County, NC. They had rescued him and he was in a foster home. Cooper was about 7 months old when he arrived with the most adorable ears and great smile. He immediately became best friends with Colton and not long after started looking after Tidbit and Pisa with Colton. He has some issues learning all of farm life and is still very much in training and very much a puppy still. He is so fast, does an amazing job looking after the farm and for me, and sleeps well at night. 

Rocky

So if you read Summer & Stormy’s story, on of the visits to see them prior to them coming home, I was at the farm when a Mom had just given birth to triplets, not knowing it was triplets because I could only see 2 healthy babies because of the distance but what I thought might be a 3^rd baby goat. And sure enough it was, a little boy fighting for his life because his mom had essentially pushed him away because his siblings were at least twice his size. So the farm was able to get some colostrum from the mom and had to feed the baby with a tube because he had no strength. I offered to take the baby and bottle feed it and try to save his life. So I had no idea that day, my life with goats was about to start a few weeks sooner than planned. I got the baby home with the tiniest of bottles, he started to take tiny amounts of milk and sure enough about an hour later, he stood. I immediately named him Rocky, for his fight. And it was all amazing progress from there. He was tiny then but grew into a handsome big boy and beat out Summer & Stormy by being my first goat at the farm. 😊 When the girls came home, once Rocky was old and strong enough, we introduced them and after some time, they became friends.

Rocky's Birthday: April 13, 2016

Rocky is looking for a Sponsor. 

Liberty & Bell

It wasn’t long after having Summer, Stormy & Rocky, I learned how hard it is for mom goats to have their kids pulled from them even when they need to be weaned. So in the Summer of 2016, I was looking to add to our goat family when on July 4^th, it was raining all day and I was looking on Craigslist when I saw a mom and baby goat advertised for sale and the baby had been born that morning. I said to myself I have to get them so they are safe and can stay together and luckily I was the first to respond to the post and immediately drove 2 hours in horrible rain and brought them both home. Liberty was a great mom. Luckily both were healthy and it was a completely different experience watching Liberty raise Bell. It was so special to see and to this day, they have that mother/daughter bond.

Liberty's Birthday: May 26, 2015. Bell's Birthday: July 4, 2016

Liberty has an amazing sponsor mom. Sadly, Bell passed away in June 2022. It hasn't been the same without her. 

Ripley

One day I received a call from the farm that Rocky, Summer, and Stormy came from and they had a baby whose mother had passed away when her mom was having her twin. They asked if I would like to bottle feed her like I did Rocky and of course I said Yes. I went and picked her up just a couple of hours later. Ripley was healthy but just sadly had lost her mom. I bottle raised her and we spent many hours together. She would fly around my house until she was big enough to be put with the other goats. Ripley was and is extremely bonded to me and would rather spend time with me over any of her goat friends. She is so sweet and is the tiniest goat in the Eight is Not Enough gang. If goats could live in your house forever, Ripley would still be here. :)

Ripley's birthday: June 17, 2017

Ripley is looking for a Sponsor. 

Charlie & Blondie

I was contacted by a student at a vet school who wanted to save a pair of goats from going to auction as her school sends all animals at the end of each semester to auction unless they have are spoken for ahead of time. I absolutely wanted to help and with the help of amazing people, we arranged transport each doing different legs of the trip. They arrived in December 2018 just about 3 months old. They had bonded on the trip and the two of them are always laying together. One of the definite couples on the farm. Charlie and Blondie were the start of the flying ear gang as those ears are absolutely amazing. These two are so sweet. Charlie being a little bit of a class clown while Blondie is all sweetness. 

Charlie's Birthday is: September 21, 2018. Blondie's is September 24, 2018

Charlie has an amazing Sponsor Mom.  Sadly, Blondie passed away in August 2021 after a long fight with a goat disease CAE that she would have gotten as a baby nursing from her mom before she even came to LBFS.

Penny

Penny was also rescued from a vet school by a student who had already saved her friend Sprinkles who had issues with her back legs but who was still able to walk. This vet school student reached out to Lawson's Heart (IG account where special needs animals are posted to find homes) to see if she could find a sanctuary for both Penny and Sprinkles as she did not have a farm but who loved Penny and Sprinkles tremendously. She wanted them to have a big field and other goat friends. So Penny and Sprinkles came to us in July 2019. Sadly Sprinkles passed away a few months later and Penny was left without her best friend. She is incredibly sweet and quiet and has slowly befriended Hopie, Blondie and the rest of the gang who she spends her time with. Penny certainly mourns and misses her friend just like a human would. 

We don't know Penny's Birthday. 

Penny has an amazing Sponsor Mom & Dad. 

Tidbit arrived in March 2021 at just a week old. She was born with a neurological issue that did not allow her stand. When she arrived, we also found out that she is blind, possibly can see shadows. She was faced with incredible hurdles and was so very tiny. She never overcame the neurological issue to be able to stand on her own however her cart allows her to live a happy life. She lives in the house permanently and has stayed very tiny. Even her horns barely grew. She is always smiling and she could not be any sweeter. 

Tidbit sadly passed away on February 20, 2023. Our little girl told me it was time and she is missed every single day. 

Titan came to us in June 2021. He is the twin brother of Tidbit. He was born healthy and strong. When we rescued Tidbit, we asked the farm the farm if we could also have Titan so we could keep them together and they said Yes. Titan is much bigger than Tidbit hence his name. However he couldn't be more sweet and loving. He will follow you anywhere. 

Titan is looking for a Sponsor.

Polly came to us in April 2021 at a month old. She was a triplet who was born with both her front legs contracted at a 90 degree angle. The place she was born very much loved her but didn't feel they could give her the best care and a home with friends so we offered her a home. We were able to get her right left almost to straighten out like normal however the left remained stubborn. After using a cart while she small and splinting, we tried her in our field with a gentle herd and it was an instant spot for her to thrive as a goat should be. She is able to graze with friends all day and keeps up with all the other goats. We constantly make sure she is not in any pain and as she continues to grow, we will decide if she is in need of anything. Polly is spunky and those ears and she keeps us on our toes each and every day. 

Polly is lucky to be sponsored by one of our volunteers and has a second amazing Sponsor Mom.

Blue has the most amazing blue eyes. He came to us in April 2021 from Hudson Valley Humane Society in New York. They specialize in dogs and cats and Blue was the only goat and they had not found an adoptive home. So he traveled south to start a new life at Little Buckets. He is so happy, spunky, and has some serious leaping power. 

Blue is looking for a Sponsor.

Pisa arrived in April 2022 at a month old. She is an angora goat and will be getting sheared like a sheep would. She was born with neurological issues that does not allow her stand on her own. We were hoping she would be able to learn to balance like Tater and Tot were able however so far she has to use the cart to move around. We have built several wood chutes that she can stand in on her own but gives her the boards on each side of her to balance herself. She is spunky, sweet, strong, and inspires us every day. She works those little legs hard to fly around the farm. She has been sheared once and has many different looks. Her curls are absolutely amazing and so soft. We are constantly working with Pisa to help her thrive and hopefully overcome her balance issues. She doesn't know any different and is so happy and healthy otherwise. She is a little fighter and still lives in the house with Tidbit.

Pisa has 3 very special sponsor moms. 

Chief

Chief was one of Little Bucket's first rescues in July 2018. He was at a feedlot about to be sent to Mexico or Canada to be slaughtered for meat. With the help of our supporters, we were able to save him. He was first sent to quarantine and arrived to the farm in August 2018. Chief was a little thin but overall pretty healthy. Once he was introduced to the other horses, he immediately bonded with Trigger, Chester, and Geronimo. Chief is such a social horse and always comes over the fence to say Hi. He is also a little bit of a class clown, always instigating fun in the field with the other horses. He is so sweet and funny and I can't imagine why he landed in that feedlot but he will never have to worry about safety again. 

Chief has two so very sweet sponsor moms that split his sponsorship.

Chester

Chester was saved at a livestock auction for just $5 by a friend who has a horse rescue. He was later adopted out but then returned. Instead of going back to her rescue, I decided to adopt Chester myself. This was well before I had Little Buckets or even thought I would ever have my own rescue. This was in March 2016. Now he loves being with the big boys and often doesn't realize his size as he will boss the big boys around when he wants. He loves his friends, Trigger, Sterling, Chief, and Geronimo. 

Chester sadly passed away in December 2023. We were never sure of his age but he very well could have been well into his thirties. We sure miss our little man. 

Goldie

Goldie is Trigger's Mom and was at a farm next door to a friend who taught me most of what I know about horses. When I got my first farm, I was  able to provide a new home for Trigger and the farm asked if I would like to take Goldie too. And of course I said Yes. Goldie is as sweet as they come. She has battled PSSM and major joint/muscular issues however she remains happy and mobile enough. She had several babies and Trigger was one of them. They have gotten to spend all but one year together. I was so happy to be able to give her a home. Now she loves on little Willow and is friends with Olive. Goldie is truly a ray of sunshine everyday. 

Goldie has two very special sponsor moms that split her sponsorship.

We had to say goodbye to our Goldie Girl on March 27, 2024, one week after her 28th Birthday. She has left a huge void on the farm & in our hearts. 

Aspen

Aspen was also one of my first horses at my first farm. Not a rescue. I got her to ride and to have a horse that was not green like Trigger. Aspen is beautiful and was amazing to ride. She preferred a riding ring over a trail. We had fun working in the ring, pretending to be fast, pretending we could jump our little 1 foot jumps. Anyone could ride her which allowed my family to ride as well. Aspen had the most difficult time adjusting to Virginia. As I don't ride anymore, I do believe she misses that. Vegans do not ride horses and as I don't ride anymore, more because of time, I do believe some horses love to work and Aspen is one of those horses. She is unfortunately a very moody, sassy mare that is a boss mare to boot, but I love her so much. 

Willow

We waited a long time for Willow to be born but she was sure worth the wait. Her cuteness and her fluff were off the charts. It was so amazing how big she was when she was born. Taking steps a few hours after being born to do doing zoomies just a few days later. Her birth came just at the beginning of quarantine and Willow was just what everyone needed who followed. She made you smile, laugh, love, and so much more. She is so sweet and so sassy at the same time. She has grown up so quickly and to a beautiful young donkey. She will get to live her life out with her mom here at Little Buckets. 

Willow has a super special Sponsor Mom and was lucky enough to have a group of special sponsors for her first 6 months of her life. 

Short Stuff

Short Stuff appeared in my feed on a feedlot stating she might be pregnant.  The same feedlot that Chief and Sterling were saved from. If she was not saved, she would be sent to auction. I watched her to see if she got a new home. That never happened and I couldn't let this little girl have to go to auction and deal with another bad experience. Pregnant or not, no animal deserves this. So with the amazing help of our supporters, we were able to save her life and  Short Stuff went to quarantine for a month. On the day of her arrival here at Little Buckets, Short Stuff was not acting normally and just four hours later, we were headed to NC State. She was colicing most likely from the trailer ride. They were able to get that under control without surgery but then she developed a low grade pneumonia and ended up being there for almost a week. But once we brought her home, she has remained healthy and will be soon getting to meet new friends and will start to unwind from the experiences of her last few months. 

Short Stuff has 2 amazing Sponsor Moms. 

Clover & Maggie

When I got my first farm, I was bound to fill it up with farm animals. Clover and Maggie are sisters who I got when they were piglets. Pigs are extremely smart, funny, and lovable Clover and Maggie are now 11 years old and even though they were not necessarily rescues when I got them, any pigs who get to stay with their sister and live out their life safe and happy, are truly considered lucky. 

We don't rescue pigs due to very limited veterinary care in our area.

Maggie is sponsored by one of our amazing volunteers.

Clover sadly passed away in September 2023 and we sure miss her and we know Maggie sure misses her sister.

Bo Peep

So one day in June 2019, I simply went to the landfill to take trash and as soon as I got out of the truck, Bo Peep walked over to me and rubbed up across my legs. Looking under a tree that is right by where you pull up, I saw kittens, however they were skittish. I could have easily taken her with me but I did not want to take her without her kittens. I checked with an employee and found out cats/kittens are dumped there all the time. So I asked if I was okay taking them and of course they said yes. So I went home and got some food and water and attempted to catch the kittens. After several days of spending hours at the landfill, we were able to get 4 kittens and the mom, who we named Bo Peep. Bo Peep had to have had a family as she is so very sweet. She is one of the first animals to greet everyone that comes to the farm. 

Bo Peep is looking for a Sponsor.

Slinky

Slinky one of Bo Peep's kittens that were saved in June 2019. He was the hardest to catch and have warm up to me but now he is love bug. He loves his buddy Woody and loves Tater and Tot. He has the most magnificent eyes. His name ended up being very fitting as he is long, skinny, and a gorgeous gray. 

Slinky has a very special Sponsor Mom.

Jesse

Jesse was the only girl Bo Peep had in her litter of kittens we saved from the landfill. Jesse was the friendliest right off the bat and is very much like Colton who has a special bond with all the animals. Jesse hung out with Olive a lot when she was pregnant then Willow and will often snuggle up to the horses on the fence line. She is incredibly sweet and from a distance, she looks so much like her mom that I can sometimes mistake her for Bo Peep. Her stripes are darker and more pronounced. 

Jesse has an awesome sponsor mom and family.