graphic with a pastoral photo of rolling green hills as the background. test at the top says "tour season is open at merrymac farm sanctuary". there are four photo rectangles in the middle with photos of a horse, sheep, pig, and goat. text at the bottom says come visit our 100+ cows, horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, and more!"

Our tour season is OPEN! Every Saturday from 2-3 pm, and Wednesday tours 2-3 pm beginning May 13 (and we plan to expand our tour offerings in June). Book now! www.merrymacfarmsanctuary.org/tours

You know who loves mud season? Our beautiful snow-white horse, Casper. 😆

We wish we could tell you that tomorrow will bring resolution to the case, but their ex-owner has fought hard to deny any responsibility and draw this out as long as possible so far. We'll just have to wait and see and we will update you as soon as we can!

Since that article was written, the judge ruled in favor of forfeiture so there is NO chance that the girls will be returned. We wrote another article about the long, slow process of refeeding them (contains one image and descriptions of starvation): www.patreon.com/posts/138153...

If you don't know Gladys and Olivia's story we have a thorough timeline compiled here (but be aware there are descriptions and one image of extreme starvation): www.patreon.com/posts/gladys...

Photo of a large brown pig and large white and black spotted pig snuggled together in a sunny hay pile.

Many of you know our beautiful pigs Olivia and Gladys who came from an extreme neglect case here in Vermont. Tomorrow, April 22, their former owner is scheduled for a change of plea hearing in the two counts of animal cruelty the state has charged her with. www.vtcourts.gov/court-hearin...

Legislators take steps aiming to bolster Vermont’s animal welfare system - VTDigger “These bills are trying to modernize Vermont's approach to animal welfare,” said the state’s director of the Division of Animal Welfare.

Legislators take steps aiming to bolster Vermont’s animal welfare system

Photo of a white woman with blonde hair, sitting outside with three sheep around her.

Vermont has serious legal gaps when it comes to protecting animals. Two new bills will hopefully close some of those gaps and our director Era Macdonald was interviewed for this piece about the need for these changes: vtdigger.org/2026/04/20/l...

Photo of an adorable black lamb looking at the camera with a smiling expression.

Little Phoenix was born here last June and she is growing beautiful little horns!

For those who don't know, disbudding is the name for destroying the horn cells of baby sheep, goats, and cows so that they will never grow horns. It's extremely widespread in the ag industry and typically done with hot irons or caustic chemicals. thehumaneleague.org/article/disb...

Photo of a baby goat with very light brown coat with dramatic dark brown markings accenting his face.

Baby Floyd. 💕 Most male baby goats in the dairy industry are sold for meat. We're so happy that we were able to save Floyd and his brother Cornelius. What you can't see in the photos and videos (yet) is that they both have tiny little horn buds starting! We do not disbud any babies here.

Yes, they are medically fragile rescue babies and it was near freezing.

Floyd is wearing the dark green coat.

photo of a big black and white farm pig with a pink and black snout. He is standing outside, looking at the camera through a red wooden fence. Text says "in a world where you can be anything, be kind".

This is Buster. He escaped from a slaughterhouse in Connecticut and a series of wonderful people found him, cared for him, and transported him to us in December, 2024. He is a big, big boy with the sweetest personality. He LOVES people and getting belly rubs! ❤️

Nope - Janey is in the pink! Cornelius is in floral. 🌺

It was too cold to play outside today so Janey, Cornelius, and Floyd had playtime in one of the horse stalls in their adorable little coats! 🧥

Tour season, consent, and bodily autonomy. | Merrymac Farm Sanctuary Get more from Merrymac Farm Sanctuary on Patreon

NEW PATREON POST: Tour season, consent, and bodily autonomy. www.patreon.com/posts/tour-s...

She is darting forward assertively and making anxious vocalizations. Her behaviors heightened every time Eloise vocalized. Like dogs, pigs will sometimes wag their tails when stressed or afraid.

Concerned.

Yesterday it was 75° and sunny.

Today it’s 36° and snowing.

We love you, Vermont! 😆

Gertie was so upset when Eloise was getting her feet worked on yesterday. They were both fine afterward and got LOTS of love!

Yes, we are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit so donations are tax deductible. Thank you! ☺️

Get more from Merrymac Farm Sanctuary on Patreon A place for healing in the rolling green hills of Vermont.

If you would like to support our mission we always need monthly donors of ANY amount! Even $5/mo is a huge help. ❤️ You can join us through Patreon if you want behind-the-scenes articles (www.patreon.com/c/Merrymac) or Donorbox if you don't need another dang thing to read (donorbox.org/mmfs-donate).

When Clementine and her companion Wesley came to us they had no record of any kind of vetting. They needed full medical work ups, vaccines, and extensive dental and farrier work. We are so grateful for the supporters who make rescues like this possible.

Photo of a brown and white mini horse standing in a paddock outside. She is adorable!

Brave little Clementine! She is one of two senior mini horses we took in last Dec when their elderly owner could no longer care for them. Change is hard, but especially for Clementine since she is completely blind. She was so brave through everything and is now enjoying the spring warmth! 🍊🌸

We are so lucky to have this amazing team of professionals looking after our pigs, and so grateful to have supporters like you who make it all possible! 🐖 💕

But farrier day is not just about toes and teeth. When The Farrier Group is in town we coordinate the day with our pig vet, Dr. Sarah Spencer. She comes and takes care of any needed vaccines and addresses any signs of discomfort indicating joint pain or other issues.

It was a big day for our pigs! We ❤️ The Farrier Group. Ben is very active on instagram - follow him for lots of great piggy content! www.instagram.com/thefarriergr...

graphic with text that says "Most people understand that sanctuary means food, shelter, and vet care, but might not know that it also represents a profound ethical and philosophical comittment to animal well-being that goes far beyond those basics. We do take the best possible care of our residents’ everyday physical, social, and emotional needs, but also work to bring humane education to the world. We seek to spread compassion for all the animal victims of the agricultural industry. Sanctuary is not just a building or a piece of property, it is a blueprint for a kinder world."

Sanctuary means more than just food, water, and shelter. It's a profound commitment to the wellbeing of ALL farmed animals, not just the ones inside of our barns and coops. Thank you for supporting our vision of a kinder world. 💕

graphic with a photo of a light brown horse standing in a field. text says "what does sanctuary mean?"

Today we are joined by hundreds of sanctuaries all over the world in celebrating Sanctuary Day and pausing to think about what "sanctuary" really means.