Country Life: A haven for rescued farm animals

A kunekune pig called Paul was Sharlene Wilson's first rescue eight years ago.

He joined Kevin and Frankie, and, from that moment, Canterbury Tails Animal Rescue and Sanctuary was born.

The trio of pigs was joined by Nellie. She is easy to spot as her curly tail's always wagging.

Sharlene says she tried for six months to find a home for Nellie, but no one came forward.

"She's part of our family now. We've integrated her with the other pigs and she's got a place here now."

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Most rescues are rehomed directly from their previous homes.

"So usually people will email me and say we're moving to Australia or we've got this pig we found and we've had it for a couple of years now and we can't keep him. So things like that."

Sharlene finds new families - or temporary fosters - through a nationwide network.

"That could be for a chicken to a pig to a sheep short-term, that gives me enough time to find them a home."

So far, well over a hundred animals and birds have found their forever homes.

Animals that can't be rehomed live at Sharlene's property at Eyrewell. Donations allow her to feed, transport and give them medical care.

When Country Life visited, 11 sheep and four alpaca were grazing happily in the paddock next to the kunekune pigs.

The alpaca are great companions for the sheep, according to Wilson.

"When we get new rescues coming in, they'll circle around the new sheep and just protect them."

A weekend working bee was also in full swing.

A dozen volunteers had brought shovels, gumboots, and big hearts.

For some, it was their first time close up with farm animals.

Marcos, who hails from Argentina, gently combed a sheep's fleece. Quinoa is a mixed Suffolk, Romney, Merino ram.

"Because he is a male, his destiny was to go on [to] the meat industry," Marcos says.

Now he's a permanent resident at Sharlene's animal home.

Marshmallow is snoozing in a nearby pigsty.

She's a huge saddleback with long, red eyelashes and a cheeky grin.

"She's come from a situation where [the owners] weren't able to keep her and because of her breed, she's very large, she's not really a pig that is able to be rehomed," Sharlene says as she gives the sow a scratch.

Beyond the animal paddocks lies a bustling poultry village. Rescued chickens, geese, and ducks roam freely.

"We've got around 20 ducks, 15 Muscovy ducks, 20 roosters and probably double that in hens, so 40 or 50 hens."

It's a lot of beaks to feed. "We'll feed out 100 kilos twice a week, just for the birds".

Volunteers, Kate, Joe, Elora and Bridge have been putting sawdust into chook houses, pulling up thistles and cleaning a waterway.

"Without the help of people coming out here, it just would be impossible. So that's why we run this every month, the first Sunday of every month."

Elora Williamson has been to several working bees. She says the volunteering aligns with her values.

"It's really important that somebody is doing this mahi and that we can come out and help. It's nice to give back."

Learn more:

• Learn more about Canterbury Tails Animal Rescue here