Daisy Mae

Daisy Mae came to Saving Animals & Healing Hearts from another rescue that was preparing to leave the state. Because of her advanced age, disabilities, and special needs, there was concern that she would not do well with such a major move and drastic change in her surroundings. So Daisy Mae, along with two little chicken friends who had made a habit of hanging out in her pen, came to call SAHH home. Daisy Mae is deaf, has limited eyesight, and while we don’t know her exact age, we know she is a senior girl. We also don’t know everything she experienced before coming to us. What we do know is that Daisy Mae has very clear opinions about how she wants to live her life — quietly, peacefully, and without a lot of human interaction. And we respect that. Sanctuary isn’t about forcing an animal to accept affection or become who we want them to be. Sometimes love means cuddles and belly rubs. For Daisy Mae, love means giving her space, learning what makes her feel safe, and creating a world that works for her. We quickly discovered that enclosed spaces made Daisy Mae extremely nervous. She simply would not enter a traditional pig house, possibly because of her poor eyesight. Rather than forcing her to adapt, we adapted her environment. Today, Daisy Mae has a specially arranged enclosure directly in front of the main house, close to the Director’s front door and always within sight. Her shelter has an open front so she never feels trapped, with protective coverings that can be lowered during rain, wind, or other inclement weather. Being close to the house also gives her additional protection from the elements and allows us to keep a watchful eye on our special senior girl. Daisy Mae may never seek out human affection, and that’s okay. She is safe. She is comfortable. She has choices. And she gets to live the rest of her life on her terms. Sometimes, that is exactly what sanctuary is supposed to be.