Our Animal Sanctuary
We feel a deep connection with our animals — and not just the Highlands. In addition to the cattle, we have fostered and rescued a variety of other animals in need. We often work with our local humane society and rescue groups to neuter, foster and rehome needy, homeless animals. To date we have been blessed with the successful rehoming of 26 dogs, 22 cats, one cow, and even a stray pony! Current residents include six rescued dogs, and 8 rescued cats.
We have had peafowl, rehomed goats, cared for several rescue horses, fostered mama cats with litters until the kittens were old enough for adoption, and provide ongoing financial support to the Spay/Neuter fund of our local furry friends at the Hawkins County Humane Society.
Our last remaining horse was recently rehomed to the perfect loving rescue nearby.
As time goes on, we continue to love all animals, but the reality of aging means we must make choices. We will never stop caring for those animals who are dependent on us, but our days of adding rescues and fosters have come to an end. We must concentrate all efforts on caring for our current residents whose needs are increasing as they age.
We continue to assist with rehoming when we can and with advocating for spay and neuter efforts.
Fond Memories of Our Horse Rescue
Our original horses, were very senior. Babe only lived a few months after moving here (at age 34), Rocky was with us until Feb of 2018 (age about 32) and Abby was almost 35 years when she passed this spring.
When Elm Hollow was just the Gellers’ place, we had a particularly wet spring. There was a horse rescue down the road that had just turned into a huge mud pit. We had plenty of fenced pasture on high ground and only two horses (that had been given to us when we first bought the property) . . . You see where I’m going with this . . . I called and invited the horses to come over for a few months. They did and when they went back home, a few were left behind.
Belinda came to us almost starved to death and very pregnant. She is in her mid 20’s now and recently moved to a new home as a companion for another rescue horse. We also couldn’t turn away our blind TWH and her daughter, Jazzy who sees out of only one eye and acts as her mama’s guide.
The photos show Belinda on intake, and looking much better after 6 weeks of TLC. The foal in the rescue pictures was born a week after Belinda was taken in and was so weak we had to hold her up to nurse the first few times. After 4 weeks, she was fat and sassy.
Fond Memories of Our Foster Pets
Ahhhh, fosters . . . We have mastered the idea of fostering when it comes to dogs. You take them in, take care of them and find them a good home. No additions to the family (the four permanent canines act as socialization coaches). Here we see Gladys teaching Merle how to behave in the house.
However, we are foster failures when it comes to cats. I guess that explains 10 cats in the house and 1 in the barn. Possibly 2 in the barn . . . we call the second one shadow . . . he is dark and disappears when we turn on the light.
These are the most recent kittens, the alphabet litter. Ellie, Clarence, Alice and Doris (brother Beau was camera shy). Their mother, Fizzy is our newest feline resident.
We’ve taken in a half a dozen mother cats with kittens from shelters or rescues in the past two years. Raised the kittens and returned the family to the shelter or rescue. When the kittens are all adopted, we can’t stand to think of that lonely mama kitty, so back we go to get mama. Five of those six mamas now live here with us.
Our last big foster effort was Rascal. I saw him advertised online and he was close by. I was alarmed at some of the wording in the ad and skeptical of his name they gave him, “Ransom”. To this day, I believe there was something not quite right about his circumstance. I agreed to meet at a well lit public place and paid what I believe to be a ransom for a dognapped puppy. He was unkempt, and terrified.
After trips to the groomer for a shampoo and trim, to the vet for shots and to check for a chip, we changed his name from Ransom to Rascal. The next couple of months were spent giving this baby love and restoring his confidence in humans. When he was ready, I began the search and finally found this little Rascal the perfect family. What a high note for end our fostering career. I still send him birthday wishes every year.
