Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary
Vegan sanctuary for just over 200 rescued farm animals in the Western Cape of South Africa
Farm Animal Sanctuary in South Africa
OUR STORY
About Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary
The story of Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary begins in 2003 when Nicky Vernon, a British ex pat, purchased Tabularasa Farm, 40 hectares of land just 7 kms outside of Greyton, situated in the Western Cape, South Africa. Together with her friend Rohan Millson she was determined to develop the land sustainably and in harmony with the natural world so the couple built the main farm house and other homes on the farm out of straw bale and clay. Tabularasa is also completely off the grid and solar powered.
Nicky and Rohan had succeeded in fulfilling their dream of creating a sanctuary for themselves, but it wasn’t long before they realised that many of the lambs being born in the fields surrounding their home were struggling and that most were left to die. The animal loving pair had to do something and so started picking these forsaken lambs up and nursing them back to health. In time, Nicky developed a (mostly) positive relationship with neighbouring farmers who began to allow her to nurse and keep the weakest lambs at her farm.
This rescuing and rehoming of forgotten or abandoned animals went on for many years, and finally in November 2014 the Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary was officially born – initiated by two distinctive events.
The first was the arrival of Bella the pig, a pet who had outgrown her home in Kalk Bay, Cape Town, and who had attracted the (unwanted) attention of the municipal authorities. A home had to be found quickly and she found one with Nicky and Rohan. Word got around and soon other ‘mini’ pig owners, who had discovered that their piggies were anything but petite, approached Nicky for help.
Six weeks later, and perhaps profoundly on the 31st of December 2014, Nicky spotted a black and white heap lying in the field below. She raced down and found a newly born calf. Not long before, she had witnessed a bellowing adult cow being taken away from this field and surmised that this was her calf, very fragile and who, it appeared, had been left to die. She picked the calf up and took him home where he was fed with milk from another farmer’s dairy cow who had recently given birth and was still producing colostrum.
Sadly the calf died just after midnight, but peacefully and with a warm, full tummy and surrounded by love in Nicky’s arms. She called him Heaven and buried him the next day. Nicky knew at that moment that she wanted to dedicate the rest of her life to doing everything she could to stop such tragic and unnecessary suffering and, with that, the Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary was born – offering a forever home to abused, neglected, sick, disabled, rescued or retired farm animals.
In 2017 the sanctuary became a registered non-profit [187-044-NPO] and is today home to nearly 200 rescued animals including pigs, sheep, goats, 2 geese, 2 roosters, a duck, blue crane and senior dogs and cats. Most animals are very traumatised when they arrive and so the sanctuary team is committed to making sure that they are able to settle for the rest of their lives and live in peace, free of suffering and with all of their natural needs met. Sometimes the sanctuary takes in pet pigs who are at risk because their humans cannot keep them.
If another home becomes available, usually with a lonely pig who is seeking a companion, the sanctuary will, after rigorous home checks, rehome piggy back into the familiar setting of a private home. The resident animals are free to roam over the forty hectares of the farm during the day and return to their large paddocks as they please, to feed, shelter or sleep. Caledon Veterinary Clinic visits at least fortnightly and helps the team care for the animal sanctuary residents.
The sanctuary has a strict no breeding policy, although some animals do arrive at the sanctuary already pregnant and the farm is occasionally blessed with the arrival of babies who will only ever know peace, comfort and safety.
The sanctuary is also a resource for the Humane Education Programme, which aims to reach every child between the ages of five and eighteen years within the area of Greyton and neighbouring communities.
Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary is situated just 7 kms outside the village of Greyton in the Western Cape on a 40 hectare private farm, owned by the founders of the sanctuary, Nicola Vernon and Rohan Millson. It was established in 2014 and is a registered non-profit. The farm is currently home to 111 pigs, 52 sheep, ten goats, five cows, two geese, two chickens and a duck as well as six dogs and seven cats.
The sanctuary is funded by the founder Nicola (Nicky) and donations from two main sources; sponsors of individual animals and from people who review vegan food and products on the app abillionveg which donates US$1 (currently R17) for each review. So it’s possible to donate to the sanctuary without spending any personal funds at all or from R30 to R300 a month to sponsor an animal.
VISIT THE SANCTUARY
We welcome visitors to experience a deeper interaction with our resident animals, and love to share what we do here at the Greyton Farm Animal Sanctuary. Find out what you need to know about making an appointment, what to bring with you and how to find us.
SPONSOR A FARM ANIMAL
Our Sponsor-a-Farm-Friend Programme allows you to ‘virtually adopt’ a farm animal for a minimum of 12 months and contribute to their care and well-being. Sponsorships can also be given as a gift and start at R30pm.
MAKE A DONATION
Your donation, whether monthly or once-off, and no matter how small, will ensure that all of the animals in our care have their needs met including food, shelter, space, veterinary treatment and love, in order to thrive and live a natural life, free from suffering.
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