Rosie's Rescue needs help saving pig sanctuary in Leduc County
What started with giving a couple of pigs a home on their rural property in Leduc County in 2019, has grown into a sanctuary called Rosie's Rescue.
"What we do is we rescue and rehabilitate the pigs from whichever situations they could be, neglect situations, abuse. Or they could simply just be somebody has to move for whatever life circumstances have thrown at them," said Angela Pauls, the rescue's founder.
While the focus is primarily on pigs, the rescue did give homes to a few other animals, and even opened to the public during the pandemic.
"We were booked for six months solid," Pauls said. "It became very popular.
One of several pigs cared for by Rosie's Rescue in Leduc County. (Amanda Anderson/CTV News Edmonton)
"People are looking for something fun and it's also really good for our mental health being outside, being in the sunshine most days and spending time with the animals."
Several pigs in the care of Rosie's Rescue in Leduc County. (Amanda Anderson/CTV News Edmonton)
Over the past four years, Pauls has rescued at least 60 animals.
"And probably rehomed more than half of them," she said.
Two of the pigs currently living at the rescue belong to Logan Baxter, who wasn't allowed to keep them where she lived.
"There's not a lot of places if you had to surrender an animal that you can still visit, they would still be considered yours," Baxter said.
"For me, the pigs are just, they're so cuddly and they've got such wonderful personalities," said Baxter. "A lot of people just don't realize how calming it is to have a pig beside you."
Logan Baxter visits her two pigs at Rosie's Rescue. (Amanda Anderson/CTV News Edmonton)
She visits them as often as possible and has even started volunteering around the sanctuary.
"Anything that Miss Angela needs, I try my hardest to do for her, because what she's doing for me is going way beyond," said Baxter.
But the non-profit dedicated to rescuing animals is now in need of rescue itself.
"Our landlords are wonderful," said Pauls. "But they would like to sell the property this year."
Pauls wants to buy it but said coming up with the down payment has been difficult.
"Times are tough and sponsorships are down, but we would really love to be able to buy our property," said Pauls.
She said when donations dry up, any extra they could have saved towards the down payment instead goes to making sure the animals needs are met.
One of several pigs cared for by Rosie's Rescue in Leduc County. (Amanda Anderson/CTV News Edmonton)
To achieve their goal of making the property a permanent home for the sanctuary, Pauls hopes more people will consider adopting or sponsoring an animal.
"Our sponsorship program is $30 a month, and you can send that by e-transfer," she said.
"Then if you're local, we encourage you to come up and visit your sponsor pig as often as you would like."
An updated list of animals available for adoption or sponsorship will be put on the rescue's website in the near future.
Their most recent rescue, a pig named Wilbur, is one of the animals that people can sponsor.
He's only a few months old, was underweight and had mange when he was rescued.
A photo of Wilbur the pig taken when he arrived at Rosie's Rescue. (Source: Angela Pauls)
"Unfortunately the family that had him didn't treat him, so Wilbur has no hair right now," said Pauls. "When we got him, he was suffering from pneumonia and a strep virus, he has dermatitis."
After a month at the rescue the young pig is thriving.
"He has tripled his weight already, he's got a great appetite and he's so, so friendly," she said.
Wilbur the pig a month after arriving at Rosie's Rescue. (Amanda Anderson/CTV News Edmonton)
Pauls hopes an increase in animal sponsorships will allow them to save the nearly $50,000 needed.
If they can't save it by July, Pauls said it's unclear what will happen to Rosie's Rescue.
"I don't even know where we would go," she said.
"Relocating this many animals is going to be really difficult."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Wildfires are dampening against cool, rainy weather, but there's plenty left to contain
An opportune system of cool, wet weather Friday is dampening the spread of wildfires across Western Canada, but there's still plenty of work for responders and residents alike.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.