Meet Our Residents

At Patched Hearts Farm Sanctuary, we strive to give animals plenty of care, room to roam, and lots of love!

Sullivan James

I first saw Sully on the Southern Michigan Kill Pen website. I hadn’t intended to take on any equine residents but something about this little guy just kept drawing me back. His eye was badly damaged, and he walked with a very clear lameness. I waited to see if anyone would spring him from the pen, but nobody ever did. With no takers, I knew I had to take him to the sanctuary. I paid his bail and arranged for transportation not knowing what to expect. Our wonderful vet came out the next day and that’s when the real work began! It turns out he’s actually a very old work pony. He needed his teeth done, his vaccines, and lab work to check for metabolic diseases. Upon his arrival, Sully had a double eye infection and his tail didn’t work due to the improper harness he was forced to wear. It took a lot of time and dedication, but Sully is now healthy and content! We manage his metabolic disease with daily medication and a special diet. Sully has taught me so much and I am so glad he’ll get to know nothing but comfort and love for the rest of his little pony days.

Arnold and Valentine

Arnold and Valentine were the first two official residents of our sanctuary. They came to us as adoptees from Detroit Animal Welfare League (DAWG). They had been at DAWG for quite a while, and I thought it would be wonderful to give them a forever home while allowing for more room to open up at DAWG. Their history is spotty, but Arnold had been repeatedly attacked by a family dog prior to being surrendered and Valentine was found neglected in a basement. Once taken in, they were shown nothing but love. Now they get to relax and be loved every day at Patched Hearts!

Lucille, Mrs. Featherbottom, Lucille II

This little trio was no longer wanted by their owner and was put up on social media. Lucille 1 and Lucille 2 are both “meat birds.” This means they’re raised to be used as meat for human consumption. Their lives are short, and they’re bred to get very heavy very fast which is dangerous to their health. I responded right away and offered them a spot at Patched Hearts. I was on my way to pick them up and found out the owners also had a goose that was bonded to the turkeys. I was asked if I wanted to take her, too. I didn’t want the goose to end up alone or in the hands of someone who might not care for her so all three ended up at the sanctuary! Lucille 1 and Lucille 2 are on a diet to help keep them at a healthy weight and are encouraged to move around a lot. These three are always entertaining and we are so glad they’re part of our sanctuary family!

Lilo & Stitch

These two young goats came from a good friend in Michigan. She had purchased Lilo for her hobby farm and when she arrived, she knew right away this was not a healthy goat. Lilo had pneumonia and was riddled with parasites. Luckily, my friend recognized this little sweetheart was about half the size she should be and got to work right away getting Lilo healthy which was no small task! Once Lilo improved, my friend wanted to ensure she ended up someplace that would never use her for breeding because she wasn’t sure Lilo would make it through a process like that. I’m so glad she thought of me, and I got to welcome Lilo to Patched Hearts! Stitch came along with her so she wouldn’t be lonely and now these two get to live their lives as healthy, happy goats!

Patched Up Kitty

In December 2021 I got a call from a friend in Lansing that a cat had been dumped and left at her condo complex. She began feeding the cat and making sure it had at least a little warmth to make it through the cold Michigan nights. This kitty was skittish and didn’t want anything but food! My friend wanted to find him a home sooner rather than later because a dangerous cold snap was heading our way and he would not have done well in those extreme temperatures. She trapped him and drove him over to Patched Hearts as soon as she could. He got the vet care he needed and quickly learned that the barn was his home where he would always find a cozy warm spot and plenty of food. Patched Up Kitty now lets us pet him and he loves his life at the sanctuary!