Resilient Rosie: Animal sanctuary in New Brunswick gives sheep second chance at life

From barely walking to running free, hear an inspiring update on a little lamb's journey.

At Lily’s Place Animal Sanctuary in Codys, N.B., farm animals rescued from starvation, abuse, and neglect get a second chance.

There are more than 40 animals on the property but one of them has a special recovery story.

James Sabot is the executive director at the animal sanctuary. She said when Rosie the sheep arrived she had open wounds on the bottoms of her feet.

“They were missing from frostbite,” said Sabot. “She was so cold that her front limbs [got] stuck in a bent position.”

Rosie arrived in the spring of 2023. Sabot said she knew the sheep would face an uphill climb but a year later Rosie was shuffling around the barn with the help of protheses on all four limbs.

After hundreds of hours of therapy, and thousands of dollars in vet bills, Rosie is running around the animal sanctuary without any assistance other than the socks she wears on her hind legs.

Sabot said when she first started bringing Rosie to appointments the veterinarians weren’t confident she would ever heal so well.

“They said they have never seen an animal with her injuries, particularly the fronts, because their joints go septic, that have survived something like this,” said Sabot.

Sabot said Rosie has become a bit of a bully around the farm. She said Rosie loves to run up and down the fence scaring the other animals.“

She’s a scamp is what she is,” said Sabot.

The sanctuary does not offer regular public tours but Sabot said guests can be moved to tears when the hear an animal’s story. She said she wishes there was no need for animal sanctuaries but she’s happy to give abused and forgotten animals a caring environment.

“It does help me sleep better at night knowing they have somewhere to go.”

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