At Farm Sanctuary, Holly lives the life that every sheep deserves: one where her needs are met, her individuality is celebrated, and she enjoys the comfort of friendship. Despite everything she has endured, she is one of the lucky ones. More than 2 million sheep are slaughtered in the U.S. each year, often when they’re still very young. Yet, even survivors like Holly can carry lasting scars from exploitation and neglect. Holly’s past has shaped the rest of her life—but it never defined her.
Holly was pregnant when her foot became trapped in an electric fence on a wool farm. She had struggled for hours to escape the excruciating pain when the farmer heard her cries and freed her. Soon afterward, Holly suffered a uterine prolapse. Weeks later, she went into labor. One of her lambs died shortly after birth, and Holly became very sick, leaving the farm owner with few affordable options. In a last-ditch effort to save Holly’s life, the owner contacted Farm Sanctuary.
As soon as Holly came into our care, we rushed her to a veterinarian. An ultrasound revealed a heartbreaking surprise: Holly had been carrying a second lamb, who had died in utero and caused her illness. Holly underwent an ovariohysterectomy, the full removal of her reproductive organs.
During Holly’s slate of medical exams, the veterinarian also discovered that her injured leg had been broken and had developed a severe infection after receiving improper treatment following the fence incident. Despite every effort to save it, the damaged portion of the leg had to be amputated.
But Holly proved to be incredibly resilient. She recovered from her surgeries without ever losing her cheerful spirit. Today, Holly comfortably uses her cart for up to eight hours a day, and new adjustments are already in the works to help her stay active even longer.
