Every one of them has a story.

Meet Fargo

Where It All Began

Before there was Havenstone Horse Rescue, there was Fargo.

Fargo came to us as an injured, broken-down and retired racehorse. His racing days were over, and he needed somewhere he could simply be turned out and allowed to live the rest of his life. Without a pasture willing to take him, he was going to be put down.

We had a field.

So we said, “Let him come here.”

A neighbor who had experience boarding horses helped us with Fargo in those early days, coming by to feed him and helping us learn what he needed. Fargo was sweet and gentle, and giving him a safe place to land was more rewarding than we ever imagined.

Soon, we began fostering other horses. Then came other animals.

Among them were a couple of sheep who had been destined for slaughter. One of those sheep was Mr. Wethers.

No one could have predicted what happened next.

Fargo’s emotional support sheep

Fargo and Mr. Wethers became best friends.

They slept together in the same stall. They wandered together. Mr. Wethers was almost always right underneath Fargo, following his enormous horse friend wherever he went. The two became so completely bonded that our veterinarian loved to joke that Mr. Wethers was Fargo’s emotional support sheep.

But Mr. Wethers wasn’t only Fargo’s friend. He became a wonderful companion to the other horses at Havenstone, too, and remained part of our family for years.

In early 2026, Mr. Wethers passed away suddenly. Fargo lost his best friend.

And yet, as so often happens at Havenstone, losing one relationship created room for others to grow. Other members of the herd have found their way into Fargo’s circle, and Fargo continues to be at the heart of the family he unknowingly helped create.

He showed us what rescue could become

Because Fargo did more than need rescuing.

Saving one horse led us to foster another. Then another animal needed somewhere to go. And another. What began with an available pasture became Havenstone Horse Rescue — a place where animals who might otherwise run out of options can find safety, companionship and, when needed, a home for life.

Fargo was our first rescue.

Mr. Wethers was one of our first reminders that family doesn’t have to look anything like you.

And the Havenstone family has been growing ever since.

One horse. One pasture. One act of kindness. And Havenstone was born.

Meet Luloo

Time to Trust

Luloo came to Havenstone as a one-year-old Appaloosa rescued from an unmonitored breeding facility. She was completely unsocialized and appeared to have had little, if any, interaction with people.

Her mane was dreadlocked, and her tail was so severely matted that from a distance it looked as though she had a fifth leg. She was frightened of people and wanted absolutely nothing to do with us. Simply getting her safely into the trailer to bring her home felt like a small miracle.

There was no rushing Luloo.

Over her first year at Havenstone, we worked slowly to earn her trust. Eventually, she allowed Megan close enough to begin removing the heavy matting from her mane and tail. Because a horse’s mane and tail take considerable time to regrow, we began carefully tending the remaining hair and using a growth serum to encourage it back.

But the real transformation wasn’t her mane or her tail. It was trust.

Little by little, Luloo learned to accept a human touch. She learned to make friends with the other horses. She learned that no one at Havenstone was going to force her to be ready before she was ready.

Today, Luloo is four years old. She is happy, social and secure — and the little Appaloosa who once wouldn’t let us near her is now one of Megan’s best friends.

That is what sanctuary can do.

It gives an animal something that can’t be rushed or bought: time to heal, time to trust, and the freedom to become who they were always meant to be.

Meet Hazel

Sometimes You Have to Listen Differently

Hazel came to Havenstone with quite a reputation.

She was a big Quarter Horse who had been described as ornery, pushy, a little aggressive — and definitely not interested in cooperating.

But Hazel had already been through a lot. She had been pulled from a kill pen while approximately ten months pregnant. Someone stepped forward to give her baby a home, but Hazel was left behind.

Around that same time, Havenstone had unexpectedly lost a couple of our rescued horses. We suddenly had stalls available, and Hazel needed one.

So we said yes.

Hazel came to Havenstone along with another horse named Feather, and despite everything we’d heard about her, she was sweet and seemed genuinely happy to have a home.

There was, however, one thing Hazel absolutely would not do: she would not lift her hooves. At all.

This wasn’t our Hazel

We worked with her, but handling her feet remained extremely difficult. Over the years, something began to change. Hazel became increasingly uncomfortable, and eventually her behavior changed with it.

The big, opinionated mare began becoming genuinely aggressive. At its worst, there were times when it was difficult to safely enter her stall to feed her.

But by then, we knew Hazel. And this wasn’t our Hazel. Something was wrong.

We brought in our veterinarian and began looking for an explanation. It took time and persistence, but eventually we found the source: a deeply buried and extremely painful problem inside one of her hooves.

Our veterinarian was able to treat it and finally relieve the pain Hazel couldn’t explain to us.

And then something wonderful happened. Hazel came back.

The aggression subsided. She relaxed. She became affectionate again. And the horse who once absolutely refused to lift her feet now lifts her hoof for the farrier.

Hazel hadn’t been trying to give us a hard time. She had been trying to tell us she was hurting.

Feather’s protector

She and Feather became best friends. Feather can sometimes get pushed around by the bossier horses in the herd.

Hazel doesn’t allow that. She’s a big Quarter Horse who doesn’t mess around, and if another horse decides to pick on Feather, they have Hazel to answer to.

Inspiring others to care

Hazel and Feather’s arrival also became an opportunity to share what rescue really looks like.

One of Havenstone’s earliest volunteers, Simon, came with Megan to the larger rescue facility where Hazel and Feather were staying. He saw firsthand how we learn about an animal’s circumstances, consider who is most in need, determine whether Havenstone can responsibly provide what they need, and think carefully about how a new horse will fit into the existing herd.

And Simon kept showing up. He continues to volunteer at Havenstone — lifting the heavy things, doing the dirty jobs and helping with the very unglamorous work that is part of caring for Hazel, Feather and the rest of our animals.

That matters to us. Because Havenstone isn’t only about rescuing animals. We hope it also inspires people to develop empathy, responsibility and a willingness to show up for another living thing.

Hazel taught us to look beyond behavior and ask what an animal might be trying to tell us. Simon reminds us what can happen when people are given an opportunity to care. And Feather reminds us that sometimes the toughest member of the herd is exactly the friend you need.

Rescue · Rehab · Inspire · Sanctuary

Meet Feather

The Sweetest, Biggest Lug

Feather is a Tennessee Walking Horse with enormous, deep brown eyes and perhaps the longest face we’ve ever seen. In fact, one of our volunteers affectionately calls him “Longface.”

He’s a big guy, but underneath all of that horse is one of the gentlest souls at Havenstone. Feather just wants to be loved.

Before coming to us, Feather had spent many wonderful years with an owner who loved him. She rode him, cared for him and shared a life with him. Eventually, she grew older, and her health made it impossible for her to continue giving Feather the care he needed.

So she did the right thing. She asked for help.

When Feather arrived at the rescue facility, he came with a letter from his former owner explaining their years together and why she could no longer care for him.

We have tremendous respect for that decision. There should be no embarrassment in admitting that circumstances have changed and an animal needs more than you can provide. Illness happens. People age. Finances and families change.

Responsible surrender can be an act of love. Rescue isn’t about judging the person standing at the other end of the lead rope. It’s about helping the animal attached to it.

And then we met Feather

When we visited the larger rescue facility, Feather was sharing a pasture with a bonded pair of horses. They were not particularly interested in adding a third member to their club.

Whenever Feather tried to approach the fence to greet us, they chased him away. They bit him. They pushed him around and prevented him from coming over for attention. And Feather — the sweetest, biggest lug — just took it.

We watched for a while and essentially said: Uh-uh. This guy is coming with us.

Feather needed a herd where he could belong. And it just so happened that another horse at the facility needed a home, too. Her name was Hazel.

Feather finds his person — well, his horse

Feather and Hazel came to Havenstone together. And somewhere along the way, the horse who had been bullied found himself a rather formidable best friend.

Hazel is a big Quarter Horse with opinions, and she does not appreciate anyone messing with Feather. If one of the bossier horses decides Feather looks like an easy target, Hazel is there to set the record straight.

The horse who once couldn’t get near a fence without being chased away now has someone watching his back. Today, Feather has a herd, a home and plenty of humans willing to love on that very long face.

If you need help, please ask

If you can no longer properly care for an animal, please ask for help. Don’t let fear of judgment or embarrassment prevent you from reaching out. A responsible rescue would much rather have that conversation early, while there are still good options for the animal.

Feather’s former owner gave him many wonderful years. And when she couldn’t give him the next chapter herself, she made sure someone else could.

That’s love, too.

Meet Zeus

The Horse No One Could Get Close To

Zeus’s body tells part of his story before you ever meet him.

He was rescued from the Charles Town racetrack, where he had been over-raced and mistreated early in life. His young body paid the price. His back still has visible ridges, and his legs never developed normally.

But some of Zeus’s deepest scars weren’t visible. Zeus had learned very early that people weren’t necessarily safe.

After leaving the racetrack, Zeus was rescued by a woman who gave him a life beyond racing. Along the way, he became closely bonded with another horse named Kai.

Years later, when their owner could no longer give the two retired horses everything they needed, she did something we believe is incredibly important: she asked for help.

The problem was finding someone willing to take Zeus. People offered to take Kai. But they wouldn’t take Zeus. He was aggressive. He was a biter. Getting close enough to handle him could be genuinely difficult and sometimes unsafe.

But Kai and Zeus were bonded. And at Havenstone, we weren’t going to take the easier horse and leave his companion behind simply because Zeus was harder.

So they came together.

Getting past the bite

Kai and Zeus were very thin when they arrived. Some people noticed. Some people had opinions. But judgment wasn’t going to help either horse. Their former owner had recognized that they needed more than she could provide, and that was what mattered to us.

At Havenstone, there would be enough food. There would be veterinary and farrier care. There would be pasture, companionship and a permanent home.

Zeus just didn’t know that yet. So he defended himself. He bit. Megan has a few scars to prove it.

But we didn’t see a bad horse. We saw a horse who had learned that biting kept people at a distance. So we began the slow work of building a relationship with him. We fed him. We cared for him. We stood near him. We learned when to give him space and when he was ready to let us closer.

And day after day, Zeus received the same message: There is enough. You are safe. No one here is going to hurt you.

The winter coat

One winter, we posted a photograph of Zeus on Facebook, wearing his winter coat. When his former owner saw it, she was stunned.

“How did you get a coat on Zeus?”

The answer was simple: “I put it on him. I stood there with him.”

There wasn’t a trick. There was a relationship. We had something Zeus desperately needed: time. Time to learn our routines. Time to understand that another meal would always come. Time to discover that hands didn’t have to hurt.

Trust isn’t a straight line

Zeus isn’t magically “fixed.” He still occasionally falls back into old behaviors, and anyone working around him needs to understand his history and respect what he is communicating.

But sanctuary doesn’t require an animal to become perfect in exchange for being allowed to stay. Underneath those defenses, we discovered an incredibly sweet horse.

There has even been a little role reversal. When they first arrived, Kai was the alpha. These days, Zeus has gained enough confidence to be a little bossy with Kai. After everything he’s been through, we think he’s earned a little swagger.

Most importantly, they are still together. No one had to choose which one was worth saving.

Zeus didn’t need someone to “fix” him. He needed someone willing to get past the bite.

Meet Kai

We Said Yes to Both

Kai is a very big horse with a gentle disposition. When we first met him, he was retired and quite thin. But Kai wasn’t the horse people were worried about. That was his best friend, Zeus.

Kai and Zeus had lived together and were deeply bonded. When their former owner could no longer provide everything the two horses needed, she began looking for a safe sanctuary for the next chapter of their lives.

There were people willing to help. They would take Kai. They just wouldn’t take Zeus.

Zeus had been over-raced and mistreated early in life, and he had learned to protect himself with aggression. Kai was different. Sweet. Gentle. Approachable. Kai was the easy yes.

But Kai and Zeus were a family. And at Havenstone, we weren’t willing to make one horse lose his best friend simply because the other was more difficult.

So when we were asked which one we would take, our answer was simple: Both.

Coming home together

Kai and Zeus arrived thin and needing care. Our job wasn’t to look backward. It was to take care of what came next: plenty of food, pasture, veterinary and farrier care, companionship and the security of knowing this was home.

Kai settled in as the sweet horse we expected. Zeus took considerably more time. And through it all, they had each other.

When the pair first arrived, Kai was the boss. As Zeus has become more confident, that balance has shifted a little. These days, Zeus occasionally seems to think he’s in charge. Kai appears to manage.

The easy horse still had something to teach us

Not every rescue story needs to be dramatic. Kai’s story is about belonging.

We could have given one easy, sweet horse a home and left the more complicated one for somebody else. But that would have taken away something both horses needed: each other.

Today, they’re still together, surrounded by the larger Havenstone herd and living the retirement their former owner hoped they would find.

Sometimes rescue means something very simple: keeping two old friends together.

Meet Truffles & Snuffles

The Little Pigs Who Made Havenstone Bigger

Havenstone may have started with horses. But then came Truffles and Snuffles.

The brothers were only eight weeks old when they needed somewhere to go. They had come from an unmonitored breeding facility in Lynchburg, and through our rescue network, we connected with a pig rescue helping to find safe placements.

We had a place they could live. We had chickens who wouldn’t mind a couple of new neighbors. And really, we had no particularly good reason to say no.

So we said yes. That little decision became another turning point for Havenstone.

Tiny pigs, big opinions

When people picture eight-week-old piglets, they imagine adorable little animals who want to be picked up and cuddled. That’s not exactly what arrived.

Truffles and Snuffles were certainly tiny and adorable. They were also completely unsocialized and terrified of humans.

So once again, we had to start with trust. We spent time around them. We brought food. We offered treats. We even had to teach the brothers something that sounds simple: how to take a treat gently.

Little by little, they figured us out. And we figured them out, too. Their personalities emerged, and eventually, the human bond came.

Growing up at Havenstone

Today, Truffles and Snuffles are sweet little guys who spend their days together in their run, surrounded by some rather unconventional roommates — a whole flock of chickens and Snowball the turkey.

Fargo may have started Havenstone by showing us what it meant to make room for a horse who needed somewhere safe to land. Truffles and Snuffles helped us realize that our pastures, barns and hearts had room for more.

If an animal needed safety, if we could responsibly provide what that animal needed, and if we had a place for them — why wouldn’t we help?

Somewhere between two frightened piglets arriving and two happy pigs growing up alongside chickens and a turkey, Havenstone quietly became something more. Not simply a horse rescue. A sanctuary.

Sometimes opening your heart to one more animal makes your whole world a little bigger.

Meet Betty

A Pig Who Needed Somewhere to Stay

Betty is a very big pig. And that almost cost her her life.

Betty and Wilbur lived with a family on a farm in New Hampshire. When their owners learned they were going to lose the farm, they desperately searched for somewhere safe for their pigs — Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and beyond.

Nobody would take them. Betty and Wilbur were simply too big. Again and again, their family heard the same answer: “Send them to the butcher.”

But these were loved members of a family, and their owners refused to give up on them. Eventually, through our rescue network, their story reached Havenstone.

We had room. So we said yes.

We went and got them

Around St. Patrick’s Day, Megan loaded three dogs into the truck, hitched up a horse trailer and headed north to New Hampshire.

Getting two enormous pigs into a horse trailer turned into something of a muddy little adventure. There were pigs who weren’t entirely convinced this was a good idea, an overnight hotel stop and a very long drive back to Virginia.

It wasn’t glamorous. But at Havenstone, we believe in something pretty simple: do unto others. Betty and Wilbur needed someone to show up. So we showed up.

Starting over

Wilbur adjusted relatively easily. Betty needed more time. We think she missed her family. She had lost the home and people she knew and suddenly found herself surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar place.

So we gave her time. Slowly, she allowed us closer. Eventually came snout scratches. Then belly rubs. And if you rub Betty’s snout in just the right place, she makes the sweetest little contented pig sounds.

When behavior tells you something

After Betty settled in, she became increasingly pushy and aggressive. But animals have taught us that difficult behavior is often communication.

We discovered that Betty had torn her ACL, apparently while running around trying to boss the smaller pigs. She now receives meloxicam daily to manage her discomfort and help her heal.

Betty has places to go

Betty loves the freedom to wander Havenstone. She’ll look for the perfect mud puddle and flop herself into it. She may decide the end of the shuffleboard court by the lake is an excellent place for a nap. Or she’ll find the garden — and lie directly on top of the marigolds.

Betty goes where Betty wants to go. And that’s part of sanctuary for her.

The pig whose family was told there was nowhere for her to go now has plenty of places to go — and always somewhere to come home to.

Meet Wilbur

The Happiest Pig in the Mud Puddle

Wilbur came to Havenstone with his best friend, Betty.

When their family was losing its New Hampshire farm, rescue after rescue said no. They were told to send them to the butcher. Their family refused. And so did we.

Around St. Patrick’s Day, Megan loaded three dogs into the truck, hitched up a horse trailer and drove to New Hampshire to collect Betty and Wilbur herself. It was muddy, it was not exactly a beautifully choreographed rescue operation — but everyone made it safely back to Virginia.

Betty and Wilbur were home.

The sweetest pig

Betty needed some time to decide what she thought about all of us. Wilbur? Wilbur is just sweet — affectionate, curious and remarkably content with his life.

One of his favorite things is finding a really good mud puddle, settling himself into it and simply sitting there, gazing around as though he can’t quite believe his good fortune. Somehow, Wilbur looks like he’s smiling.

The hiking pig

Wilbur also loves to explore. He has developed his own favorite trails through the woods at Havenstone and heads off on little hikes at his own pace.

Which eventually presented us with a practical question: how exactly do you call two enormous pigs home?

“Piggies, piggies!”

Apparently, with a bell. When it’s time to come back, Megan stands on the front porch, rings a big bell and calls: “Piggies, piggies!”

Somewhere out on the property, two pigs hear it. They don’t exactly sprint. They mosey.

It would have sounded completely ridiculous when Fargo first arrived and we thought we were simply giving one retired horse a pasture. Now we’re ringing a dinner bell for two enormous pigs wandering around the farm. And somehow, it makes perfect sense.

That’s sanctuary. Not merely keeping an animal alive — giving him a life he seems genuinely happy to be living.

Meet Snowball

Breakfast in Bed, Please

Snowball is a turkey with her own routine, her own favorite foods and her own very particular place at Havenstone. She’s also part of our history.

Before Havenstone became what it is today, Megan’s nephew Harrison was one of the people helping to build it. Harrison had several pairs of birds, including guinea fowl and turkeys. Over time, the others were lost. Snowball is the one who remains.

An unusual little family

Today, Snowball lives alongside Truffles and Snuffles and a whole flock of chickens. Nobody seems particularly concerned that they aren’t the same species. They’re simply Snowball’s crew.

She has established her own special hideaway inside the pig run. We call it Snowball’s cave. That’s where she goes when she wants some privacy — particularly when she’s laying her eggs.

Breakfast in bed

If Snowball doesn’t show up for breakfast, we know exactly where she is. Someone heads over to her cave to check on her. And because she’s already comfortable, why make her get up?

Snowball gets breakfast in bed. Her favorite food isn’t particularly glamorous: dried bugs. Bread is also high on her list, but dried bugs remain the clear favorite.

Snowball being Snowball

Snowball goes through periods of molting — losing old feathers and growing beautiful new ones. We’ve watched her settle into her routines and become part of this funny little mixed-species community.

Her story isn’t one of dramatic rescue. It’s about continuity, care and belonging.

And if she decides she’d rather stay in bed? We’ll bring breakfast to her.

Meet Cheeks

The Girl With the Fluffy Face

There are a lot of animals at Havenstone. And then there’s Cheeks.

Cheeks is Megan’s favorite chicken — although we’re not sure the other chickens have been officially informed. Her name comes from the wonderfully fluffy feathers that stick straight out from either side of her face.

Cheeks has also figured out something important about life at Havenstone: Megan usually has treats. So when Megan appears, Cheeks comes looking, to investigate what’s being handed out and make sure she hasn’t been overlooked.

The little relationships matter, too

Cheeks doesn’t have a dramatic rehabilitation story. And we love that about her. Because Havenstone isn’t only about the moment an animal is rescued. It’s about the life that comes afterward.

It’s the horse who finally lets you touch him. The pig who comes moseying home when the bell rings. The turkey who gets breakfast delivered to her cave. And the little chicken with fluffy cheeks who comes running because you might have something good in your pocket.

Those relationships are built through hundreds of ordinary moments — feeding, cleaning, caring and simply showing up every day. Eventually, an animal begins to recognize you. Then trust you.

And sometimes, without really noticing when it happened, you become friends.

Meet Igor

The Gentleman in Charge

Igor is a very big rooster. He looks like a guy you probably shouldn’t mess with. Fortunately, Igor doesn’t seem particularly interested in messing with anybody else.

He’s confident and clearly knows his place in the flock, but he’s remarkably kind with the other roosters and doesn’t spend his days picking fights.

We appreciate that more than you might imagine. At Havenstone, we’ve learned firsthand that rooster fighting is real — and what can happen when an aggressive rooster decides another bird, or an unsuspecting human, needs to be put in his place.

Igor isn’t that guy.

A different kind of leader

Igor coexists with the other roosters, looks after his flock and carries himself with the confidence of a bird who doesn’t feel the need to prove anything. We just really like him. And sometimes that’s enough of a story.

And then there’s his son…

If your father is a giant rooster named Igor, you need a name that can hold its own. So Igor’s son is called Cluck Norris.

You can be strong, confident and in charge without being unkind.

Meet Cluck Norris

A Chip Off the Old Rooster

Cluck Norris is the son of Igor, Havenstone’s big, gentle rooster — and he really is his father’s mini-me.

Igor has always impressed us because although he’s large and clearly capable of holding his own, he’s remarkably kind to the other roosters. Cluck Norris seems to have inherited that temperament. He’s confident without constantly needing to prove it. Considering what we’ve learned about rooster politics, that’s an accomplishment.

The brothers

Igor actually had two rooster sons at Havenstone. Cluck Norris’ brother had perhaps one of our favorite chicken names of all time: Edgar Allan Crow.

Edgar developed quite a following — a loyal flock of hens who followed him during the day and even roosted with him in the trees at night. Sadly, Edgar has since passed away. He remains part of Havenstone lore, while his brother carries on the family line.

Today, Havenstone has three roosters: Igor, Cluck Norris and Punky Rooster. And somehow, they make it work.

He looks like Igor. He acts like Igor. And we’re happy to have another good guy in the family.

Meet Punky Rooster

The Elvis of Havenstone

Nobody exactly planned for Punky Rooster to become part of the Havenstone family.

He arrived when someone else’s flock needed somewhere to go. There were several roosters involved, and somehow Punky kept a low enough profile that he avoided being relocated with the others. Eventually, it became: well, I guess Punky lives here now.

We’re very glad he does.

A little bit different

Punky has something unusual going on with one of his feet, which gives him a funny little stilt when he walks. And then there’s the hair. Well, technically, the comb. Instead of standing upright, Punky’s comb dramatically flops over to one side.

Think Elvis Presley, but rooster.

He’s one of three roosters at Havenstone, along with Igor and Cluck Norris. He’s not related to the other two. He’s just Punky. And that’s enough.

Sometimes they just find us

Not every Havenstone animal arrives through a carefully planned rescue. Sometimes one slightly quirky rooster stays under the radar long enough that one day you realize he has simply become part of the family.

You can have a funny foot. You can walk a little differently. Your comb can flop sideways like Elvis.

Nobody here has to be perfect to belong.

Meet Frank

The Cat Who Came for Spring Break and Never Really Left

As a tiny kitten, Frank was found in terrible trouble. One of his front legs had become completely tangled in fishing line and was so badly injured it was nearly severed.

One of JB’s friends at JMU rescued him, and Frank’s leg was treated and carefully tended while he recovered. He made it — and before long, Frank was enjoying the rather unusual life of a college cat.

Spring break at Havenstone

Then came spring break. Frank came to stay at Havenstone while everyone was away. There were barns to explore, animals everywhere and acres of interesting things for a curious young cat to investigate.

Apparently, Frank took one look around and thought: Yes. This will do.

Spring break ended, and Frank went back to JMU. Frank, however, seemed to believe a clerical error had been made. He let everyone know, in the ways cats do, that he had already selected his permanent residence. Eventually, we listened.

Resident barn cat

Today, Frank is our resident barn cat and one of the sweetest companions on the farm. He loves to cuddle, wraps himself around your legs for affection and is perfectly content to perch on someone’s shoulder, purring as he’s carried around.

Frank also has an intellectual side. One of his favorite napping spots is Ben’s book-lined office, curled up in the leather chair. We like to think he’s absorbing the books through osmosis. So far, he has declined to tell us what he’s learned.

Sometimes we rescue them. And sometimes, if we’re lucky, they choose us.

Meet Phoebe Mittens

We’re Still Figuring Each Other Out

Phoebe Mittens had already lived quite a bit of life before she arrived at Havenstone. She’s more than eight years old and had already been rescued once before.

Things weren’t working in her home, and her behavior was creating considerable stress for the family. One of our wonderful board members asked whether we might give Phoebe another place to land. We were.

What are you trying to tell us?

Phoebe came with a few issues — most notably, she hasn’t always been interested in using the litter box.

But we’ve learned from animals like Hazel that behavior can be communication. So rather than label Phoebe a problem cat, we’ve been trying to figure out what might be bothering her.

Recently, we found one possible answer: a badly damaged canine tooth. She’s been to the veterinarian, and the plan is to have the painful tooth extracted. We’re hoping that once she’s more comfortable, some of her other issues may improve. And if they don’t? We’ll keep figuring it out.

A very large amount of cat in the bed

Underneath Phoebe’s opinions is an incredibly sweet cat. She is floppy and cuddly, and at night she climbs into bed beside Megan and somehow — despite being one cat — manages to occupy roughly half the mattress.

Frank, in particular, would very much like to be her friend. Phoebe would very much like Frank to understand that the feeling is not mutual. Frank keeps hoping.

At Havenstone, an animal doesn’t have to be easy to deserve care.

Meet the Havenstone Hens

A Rainbow in the Nesting Boxes

Not every member of the Havenstone family has a dramatic rescue story. Some simply make everyday life here a little more beautiful.

Eggatha Christie, Amelia Egghart, Hennifer Aniston, Dolly Part-Hen and Reba McEntire are five of the sweet and colorful hens who make up our flock. And colorful really is the word. Some have soft, muted feathers; others have rich colors and beautiful iridescent sheens that change when they catch the sunlight.

But perhaps the most beautiful colors appear in the nesting boxes. Our hens produce eggs in an amazing range of natural colors, like a little rainbow when they’re gathered together. And they’re incredibly delicious.

Part of the family

We give the hens nutritious food, fresh water, safe shelter and room to live their chicken lives. And they give us something back. Sometimes it’s an egg. Sometimes it’s a laugh. Sometimes it’s simply the pleasure of watching a beautiful little creature scratching around in the sunshine.

Sometimes being here is the story.