Last night, as I was feeding Boots, the world outside was hushed, save for the wild symphony of nature. The distant shouts of the nagapies echoed from the trees, and the constant, calming rhythm of the ocean waves breaking on the shore reached me, even here at the house. It’s truly amazing how clear the sound is, always bringing a sense of peace.

As I looked into Boots’ big, watchful eyes, a profound sense of gratitude washed over me. I felt so honored to be able to do this work, caring for each unique and special animal entrusted to me. Boots, a duiker who has been with us for three weeks now, is still quite the challenge at feeding time. He’s not an easy little boy to work with, but once he latches on, he transforms into a happy little drinker! After his meal, he’ll even playfully butt you with his head, despite his small size. Of all the duikers I’ve cared for so far, I’d say he’s definitely the most difficult.

Bambi is thriving in her big enclosure with our tortoise friends. She absolutely loves the open space. I’m currently working on weaning her off the bottle, which is proving to be the most challenging part. She doesn’t quite understand (or perhaps she does, but simply enjoys being fed!), so every feeding ends in a bit of a struggle. She’ll run between my legs and cry, which truly breaks my heart. It makes me wonder how their mothers manage it! But, it’s a necessary process she needs to go through. The tortoises are all doing wonderfully, simply enjoying their days of leisurely walks and soaking up the sun.

Then there’s Sophia, a truly strong baby in my eyes, especially considering everything she’s already endured. She never gave up; she kept fighting and continues to do so. She has a long road ahead, but every day we take a step forward with her. We’re doing fusion therapy multiple times a day, and it’s going well. I’ll be sure to share a proper post detailing her journey soon.

My permanent residents, Goofy and Sharkie, the bush doves, are doing well. Goofy, whom I rescued four years ago before I even started this wildlife journey, was just a few days old when he arrived with his sister. Sadly, his sister passed away a year ago. But Goofy is just “my Goofy,” and his name truly suits him. This year, I also received Sharkie, who was also unfortunately attacked by rats. He was much bigger when he came to us, so he’s a bit wilder, but he also knows he’s in safe hands. We’re here to help him. (I know rats can be destructive, but they are also part of our wildlife’s food source, so please, please don’t use poison.)

And then there are Chesnut and Peanut, my two busybodies! It’s incredible how much energy such small animals can have, and they are so naughty! You wouldn’t believe the mischief they get into in their cage.

Honestly, I could talk for hours about all the animals at the sanctuary because this is my life. It’s a shame that I’ve even lost friends because they don’t understand what I do and how much time and dedication each animal, with their unique demands, requires. My life revolves around my animals. I rarely leave, only to buy their food or for promotional work and rescues.

This is my life, and I love every second of it. I feel truly honored to be able to rescue these unique and beautiful creatures. They’ve also taught me so much: patience, which I truly lacked before, and to never give up, no matter what challenges you face. There’s always a helping hand at the end, and most importantly, they’ve taught me to be strong and to fight, no matter how painful or sad things get. These are the lessons I’ve learned from rescuing wildlife, and I thank God every day for putting me on this beautiful path. He knew this is what I needed in my life, as I’ve loved animals for as long as I can remember. Since starting the sanctuary, I’ve grown so much as a person and as a Christian, because I truly cannot do this alone.