<p>Pigs, goats & kangaroos
By LISA BURNS | LIVE LOCAL! CONTRIBUTING WRITER
If you would have told me 10 years ago that one day I’d be living on a farm sanctuary with goats, pigs
and kangaroos, I would have said you were crazy. Afterall, I’d lived my entire life in the city. The eggs
came from the grocery store, not a chicken’s back side. The closest I had ever came to farm animals
was in elementary school, during a trip to the zoo, where a llama spit in my face. Living on a farm was not
in my plans. But as we all know, plans change. Six years ago my husband Dave and I were offered a chance
to live on a rural property 20 miles outside of town. Dave, who grew up with horses and pot belly pigs in a
small country town, was excited at the idea of farm life again. And once I saw the property, I was hooked,
too. We would have space for a veggie garden and water feature displays for our business. Soon we had a
horse, ponies, goats (to help keep the grass mowed) and pigs (to eat the leftovers), all adopted and fostered
from nonprofit rescues. Last year change came again. We moved to a huge property, a former non-profit
wild/exotic animal rescue that is now a private farm/sanctuary for animals that are not adoptable or can-
not be released back to the wild. We are the caretakers to these 78 animals, and it’s one big wild adventure.
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Kangaroos Emily and Jolene
look so much alike, no one
can tell which one is which
in photos, Lisa Burns says.
PHOTO BY VOLUNTEER LIZ IOVINE
Life on the Farm | The Good
There’s nothing like waking up to the sound of birds chirping and a rooster
crowing. The only thing better is the one-on-one time with the animals. Did you
know goats and dogs are similar? They get excited to see us, love to be brushed
and do tricks for treats. Each animal has its own personality, from Tugboat the
Wallaroo, who hisses if we get too close, to Tara the Deer, who gives kisses daily.
Every day is a new adventure and a chance to learn. I’ve