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How We Got Our Start

Our founder, Valerie Burke, was volunteering with SPCA Tampa Bay. In conversation, it came to her attention that this shelter had two geriatric goats that had been surrendered by their owners. The owners were moving back to Michigan and did not feel that the goats would survive the trip up North. They were two big Nubian wethers (neutered males) about 10 years old. They had been with the same owners all of their lives; they were their pets. The SPCA Tampa Bay focuses on dogs and cats, however, they do have a farm animal area. So the boys were put in with the established herd of goats, one horse, one cow and geese. One of the goats, Elden, had serious hoof problems, but Lucas was fairly healthy for his age. The adjustment from being pets to finding their place in the herd was difficult on them. They were not doing as well as we had hoped. After some discussion Valerie decided to take them. She could provide the one on one care that they needed and were accustomed too. Although she did not realize it at the time this was the beginning of what was to become Home Sweet Home Animal Rescue of Tampa Bay, Inc.

Lucas and Elden settled right in and life was good for them. They had no other herd mates to contend with and lots of one on one attention. Big boulders were brought in for them to climb on but they didn’t really have any interest in them. The boys were about 11 years old by now and they were past their prime for climbing.

Four months after Luke and Elden arrived, Valerie was at the animal shelter again when a 6 month old African pygmy crossbreed came in as an owner surrender. His sister drowned in a pool and his owner no longer wanted him. He was too young to go in with the shelter’s herd. He would have been picked on severely. He went home with Valerie and joined Lucas and Elden. Lucas and Elden were tolerant of this young wether, who she named Sampson.

One week later Valerie got a call that the SPCA just received an Alpine doeling (young female goat). Her name is Darby and she was 3 months old. Her owners had to give her up because their Homeowners Association did not allow farm animals. Darby soon joined Luke, Elden and Sampson. Luke and Elden were accepting of the two youngsters.

In August of that year Valerie returned from a dog transport trip. When she arrived at the SPCA they had a 3 week old African Pygmy goat waiting for her. She was suffering from coccidiosis, scours and anemia. After she was cleared medically, Chloe was introduced to the herd with extreme caution.

Elden seemed to take to Chloe the best. Two weeks after Chloe was introduced to the herd Elden’s tired old body just gave way and he succumbed to old age. It was a great loss.

Over the next several months Valerie got a Spanish Meat goat that she named Effie. She was about 7 weeks old when she got her. Effie was suffering from an upper respiratory infection, conjunctivitis, coccidiosis, scours and giardia. Valerie also got a Nubian crossbreed that she named Cali. Cali was about 4 weeks old and was at the low end of newborn weight. It would take some time but she did indeed recover. Batwa, an African Gray parrot, was sent over with a severe leg disability. Next came a Goffin’s Cockatoo, Gitu, that was part of a hoarding case and consequently confiscated by a Humane Society out of state. The next rescue was a 4 day old baby Quaker parrot named Braveheart. During this time, Lucas lost his life to a weak immune system related to old age. Luke was 12 years old.

One day Valerie got a call from her farm animal veterinarian pertaining to a client’s goat that was attacked by the family dog. The dog killed all of the herd but one, Noel, and she was injured. The vet asked if there was any way that Valerie could help since her client couldn’t keep the goat and there was no place for Noel to go. No place to go? How could that be? Noel, a Tennessee Fainting goat crossbreed, was welcomed into the herd after she received medical care for her injuries and went through the quarantine period.

That was the turning point when Valerie realized that there are very few farm animal rescues. The decision was made to start a 501(c)3, non profit and Home Sweet Home Animal Rescue of Tampa Bay, Inc. was established.

Two other family members that came to live at HSHAR were two chicken hens, Amelia and Layla, from the local animal shelter. HSHAR also rescued a Japanese Bantam rooster, Rudy, and his hen, Chabo.

HSHAR is dedicated to providing a safe and caring environment to sick, injured, abandoned, abused and homeless farm animals and birds. We are committed to educating our community to the plight of these animals. There are many people who have not been exposed to farm animals and birds. Consequently, they do not realize how educational, entertaining and amazing they are. They can teach us some much, if we only let them.

“Promoting compassion and the humane treatment of all animals through education and conservation.”