Rachael Parker on her farm with Tiny. Rescued fox Fergi (top) and Piklet and Billy (above). Main picture: Jon Hewson         www.communitypix.com.au   d468088
Camera IconRachael Parker on her farm with Tiny. Rescued fox Fergi (top) and Piklet and Billy (above). Main picture: Jon Hewson        www.communitypix.com.au d468088 Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Finding greener pastures in Waroona, south-east of Mandurah

Rachel FennerMandurah Coastal Times

The Waroona sanctuary is the brain- child of Rachael Parker, a veterinarian nurse who became fed up with how farm animals are treated.

“I saw some less-than-ideal treatment of farm animals, in comparison to how people treat dogs and cats,” she said.

It was Rachael belief that farm animals were the most abused animals on the planet that led to her becoming a vegan.

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This is an often maligned moral stance in Australia’s meat obsessed culture.

But veganism and vegetarianism is growing.

Vegan Australia on social media has more than 18,000 likes and Roy Morgan research found that 2.1 million or 11.2 per cent of Australians are vegetarians.

It’s these selective eaters-cum-volunteers who help Rachael keep her 40ha farm going.

“My husband pays the mortgage and the rest comes from donations. We have 115 animals – horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, ducks, roosters and two foxes,” she said.

All the animals on the farm have heartbreaking stories.

Pikelet the sheep has a permanently disfigured jaw after it was broken when he fell off a trailer. He has no teeth and has trouble eating.

Pikelet and Billy
Camera IconPikelet and Billy Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Jimmy is a wild boar who was found lying next to his dead mother.

He’s 11 months old, and they’ve tried putting him in the paddock with the other pigs to no avail.

Jimmy busts out, squealing at the front gate to be let back in with the family.

Jimmy.
Camera IconJimmy. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Baloo, Bagheera and Mowgli are male calves – victims of a dairy industry that has no interest in males that can’t produce milk.

Baloo and Bagheera.
Camera IconBaloo and Bagheera. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Tiny is an old english bantam rooster who was evicted from his home and sent away from his loving owners because of his big (noisy) personality.

Tiny.
Camera IconTiny. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson

Wombat, another pig, came off a truck in Serpentine. She’s two and is already about 200kg.

Freckle and Wombat.
Camera IconFreckle and Wombat. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Fergie is the farm’s most famous resident, a video of her playing with family dog Faith went viral.

“It’s putting a face to the piece of meat on your plate,” Rachael said.

“It is why we have tours. We are booked months in advance which allows people to meet the animals, see they’re intelligent and make a connection.”

The animals are also victims of human stupidity. Goats and sheep are purchased to be backyard pets to keep lawns mowed.

Pigs are brought as “mini-pigs” but there is no such thing as a mini-pig. They are either starving due to inadequate food portions or balloon into the 200kg behemoths that trot after Rachael like puppies.

Rachael organises farm tours via her website.

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