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History of FRIEND

FRIEND Farmed Animal Rescue started by accident. Based on pity for a new-born lamb, bought for £1, at a market in 1994.

It was the most bitter of cold January mornings. The icy wind lashed across the compound leaving the pen of new-born lambs to take the brunt of the forces of nature, all alone. They had no protection or bedding and, in their innocence, they approached everyone for what little comfort available.

Most looked relatively healthy. They sucked the fingers of both the compassionate and the mocking in the vain hope of a warm stream of milky security. Yes, most did look relatively healthy. One single lamb did not. Huddled in a cold corner on the bare concrete one tiny, skinny, lamb looked afraid, sick and frozen. I scooped him up, before the auction of their lives even began. I folded my jumper up, around him, hammock style and let my body warm his. I closed my coat around us both and held him till he stopped shivering.

I knew, then, that I couldn't let someone else, someone that I didn't trust, take him. Truth to tell, I didn't know where or how I was going to keep him only that I had 10 acres of land and that he was going to die. And die he did. Never recovering from the illness he had, despite intensive treatment. But, if you believe in purpose of life then you will understand that Tim, as I named him, had a purpose and that was to change so many lives. Certainly he changed mine.

In his two months of life Tim turned my world upside-down and blew away all the preconceived ideas that I, and so many other ignorant people, had about sheep being stupid. Not only did this new, little baby pick up the ability to communicate but to communicate with a different species!! This may well seem like a statement based on the over enthusiasm of a doting, surrogate mother but it is also one witnessed by all that encountered Tim.

As a Vegan I'd often wondered what I could do to promote the cause and Tim was doing it for himself. Folk came from far and wide to see a disabled lamb that would answer you back! And, if everyone knew, quite wrongly, that sheep were stupid then how clever were the clever ones?

It was at that point, I suppose, F.R.I.E.N.D. was conceived. I didn't really need to do much at all as the best ambassadors were the animals, themselves. I made it my business to obtain as many different species of baby animals as I could and hand rear them, interacting with them all the time. All were unwanted save for the destination of the dinner plate.

What happened next astounded me. It had crossed my mind that Tim was just a clever lamb but nothing could be further from the truth. Tim was just an ordinary sheep and, in fact, they were all smart. And so were the cows and the chickens and the turkeys and the average pig knocked the smartest dog into a cocked-hat.

It is with that knowledge and shame that I look upon the way we treat the farmed animals of this world. And, with that knowledge I realise it was a privilege to know that little lamb. It was the very best £1 I have ever spent - Marion Eaton (Founder)

(For more information about the rescue, see Animals - Introduction)