As much as we love dear Prince, and mourn his passing, we mourn and hold close to our hearts the millions of lambs and sheep just like him, who are never so lucky as to be saved, and to live out their natural lives full of love and peace.
Born on a truck going to the slaughterhouse, this is the story of how the Little Prince came to live a long and happy life.
Ten years ago a concerned ALV member spotted several young lambs held in
a makeshift pen out the back of a slaughterhouse. A local rescue team member
was contacted and they went to investigate.
The pen was strewn with old car parts and rubbish and the lambs were very
young, wandering aimlessly around the pen, bumping into the old car tyres
and forlornly calling out for their missing mums.
The lambs had most likely been born during the long truck journey their
mothers had endured. They weren’t part of the official kill list, so
presumably they’d be slaughtered for the workers to take home or their
bodies simply discarded.
Little Prince as a young lamb
Worried that the lambs would be gone by the time they returned with help,
the rescue team member jumped the low fence and looked around for who seemed
in most urgent need.
One of the lambs immediately stood out! He was off by himself and was
smaller and more fragile looking. He wasn’t active like the others – he just
stood there on his long spindly legs staring blankly into space. He looked
as though he might be in pain or shock.
As they scooped the tiny lamb into their arms, a worker in a nearby factory
looked on intently, scowling, perhaps assuming the lamb was being stolen for
food. Therefore it was impossible to return for more of the lambs at that
time.
As they drove away to safety, the little lamb sat in the rescuer’s lap,
completely trusting; the very epitome of gentleness. He occasionally lifted
his tiny head up to nuzzle into their neck.
At ALV’s urban sanctuary, Patty Mark received the little fellow with glee.
Despite his fragile condition and poor odds of survival, with Patty’s expert
care and attention he thrived!
For those first few months his feet barely touched the ground. Everyone he
came in contact with wanted to cuddle him for hours! Patty very quickly
named him The Little Prince, after the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry book… and
because everyone treated him like royalty.
Time passed and the Little Prince grew into an enormous, fully grown sheep!
He still had the same, unmistakable serene expression but there was nothing
weak or fragile about him. Now known simply as Prince, he enjoyed welcoming
visitors to the sanctuary, bowing his head for neck scratches and cuddles.
Here is Prince with Lulu who could usually be found together sitting on
Patty’s front porch.
Patty has since moved to a country property and established Liberation
Sanctuary, where she has been able to take in many more rescued animals than
she could in Elwood. However Prince still loved human company and positioned
himself somewhere he could watch whatever the humans were doing.
After ten years of love and kindness, our dear Prince has passed away. The
average lifespan of sheep is roughly ten years, however considering his poor
early condition it is remarkable he lived such a full, healthy life; a
testament to the love and care he received.
Patty, who has cared for Prince over the past ten years, is understandably
still in shock at the passing of such a close family member, but she made
the following statement:
“Prince was definitely one of a kind! We grieve the passing of all our loved
ones, but Prince’s death has dropped a bomb on my soul.
“This independent and bold sheep lived his life the way he wanted while
still always ‘there’ expecting pats, scratches and of course treats.
“No one will or can ever take his place. Yet what I treasure most about this
very special person was his embodiment of all animals. Each one a precious
individual who deserves to live their life with respect and autonomy.”
As much as we love dear Prince, and mourn his passing, we mourn and hold
close to our hearts the millions of lambs and sheep just like him, who are
never so lucky as to be saved, and to live out their natural lives full of
love and peace. Visit
lambtruth.com
to learn more.
A recent image of Patty Mark and Prince
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