Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Selick and 54 other pigs were abandoned inside a dark, filthy barn. Left without food, water, or means of escape, the terrified pigs faced a horrific struggle for survival, but a local humane police officer found the scene, worked with Indraloka to extract all the pigs and secure homes for them. Indraloka kept the sickest pigs and those with special needs, including Selick who is blind. Now Selick is a sanctuary icon, traipsing around the property, getting into mischief and seeking treats, befriending humans, goats, turkeys and others, and charming everyone.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

The three towering Holstein boys who reside at Indraloka all share the same origin: born on dairy farms, these boys were torn from their mothers after birth and destined to be slaughtered as babies, perhaps even a few days old. Compassion swayed the farmers however, and each boy was relinquished to Indraloka at just a day old. At the sanctuary these calves have grown into loving steer; Houdini is the eldest and a watchful leader, Nandi is shy and gentle, and Ogie is the energetic upstart who may one day fully take over leadership from Houdini. The trio teach sanctuary visitors the truth of the dairy industry and act as spokes-cattle for all the dairy boys who do not find sanctuary.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Snuffleupagus, or Gus to her friends, arrived as the only survivor the owner of her herd allowed to be saved from slaughter after getting a gas lease on his property. For the first part of her life, Gus had little to no contact with humans, and thus when she first arrived at Indraloka, bereft of her herdmates, she was standoffish and did not want to interact with the strange bipeds. Kindness prevailed with her over many months at Indraloka, and Gus realized she was in a safe and loving space with a new herd of friends that included other cattle and the humans. Now she accepts loving scratches in her shaggy hair, and she offers the kindness shown her to new calves that join the herd.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Rupert’s story began with what could have been a fatal transportation accident, but would surely have ended with his death had he made it to the slaughterhouse. A byproduct of the dairy industry, young Rupert was instead rescued after the accident and brought to sanctuary. At Indraloka he received medical attention likely for the first time, and the first loving interaction with humans of his young life. Taken from his mother, Rupert, or Ru as his caregivers call him, found new family, first with the humans and goats, and then ultimately with the cattle herd. At the sanctuary Rupert’s curious and adventurous nature is allowed to flourish; his first forays into the larger sanctuary world were with his buddy Marble sheep, and together they traipsed all over the grounds, more often than not finding harmless mischief.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Running loose and running amok in a neighborhood during the colder months of northeastern Pennsylvania, Ana faced lethal resistance from a local resident. Other neighbors reached out to Indraloka for help in saving the goose from not only the cold, but also the wrath of unkind humans. Most of a day the Indraloka rescue team tried to get Ana to safety, and most of the day he avoided them. It wasn’t until they were about to give up that Ana came to lay at founder Indra’s feet, allowing himself to be picked up and carried to the car without any fuss. At the sanctuary he has made quite a name for himself, alternating between intensely protective and loving, and intensely protective and fierce.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Moksha arrived at Indraloka besieged by parasites, emaciated and nearly skeletal, matted with feces, and very young. In his first days, Moksha experienced the loss of his mother and subsequent abandonment when the beef farmer failed to realize Moksha’s mother had given birth and slaughtered her. When he was discovered, it was still days before the farmers could be convinced to relinquish the dying calf, and they offered him no care. Arriving at Indraloka, Moksha, Sanskrit for “liberation” and nicknamed Mookie, received around-the-clock care and medical attention. With patience and diligence, he grew stronger and stabilized. He now lovingly offers attention to humans, having forgiven his beginnings and sharing his gentle personality with everyone.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Nugget and Duncans’ mother died during their birth. She was a breeding sow on a farm raising pigs for slaughter. The owner asked for community help in nursing the baby pigs. The woman who took Nugget and Duncan brought them to school with her where she worked, and the kids fell in love with the piglets. When it was weaning time, the bond with the boys was such that she could not let them go to slaughter. She negotiated with the owner for their release, and then the boys found a loving permanent home at Indraloka. Both boys are gentle giants, affectionate and loving, showed only kindness instead of the fate that could have awaited them.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Maddie’s arrival at Indraloka came after she had spent years on a “humane” farm, constantly pregnant, her children taken from her to be sold as food. In her old age, her spent body giving her challenges, Maddie was to be slaughtered; however compassion moved the farmer to give her to Indraloka. Emaciated, walking with pain, at sanctuary Maddie likely received the first medical care of her life. The humans doted upon her, plying her with foods to bring her to wellness, but the sanctuary cats also played their part, including Luvbug, the resident protector and feline caregiver of the upper barn. His calm presence was a balm during Maddie’s recovery and helped her heal.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Scheduled to be someone’s Easter dinner, Tao’s fate took a decidedly fortuitous turn when he was instead able to go to Indraloka. Rather than being viewed as the centerpiece of a holiday meal, Tao is now known as one of the most loving and gentle of the sheep flock. He is often one of the first to investigate new visitors or to greet caregivers and regulars. Taking on a leadership role in the group, he encourages his flockmates in explorations of the pasture and interactions with humans. However he and his buddy Nod like to sneakily beg for treats from the doting humans whom they have wrapped around their hooves, and they do this with the rest of the flock none the wiser.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Selick and 54 other pigs were abandoned inside a dark, filthy barn. Left without food, water, or means of escape, the terrified pigs faced a horrific struggle for survival, but a local humane police officer found the scene, worked with Indraloka to extract all the pigs and secure homes for them. Indraloka kept the sickest pigs and those with special needs, including Selick who is blind. Now Selick is a sanctuary icon, traipsing around the property, getting into mischief and seeking treats, befriending humans, goats, turkeys and others, and charming everyone.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Rupert’s story began with what could have been a fatal transportation accident, but would surely have ended with his death had he made it to the slaughterhouse. A byproduct of the dairy industry, young Rupert was instead rescued after the accident and brought to sanctuary. At Indraloka he received medical attention likely for the first time, and the first loving interaction with humans of his young life. Taken from his mother, Rupert, or Ru as his caregivers call him, found new family, first with the humans and goats, and then ultimately with the cattle herd. At the sanctuary Rupert’s curious and adventurous nature is allowed to flourish; his first forays into the larger sanctuary world were with his buddy Marble sheep, and together they traipsed all over the grounds, more often than not finding harmless mischief.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Rupert’s story began with what could have been a fatal transportation accident, but would surely have ended with his death had he made it to the slaughterhouse. A byproduct of the dairy industry, young Rupert was instead rescued after the accident and brought to sanctuary. At Indraloka he received medical attention likely for the first time, and the first loving interaction with humans of his young life. Taken from his mother, Rupert, or Ru as his caregivers call him, found new family, first with the humans and goats, and then ultimately with the cattle herd. At the sanctuary Rupert’s curious and adventurous nature is allowed to flourish; his first forays into the larger sanctuary world were with his buddy Marble sheep, and together they traipsed all over the grounds, more often than not finding harmless mischief.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Selick and 54 other pigs were abandoned inside a dark, filthy barn. Left without food, water, or means of escape, the terrified pigs faced a horrific struggle for survival, but a local humane police officer found the scene, worked with Indraloka to extract all the pigs and secure homes for them. Indraloka kept the sickest pigs and those with special needs, including Selick who is blind. Now Selick is a sanctuary icon, traipsing around the property, getting into mischief and seeking treats, befriending humans, goats, turkeys and others, and charming everyone.

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania