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.”
