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One Last Shovel: Departing Barn Sanctuary Volunteer Hopes Others Will Enjoy Helping Animals

(Crystal A. Proxmire May 9, 2022)

Chelsa, MI – With sore muscles, muddy spots on her coveralls, and strands of straw in her hair, Marne McGrath gave what she hopes won’t be her last hugs to the people and the animals of Barn Sanctuary.

McGrath was one of about 20 volunteers who spent a recent Saturday using a pitchfork and bucket to help clear muddy straw from around the water troth of a barn full of pigs who would otherwise be headed to slaughter if not for the rescue organization.

As she worked, a curious hog named Anna stayed close, inspecting the bucket with her big piggy snout and sometimes plopping over for belly rubs.  Anna and another pig named Elsa were rescued from an even worse fate when they nearly died in transport.  “In the middle of a harsh February winter in 2019, two tiny piglets were loaded onto a transport truck bound for a finishing farm to be fattened up for slaughter. When the truck arrived at its destination, the two piglets were frozen to the side of the truck and appeared immobile. They were assumed to be dead,” says the Barn Sanctuary website.  “The man unloading the truck took pity on these two piglets and brought them into his home to try to warm them up. Thankfully, the two piglets became responsive, so the man continued to nurse them back to health and called us to provide them with a forever home.”

Many of the pigs are family, including Tyler, Marla, and Durden.  Seven pigs were part of an animal cruelty case in North Carolina where they had been severely neglected and living in filth.  Two of the pigs – Annette and Kim – were pregnant.  These hogs joined others from around the country that had been abandoned, neglected, injured, or rescued.

In addition to the pigs, Barn Sanctuary has cows, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens and more – all with similarly harrowing stories.

Mabel – a black and white Holstein –  was born on a dairy farm, except she had problems with her legs and had trouble standing, as well as a condition that prevented her from reproducing and from making milk.  She also has a hear murmur, though it’s not life-threatening.  Because she was not a profit-maker for the farm, she was given over to the Barn Sanctuary where her job now is to be happy, hang out with other cows, and get petted by loving humans.   “All the animals have their stories,” McGrath said.  “And their own personalities.”

McGrath, who until recently worked for the City of Ferndale and was well-known at community events and City Council meetings, first learned of the Barn Sanctuary when she saw a clip of Twitch on social media.  “Twitch was one of the baby goats.  This little tiny thing with this huge voice, it was so adorable.

“I realized they were a hop, skip, and a jump away.”

“My very first shift I bottle fed one of the cows.  It was such an amazing experience and I’ve been hooked since.”  That was four years ago, and her love only continues to grow.

Caring for, and cleaning up after, dozens of farm animals is a lot of work. That’s why Barn Sanctuary has a brigade of volunteers from all over Metro Detroit like Marne who come to pitch in.  A lot of it is messy.

“I say that I shovel cow poop for fun,” she said.  “You work your muscles and you feel like you’re doing something that makes a difference.  I find it very zen. The physical work feels good.  It’s exercise for your body, and your mind and your soul.”

That last shift shoveling straw will be her last, at least for a while. McGrath accepted a Village Clerk position in the Florida Keys, trading in Michigan winters for perpetual sunshine.  The MOO-ve means saying goodbye to Mabel and her other furry friends, yet she hopes to come back and visit.

“I’ve met so many great people, and when you do work like this together you build friendships and connections,” she said.  “And I’ve made some great non-human friends.”

Though she’s hanging up her coveralls, McGrath hopes others will step in and do some scooping for themselves.  “It’s a great place to volunteer,” she said.

Humans are welcome to visit on Open House Days, or to sign up for info on volunteering. Barn Sanctuary is located at 20179 McKernan Drive in Chelsea.  For more information visit their website https://www.barnsanctuary.org.