At Sale Ranch, we never know when an emergency will strike—but when it does, we act fast. Right now, Gracie, our rescued horse resident, is facing a serious neurological issue and is scheduled for surgery next week—the earliest available time. At the same time, Jelly Bean, our sweet sheep, recently faced a health scare that sent her on a 10-hour journey to UC Davis for urgent testing.
At the time of writing this blog post, their combined medical care has reached $18,000—and we need your help to ensure they get everything they need to recover fully.
Gracie’s Fight: From Infection to Surgery for a Neurological Condition
For over nine years, Gracie has known love, freedom, and gentle hands. But last autumn, a bacterial infection threatened everything she had worked so hard to overcome. We treated her, and she healed—until now.
One morning, we noticed Gracie’s leg was swollen. By nightfall, the infection had spread from her hoof to her groin, putting immense pressure on her skin. Despite immediate treatment, it worsened. We had no choice but to rush her to San Luis Rey Equine Hospital, where she began receiving specialized oxygen therapy to reduce inflammation and targeted antibiotic treatments to stop the infection before it spread further.
But just as we were treating her leg infection, a second, more concerning issue appeared—one that was neurological. Gracie developed facial paralysis on the right side of her face, preventing her from blinking in her right eye. This was serious. We immediately halted her leg infection treatments and started her on steroids to address the neurological issue.
On Monday afternoon, Gracie underwent a CT scan, which revealed that the issue is being caused by excess bone growth in her THO joint, pressing on her facial nerve. To relieve the pressure and give her the best chance at a full recovery, Gracie requires surgery to shave down the bone and create space for the nerve.
Gracie is scheduled for this critical surgery next week—the earliest available time. Her prognosis is good, but her recovery will take weeks—if not months.
Now, more than ever, Gracie needs our support to get through this long road to healing.
Jelly Bean Is Stable, But Her Mystery Remains
At the same time that Gracie was beginning to show signs of infection, Jelly Bean, our sweet sheep, needed urgent veterinary attention. After we noticed blood in her urine, she was transported 10 hours north to UC Davis for advanced testing.
We were able to determine where the bleeding was coming from—but not why it was happening. For now, we continue to monitor her closely. If anything changes, we will be back in touch with our medical team to determine the next course of treatment.
We are relieved that Jelly Bean is stable and back home, but we are staying vigilant.
The Financial Reality: How We Make It All Work
Running a sanctuary means planning for the expected—while always being ready for the unexpected.
Monthly donors keep the ranch running—providing food, hoof care, and routine medical treatments. Their support gives us the stability to care for every rescued resident.
Special fundraisers allow us to act fast when emergencies strike. Last year, you helped us insulate our barns to keep our animals safe from extreme temperatures. Now, we need your help to cover the $18,000 in veterinary expenses for Gracie’s surgery, hospital care, and the emergency treatment Jelly Bean received at UC Davis.
Your support today makes an immediate impact.
How You Can Help Right Now
Gracie’s surgery is scheduled for next week. Her prognosis is good, but her recovery will take weeks—if not months.
Join our Monthly Giving Family – Just $10 a month helps us care for rescued farm animals like Gracie, providing food, vet care, and a safe home. Monthly donors make everything we do possible.
Make a One-Time Gift – Your donation today helps cover the $18,000 in critical medical care for Gracie’s surgery, recovery, and Jelly Bean’s emergency treatment.
Join as a Monthly Donor Make a One-Time Gift
Your gift—big or small—means everything.
