Animals Win Big at The Little Farm
In Ojai, the touch of the Thomas Fire is still felt in a myriad of ways. For Katie Cook, founder of the nonprofit The Little Farm in Ojai, the newly elevated rents pushed her little family out of a property they had been leasing for two years prior and brought them to their current half-acre parcel nestled in a quiet neighborhood just outside of historic downtown.
The kind of farming done here is a little different than most. Rather than growing animals for food, Katie, a down-to-earth transplant from the East Coast, is all about saving creatures great and small and giving them a dignified, stress-free and happy life for as long as they have. Considering that The Little Farm is already housing an eclectic and transient collection of farm animals, it’s clear that a half acre isn’t going to cut it for long.
Originally, in her spare time, Katie worked in traditional rescue with domestic animals, but her destiny was bigger than she could imagine. Every one of her animals comes to her with a story worthy of a documentary. Indeed, her husband, Les, a real estate agent, shakes his head as he good-naturedly tells of some of the bizarre ways they have found themselves bringing home a new addition.
Leo, the quirky street dog they met in Greece that followed them around (even into stores, restaurants and their hotel), might have been the beginning. He came home with them on the plane and continues to charm everyone he meets. Then came Gus, the neglected mini horse that “began to come alive” after he was transported from his previous home via minivan. Then there is Ruby, the runt of a litter of Kunekune pigs who, after getting crowded out of nutrition on the teat, became too expensive to raise for meat (her siblings’ fate) and ended up in Katie’s arms as an alternative to being drowned. Or perhaps Katie is finding her purpose in Elvis, the Blackbelly ram who murmurs in deep approval when his head and neck are stroked just so and who was saved, along with three of his brothers, from a backyard butcher who was forced to cull his herd. “I feel like if these guys could talk they would sound like surfer dudes,” Katie tells me as the rescued rams bump her hands for more love.
During the more recent Woolsey and Hill fires, Katie jumped in feet first, working closely with the Humane Society of Ventura County to physically save many animals from the immediately impacted areas, some from properties still burning or in imminent danger. “Katie’s experience with farm animals was instrumental to caring for the pigs, goats, ducks, and other farm animals who were evacuated to the shelter,” says Jolene Hoff man, Humane Society shelter director. “Katie’s commitment and compassion to all creatures has been essential to finding many of the harder-to-place animals in our care the perfect homes.”
The couple has already maxed out the number of animals they are legally allowed to have on their property and so are caring for animals across three properties on a daily basis.
“We are desperately seeking our magical dream property with acreage,” says Katie as she pets Panuelito and Kitty, two rescued male Lamancha goats named by her children. “A place to bring all our animals ‘under one roof,’ to build out necessary barn spaces for each of our residents and give them the level of care they need, and to be open to the public for scheduled tours.”
To support Katie and Les and The Little Farm in Ojai, follow them @thelittlefarminojai and visit TheLittleFarmInOjai.com/ways-to-help.
