Rescue & Adoptions

Past Rescues

Mack

When John, a mechanic for the Department of Sanitation in New York City, saw a trash bag moving on top of garbage piled high in a sanitation truck, he assumed the movement was a rat. He and other workers quickly opened the triple-bagged and tightly tied bundle to release the trapped rat, but were shocked instead to find a very weak and sickly black rooster, whose tail feathers had been ripped out. John and his coworkers named the rooster Mack, since he was discovered in the back of a Mack truck. Luckily for Mack, John's girlfriend is a Farm Sanctuary member who knew immediately to call us, and Mack was transported to our New York Shelter.

When Mack arrived, he was treated for a severe respiratory infection and malnutrition. The infection cleared up with antibiotics, but poor Mack continued to suffer from new respiratory infections every few months. His veterinarians said that his lungs must have been badly damaged when he was originally infected. This damage was permanent, they explained, and had made his body much more susceptible to further illness and disease.

Sadly, one of Mack's infections finally took his life. We were deeply saddened by this loss, but thankful that Mack was rescued and given the chance to live a good life here at Farm Sanctuary. Despite his struggle with respiratory infections, Mack did have a good life. He had many friends here, humans and chickens alike, and became very close to a sweet little hen named Buttons, who arrived on the same day he did. Mack and Buttons were constant companions and clearly made each other very happy. In fact, Buttons was so attached to Mack that she was unable to go on after losing him, and passed away herself just two short weeks after Mack. Of course we wish we could have had Mack around for many more years, but we are, nonetheless, very thankful for the time we shared with him.