Two years ago, Kris Meyer was driving along State Road 70 when he spotted what he first thought was a large, hairless dog on the shoulder. It was a pig, later named Violet, bloodied and suffering from severe road rash, likely after falling from a livestock truck. Meyer pulled over and started making calls. Nearly 30 of them before Fandango Sanctuary in Englewood agreed to take her in.
Violet arrived barely alive. Then, during a feeding of chocolate Ensure, her eyes brightened and she began what would become a months-long recovery. Today she runs around the sanctuary, healthy and full of life. Fandango is home to over 100 rescued farm animals, and the nonprofit is currently raising money for an expanded hurricane storm shelter, a need that hits close to home for anyone on the Suncoast.
As sanctuary founder Iris Pisko puts it: the animals don’t have a voice, we do. Whether that means volunteering, donating, or simply knowing who to call when you spot an animal in trouble, there’s a role for everyone. Have you ever stopped to help an animal on the side of the road? Tell us your story.
