Joy to the World

Here at Pasado’s Safe Haven, we have witnessed the emotional scars of neglect, abandonment, and abuse. When sentient beings are injured, starved, or abandoned without a second thought, there is a lasting impact on their hearts and souls. When most of our rescues come through the gates of Pasado’s sanctuary, they do not yet realize that they are free and safe. They sit in the car or trailer, their eyes avoiding our helpful gazes, silent, withdrawn, and despairing. Hope is the last thing that dies.

Years ago, when we rescued 1,000 chickens from deplorable conditions at an egg farm, we were struck by the chickens’ eerie silence. We couldn’t imagine the atrocities that these normally social and gregarious animals must have experienced. Their silence spoke volumes.

Rusty was one of the over 100 cats rescued from a hoarding situation.

Over the years, we have been met by this eerie silence time and again. The despair is tangible. When we rescue animals from hoarding cases, they have often been neglected for so long that a human voice or touch are completely foreign to them. They wince and cower when humans approach, squeezing their eyes shut. But they don’t cry out: They have learned that nothing will come of it.

This silence is shown by other animals, as well. Abandonment is especially difficult for middle-aged and senior cats, who become deeply depressed in shelters. These cats were once beloved family members. They cry at first, but when their cries go unanswered by a human companion who will never return, they, too, succumb to silence. One of the saddest things that you will ever see in some shelters are rows upon rows of cats who are withdrawn, avoiding your gaze, and with their backs turned to the cage door.

At some area shelters, the dogs who we rescue look out from behind their cage bars. Their tails do not wag. There are no glints of hope left in their once-bright eyes. They wonder: Will you pass me by, too? Can they dare wish that this is their turn? Often, by the time they pass through the safety of our gates, they have lost their voices, as well.

Bessie is a rescued beautiful black and white Holstein cow who loves to play in the water.

Our rescued cows, horses, and donkeys, get into the trailer willingly, but with no light behind their eyes. Their heads hang low. Many of them, like Bessie the cow, are terrified and don’t realize that they have been saved. They are resigned to their fate and have little “fight” left in them. But that first moo, whinny, mew, bark, or cluck – is beautiful music to our ears.

We always rejoice in that first “song” – when one of our rescues finally realizes that he or she will never again have to worry about being abandoned, starved, or beaten. Those calls resonate from the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, through the forested slopes of Dog Towne, and across our grassy pastures. To find one’s voice is no small feat. It is the audible sign of becoming whole, and it is an important part of the healing process. That’s why we work so hard for the animals, devoting the time, love, and attention that each of them so deserves.

That initial silence is a stark reminder of what can happen to an animal’s heart when he or she is mistreated. Here at Pasado’s, rehabilitating our rescues means helping to undo the pain of abandonment and abuse, instilling a sense of hope with in them once again.

Babs, Pasado's resident donkey

Pasado’s truly is a voice for the animals. We are dedicated to their rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming, but we need your help. If you would like to help save a life and help an animal find their voice again, please click here to make a donation. Your support really does save lives, one heartbeat and one voice at a time.

From all of the animals here at Pasado’s Safe Haven, Happy Holidays and Joy to the World.