"Adopt" a Cuvilly Animal
Supporting the Cuvilly animals -- two pigs, four sheep, one llama/alpaca mix, two horses, two donkeys, a herd of Nubian goats and a bevy of geese, ducks and chickens -- is becoming increasingly expensive. In recent years, providing food, veterinary services, grooming and medications for the animals exceeded $25,000. By "adopting" a Cuvilly animal, herd or flock, you'll be helping to maintain the animals' health and contributing to their general welfare as valued members of the Cuvilly community! As a special acknowledgement of thanks, you will receive a photo "adoption" certificate of the animal or animals you choose to "adopt."
Financial "Adoption" Donation Scale
- $25/year "adopts" an individual animal as profiled below;
- $60/year "adopts" any three animals as profiled below;
- $125/year "adopts" the entire herd of Nubian goats;
- $125/year "adopts" the entire flock of geese, ducks and chickens;
- $250/year "adopts" the whole barnyard of animals as profiled below.
PIGS
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Wilbur arrived at Cuvilly in the mid 1990s from a farm in Newbury that had a surfeit of pigs. His porcine presence has blessed and blustered around the barnyard ever since. Both Wilbur and Tyrone are Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs; many pet stores used to sell this type of pig to city and suburban dwellers as household pets. Since Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs do not grow much hair, in winter both Wilbur and Tyrone are given blankets as bedding. Both roll themselves up in the bedding for a good night's cozy sleep, but Wilbur generally likes to tear his to shreds upon waking. -
Tyrone can be distinguished from Wilbur by the small white spot on his nose and by the fact that he is far too fastidious for either blanket-shredding or mud baths - something Wilbur enjoys immensely in the heat of a summer's day. Tyrone came to Cuvilly in 2005 following an incident at his suburban home. (He escaped one day and completely tore up a neighbor's garden before being caught.) He is far happier in Cuvilly's pig pen with his friend Wilbur, though he wishes Wilbur would conduct himself with a little more decorum. Both pigs weigh approximately 200 pounds each and eat four cups of grain a day.
SHEEP
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Obadiah - Obadiah's mother, Angelique, was given to Cuvilly in 2002. At the time, no one knew that Angelique was pregnant; she just appeared to be feeling unwell , was restless and would not eat. One morning Sister Pat went out to the barn to check on her and found Obadiah lying in the hay next to his mother. And so Cuvilly received yet another sheep into its fold! Obadiah, with his distinguishing long Roman nose, is a Border Leicester ram. -
Zeke and Wendell - Cuvilly adopted brothers Zeke and Wendell, who belong to the Finn breed of sheep, for their beautiful fleece. Both of them tend to be a bit nosy and act like they are the bosses of the barnyard. They seem to know that Sister Pat especially prizes their fleece for her weaving and knitting projects. -
Peanut - This sweet little ewe has lived at Cuvilly for the better part of 12 years. Her original owner left Peanut at Cuvilly temporarily while building a proper shed and barnyard for Peanut on her own property. Alas, the owner never returned to retrieve her pet. Peanut is a Dorset breed of sheep.
LLAMA/ALPACA MIX
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Charlie - Like the sheep, Charlie provides Cuvilly with beautiful quality fiber for weaving and knitting projects. He was donated to Cuvilly in order to guard the sheep against predators such as coyotes and stray dogs when the flock is out grazing in the paddocks. He is intensely loyal to the entire sheep clan and will spit a foul-smelling cud at anyone he thinks means his family harm. When Kevin the Sheep Shearer comes to Cuvilly every spring to shave the fleece from the sheep, Charlie must be kept away and out of sight. He would not take kindly to Kevin's well-intentioned actions.
HORSES
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Chique- Chique, a retired polo pony who came to Cuvilly from neighboring Ipswich, is a brown bay with black points. This means that she has a black muzzle, ears, mane, tail and lower legs. She is curious and gentle and, although she doesn't like to, she manages to stand still when the farrier comes to trim her hooves and when the dental hygienist makes a house call to "float" or shave her teeth down every three months. Chique is 27 years old, which is far too advanced in years to be chasing a small white ball around a field. She likes it much better here at Cuvilly. -
Shooter MacGavin - Otherwise known as "Mac" for short, Shooter MacGavin is a 10-year-old Blanketed Appaloosa who likes to take his time observing the world and others around him. Having been previously adopted by five different owners, he is overjoyed to finally find his place of belonging and rest at Cuvilly. Before being taken in by a shelter (where Cuvilly found him), Mac had not been receiving enough nutrition and was beginning to show signs of starvation. Under the shelter's and Cuvilly's care, Mac has since put weight back on and is quickly regaining his strength. Mac loves people (and cookies)and he has the personality of a big, gentle puppy. He is about 15.2 hands high.
DONKEYS
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Rocco and Chebacco are miniature Sicilian donkeys. They have been a gentle and loving influence in Cuvilly's barnyard for approximately 17 years. This breed of donkey is identified by the unusual growth of a dark brown cross spanning the length of their backs. This unusual marking has given rise to the legend that it was this breed of donkey that carried the Virgin Mary to Bethlehem where she gave birth to Jesus and the same breed that carried Jesus into Jerusalem on what is known as Palm Sunday. In their spare time, Rocco and Chebacco like to play tug-of-war with an old green beach ball in the paddock.
FLOCKS AND HERDS
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Geese, Ducks, Chickens - This conglomeration of webbed-footed friends and fowl live together in coops and low-lying branches in front of Cuvilly's barn. In the summer months, the chickens produce approximately 80 dozen eggs, which Cuvilly sells informally. -
Cuvilly's herd of Nubian goats is available for financial "adoption" as a unit only. The goats lend their own distinct presence to Cuvilly's barnyard. They can often be heard humming a hymn to the universe while resting in Cuvilly's paddocks and pastures on beautiful sunny afternoons. It's true! Goats hum!