Oscar

Rescue date: Summer of 2014

Oscar was found as a stray, and once he arrived here, we realized that he had certain triggers that made him unadoptable. Soon after he came, he inflicted a serious bite to Janine’s face – however, it was a ‘bite and release,' and we understand what triggered him.
Oscar can be walked by all the volunteers as we now understand his issues, and he can safely be handled by all. Oscar enjoys picking out stuffies, nap time, and being stubborn… Oscar does what he wants, and if he picks something up on his walk, it’s now his! Don’t you dare try to take it.

Mikey

Rescue date: November 2017

Janine received a call regarding a pit bull in Harrisburg who was said to be in 'rough shape'. Upon arrival, he was sitting upright, shivering from the cold rain, sad eyes drooping. The dog was living in a small pen covered in feces and dirt with nothing to keep him warm. Mikey was underweight with urine burns in between his paws and bloody pressure sores all over his frail body… yet there were moments that his tail wagged.
Due to the care of a concerned citizen and the Harrisburg Police Department, Mikey made his way to Speranza. While Mikey is not adoptable, he’ll never now another cold or lonely night. He has the Speranza family on his side.

Kirby

Rescue date: September 2017

Kirby came to us as a stray from Philadelphia. He had 3 or 4 bites while at the previous shelter. Kirby is a 30-pound lab, dachshund, collie mix, maybe? And he’s a feisty one.
Kirby is a resident at Speranza due to his behavior issues. He is happy and enjoys his daily walks. All volunteers know the rule: do not pet Kirby as he will bite. We respect Kirby’s boundaries. He loves and adores his mama Janine most!

Craig
AKA Craig the Creeper

Rescue date: February 2019

Craig was running loose with two other pups. Of the three, Craig was the only one that was caught. He was extremely nervous and stressed; not thriving to say the least. We knew that he deserved a chance, so here he is at Speranza.
Craig can be extremely apprehensive when it comes to making new human friends, especially with men. He is quite happy living the Speranza life! Craig has (a few!) girlfriends and has been deemed “Craig the Creeper” since you can catch him peeping through fence and through windows to keep an eye on others at the rescue.

Diego

Rescue date: October 2015

Diego was found alone, curled into a ball, and shaking on a porch in Harrisburg. Upon hearing Janine’s soft voice, Diego turned away and growled. His eyes were sad and confused. His hunger got the best of him, though, and he began to accept food from Janine’s hand.
Diego has made dog friends whom he plays with in the yards of Speranza. He does well on walks and can be handled by most of the volunteers who understand and respect his boundaries.

Gordon

Rescue date: 2017

Gordon was found wandering around after his owner tried to sell him on Facebook. Gordon was not too excited to see strangers trying secure him. Eventually he allowed Janine to leash him and bring him back to the rescue.

Gordon has opened up enough to trust a limited group of volunteers to handle him. He is protective of his handlers and reactive to those he does not know. Gordon’s favorite things are chicken nuggets and sneaking extra treats on his way out the door for his walks!

Hudson

Hudson is a handsome pit mix who lived in a junk yard for 2 years in New York. He wasn't getting much socialization and started showing some resource guarding behaviors. He is now at the farm and doing very well. We are working through his resource guarding and leash manners. He is a very cute and playful boy, but he is stronger than he knows and plays rough.  

Cadbury

Cadbury was found as a itty bitty piggy along side a road in Newville, PA.

HATFIELD

Hatfield was found as a stray in Philadelphia, PA and was taken to a local shelter before finding his way to the Speranza farm. He is an older pig.

PORKCHOP

Porkchop was found wandering as a stray in the woods Dillsburg, PA and was Janine’s first pig wrangling experience. The vet thinks Porkchop is an older pig.  

MISS PIGGY

Miss Piggy was an owner surrender. She absolutely loves belly rubs and is the reigning Queen, as the only female pig on the farm.

NOTORIOUS P.I.G.

Notorious P.I.G. was literally running loose along Interstate 83 for a few days before we could catch him. Janine laid in the bushes and waited for him to run by and she grabbed his foot and then leashed him.  

PUMBA

Pumba ended up in a local shelter and made his way to Speranza shortly thereafter. He is vocal and lives with Elvis Pigsley and Piggy Smalls.

Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon was an owner surrender at 6 weeks of age.

Piggy Smalls and Elvis Pigsley

Elvis Pigsley and Piggy Smalls were seized in a neglect case and taken to a local shelter before being saved by Speranza.

Juliet

Juliet was raised to be someone’s dinner. However, when the time came, they could not do it and reached out to Janine to see if she could have a forever home at Speranza.

Alexander hamilton

Hamilton was surrendered to Speranza on the 4th of July 2019, which is how he got his full name. He came to us as a little piglet and hasn't stopped growing since!

Gumbo

Janine was contacted about a piglet with issues walking and was no longer wanted. After a few weeks at Speranza, he started walking normally and grew the biggest personality on the farm!

Twinkie

Twinkie was surrendered to Speranza due to having seizures. Fortunately, she is no longer having seizures!

Twinkie loves her daily fruits and veggies.

Jiminy Cricket

Gepetto

Figaro

Figaro came to Speranza in December 2018 when his family could no longer provide for him as well as they would like. He immediately settled in with his new brothers and hasn’t stopped dancing around since.

Earl

Earl and Nugget came to Speranza as owner surrenders. They integrated seamlessly with our goat herd.

Nugget

Earl and Nugget came to Speranza as owner surrenders. They integrated seamlessly with our goat herd.

DeZi and lucille

Dezi and Lucille were surrendered to Speranza due to no fault of their own. These two babies lived a pampered lifestyle and their loving parents wanted nothing but the best for them!

Gumdrop

Gumdrop was found roaming the streets of Philadelphia. He was taken to a shelter then made his way to Speranza. He is such a sweet goat and even goes to some of our public events!

Harold

Harold was set to be someone’s dinner when he decided that wasn’t his fate and escaped the truck he was being hauled on. After attempts from locals to catch Harold, Janine was called and managed to get him in the cab of a pick-up truck and brought him to Speranza.

Ballerina

Ballerina was surrendered to Speranza by a goat breeder due to being born with delayed muscle development. Ballerina is a Nigerian Dwarf who likely will not grow to full size. With some physical therapy and TLC, Ballerina now walks normally and has been dancing all over the farm bringing a smile to everyone she meets.

Mr. Penguin waddles

Mr. P was surrendered from a local farm. He was found at 5 days old with a bone infection in his hoof and a fractured leg. His injuries have healed, and he’s happily romping around the farm demanding snacks from all the volunteers.

Noodles

T-Bone

Mr. beans

Mr. Beans is our smallest cow. He came to Speranza as a sickly young calf in October 2017. He lives in the pasture with the three big cows and we call them all “The Cowboys.” Mr. Beans is notoriously mischievous and is routinely loose on the farm grazing and getting his craved attention.

benjamin Button

Benjamin was saved from a grim fate of being someone’s dinner. He is a sweet boy, and we’ve learned that he thoroughly enjoys scratches behind his ears. Benjamin is now best friends with a camel!

Leo

Leo came to Speranza when he was less than a year old with his brother Bambino, when a local farmer surrendered his goat. The trailer opened, out came a goat and two kittens. Because the farmer was losing his farm, we agreed to keep the two cats. Bambino went home with one of our volunteers and Leo is the most social cat you’ve ever met. He loves stowing away in volunteer cars and taunting the dogs. 

Loretta

Loretta Lou is a 16 year-old Mule and was also to be sent to an auction at the same time that Dave came to Speranza. Janine wanted Dave to have a friend and wanted to save Loretta for a grim fate - and it worked perfectly - these two scared, untrusting animals have become best friends.

Mary poppins

Mary Poppins came to Speranza with her son, Colonel Sanders. Check out Colonel Sanders’ profile for the full story covered by The DoDo!

Wendy

Wendy is about 8 years-old and came to us in pretty good shape aside from her feet needing on-going work.

Jack

Jack is the smallest member of the “Three’s Company” crew. He is best friend to two zebras who also live at Speranza.
The trio were rescued from an auction house where they were originally destined for a trophy hunting ranch.

Janet

Janet, another member of the “Three’s Company”, is quite attached to her look-alike, Chrissy.

Chrissy

Chrissy completes the “Three’s Company” crew. She has quite the personality and entertains everyone with her big smile.

Beyonce

Beyonce came to us from a kill pen. She was quite leery of people when she first arrived in August of 2020. Beyonce has grown into her personality and is nearly a professional when it comes to braying and calling for her feed in the early morning.

Wayne

This pony is about 2 years old and came from a kill pen in rough shape with a fractured cheek bone. Wayne spent his first few weeks with us in quarantine due to an upper respiratory infection. He was emaciated, too, so our main focus was to get him healthy. Once Wayne became well enough, he underwent surgery to remove an infected tooth. He is now halter broke and doing much better! We hope that to be the last blockade in his way to becoming a happy and healthy pony!

Christian

Christian and his friend Grover have the same story! Their owner had a thoroughbred farm and passed away. The whole herd ended up in kill pens. They came to us yearlings. These boys are working on their manners and loving life at Speranza!

grover

Grover and his friend Christian have the same story! Their owner had a thoroughbred farm and passed away. The whole herd ended up in kill pens. They came to us yearlings. These boys are working on their manners and loving life at Speranza!

Rory

Rory and Lorelei came together in July of 2019 and were deemed “The Gilmore Girls”. They were both in extremely poor health. Rory battled fistulous withers, countless sores and fungal infections. She was thin and needed to gain weight, too. Rory continues to battle bone infections in her hooves. These girls have proven to be fighters, and they will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Lorelei

This pair, the Gilmore Girls, had been tied to trees, and we were told that people were still riding Lorelei. When Lorelei came to us, she was awfully emaciated and the thought of people riding her in that condition made us sick. Lorelei battled eye infections upon arrival. This gorgeous Appaloosa is a sweet soul who follows Rory around a lot because she is blind. She definitely knows the sound of a treat bucket now!

Garth

Garth came to the rescue in October of 2020. Apparently he was a bucking horse (what you picture in a rodeo) and ended up in a kill pen. He is very shy of humans and their touch, so he is currently being housed with a trainer and will return to Speranza soon!

Clara Belle and Fernando lived at a farm where they were no longer wanted and had not been well taken care of. Both were skinny and losing their coats but have since gained weight and are getting healthier every day.

We are working on socializing these two as they were not handled much previously and are both scared of humans at this point. We believe that they are both 3 - 5 years-old.