Born unable to walk, Kiki’s future looked uncertain. Her mother had contracted the Cache Valley virus, a mosquito-borne illness that can cause severe fetal deformities like fused joints, spinal curvature, and deformities as well as neurological challenges and even seizures. Her body couldn’t support her the way others could, her mother rejected her, and farmers usually don’t have the ability -or desire- to care for animals with special needs. At just 11 days old, her life hung in the balance.
Luckily, the compassionate caretaker of the farm had been reaching out to veterinarians, shelters, and other places in hopes of rehoming Kiki. Finally, she contacted Don’t Forget Us Pet Us, a sanctuary known for giving animals considered “unadoptable” a chance not just to survive, but to thrive. When the team arrived to pick Kiki up, they were astonished: despite her physical limitations, she radiated joy and curiosity. There was something special about her, something undeniable.
As she settled into her new home, her caregivers began to notice something remarkable: Kiki wasn’t just adapting, she was innovating. She played with children’s toys and interactive puzzles in a way that seemed to suggest she was truly special. This was definitely confirmed when she learned to change the station on the radio using the knob, which she did because Kiki loves music! Her favourite songs include Drake’s “In My Feelings” (isn’t that hilarious?!) and other bangers from the movie Frozen and her favourite singer, Taylor Swift.
It was clear that Kiki engaged with her world in ways that demanded deeper recognition, so the sanctuary did something revolutionary: they introduced Kiki to a custom-built cart, adapted with a joystick, allowing her to control her own mobility! She took to it like it was second nature. In less than an hour, Kiki figured out how to move the joystick to ride her cart around the sanctuary -of course, with the help of her humans, since Kiki understands full sentences. She now moves freely across her world, expressing agency, preferences, and independence. She’s the first farmed animal to do such a thing!
Before this innovative development, Kiki used a regular cart for animals with disabilities, allowing her to move around like the other special-needs animals in the sanctuary. She chooses when to hang out with her human family or spend time in the barn with her fellow animal companions. Kiki would also get rides from Ranger, the sanctuary dog, who would pull ser una a little loading cart little cart… but was a bit too rambunctious. Now, with her joystick mobility cart, Kiki has full control.
When Ziggy’s Refuge, another sanctuary with a larger online presence, shared Kiki’s story, the world took notice. The sight of a sheep navigating her world through a joystick, making her own choices and proving the intricate and sophisticated inner workings of her mind is simply fascinating. Kiki’s life challenges the idea that worth is tied to physical ability, which is the perfect story to celebrate Disability Pride. She reminds us that intelligence and emotion aren’t species-bound, and that joy, dignity, and autonomy are birthrights that no being should be denied.
We bring to the world hundreds of millions of sheep every year just to kill them for their meat. Hundreds of millions of individuals like Kiki who could be remarkably intelligent if given the chance. But most importantly, hundreds of millions of sentient creatures who feel and fear just like our beloved companion animals, who are conscious and value their own life, and who interact with the world around them seeking joy and avoiding pain. Who are we to take their lives away?
