Not Every Rescue Ends in Adoption

Marshmallow’s Story

Rescue does not always end with a happily ever after in a new home. Sometimes, rescue ends with safety. With stability. With a promise that someone will stay. This is why sanctuary matters.

Sometimes saying yes does not come with a plan. It comes with an emergency call. A tiny kitten. And no guarantees.

This is why we say yes.

When the Call Comes

Marshmallow’s story began the way many do. With a call. And with too many things already happening.

We first learned about Marshmallow when she was at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Hospital. She had required an emergency c-section and suffered both uterine and rectal prolapses. She underwent multiple surgeries. Her babies were not able to be saved, but the prolapses were repaired.

From the beginning, it was clear that Marshmallow’s future would require careful monitoring. She could never be bred again and there was a strong possibility she would need additional medical intervention down the road.

Choosing Safety First

Marshmallow’s owner reached out to us because she was leaving a domestic violence situation and could not safely provide the level of care Marshmallow would need during recovery. We agreed to bring Marshmallow into the program.

After spending a month at UT, she was finally able to come to Fabled Farm. She settled in quickly and immediately bonded with the senior sheep. Within weeks, she was medically cleared and posted for adoption. It looked like the next chapter was ready to begin.

When Adoption Is Not the Right Answer

Then Marshmallow experienced another rectal prolapse. She returned to UT, where it was determined that she was no longer a surgical candidate. She required daily monitoring and ongoing management. At that point, it became clear that adoption was no longer in her best interest.

We made the decision to move Marshmallow into our Sanctuary Program. Sanctuary is not a failure. It is not giving up. It is choosing what an animal actually needs, even when it means letting go of the outcome we hoped for.

A Forever Commitment

Recently, Marshmallow suffered another sudden uterine and rectal prolapse and underwent emergency surgery at UT once again. She is currently recovering and receiving all necessary care as she heals.

Through everything, Marshmallow has remained her sweet, outgoing self. She is deeply loved, closely monitored, and safe.

She does not need to be adopted to be successful. She needs consistency. She needs medical support. She needs a place where her needs come first, always.

Why Sanctuary Matters

Not every animal who comes to Fabled Farm will leave. Some animals stay because their bodies are fragile. Some stay because their needs are ongoing. Some stay because stability is the greatest gift we can give them.

Marshmallow’s story is why sanctuary is a cornerstone of our work. Because rescue is not about moving animals through. It is about standing by them for as long as they need us. And sometimes, that means forever.

How You Support Animals Like Marshmallow

Animals in sanctuary rely on sustained support. Their care does not end after one procedure or one recovery.

Monthly donors make it possible for us to say yes to cases like Marshmallow’s. To provide emergency surgeries, daily monitoring, and lifelong care without hesitation.

Because every animal deserves safety.
Even when adoption is not the ending.