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My Visit to Rowdy Girl Sanctuary

November 5, 2015 by Jillian 8 Comments

rowdy girl sanctuary

cattle eating

tommy and renee

fireball and dog

Beautiful bovines! Magnificent moos! Chipper chickens! Purdy piggy! They all awaited me and more at the amazing Rowdy Girl Sanctuary in Angleton, Texas. The interesting thing about this particular sanctuary is that up until recently it was a cattle ranch, and had been for many years. But Renee Sonnen couldn’t bear to watch the calves torn from their mamas and loaded up into the red trailer to be taken off to the sale barn for slaughter. After stints of being vegetarian and even having a raw diet at one point, she made the connection between these sentient animals and the food she was eating and decided that she’d had enough. She went vegan and bought the remaining cattle from her husband Tommy, and the Sonnen Ranch became Rowdy Girl Sanctuary.

Renee and Tommy (and Jolene the dachshund) were kind enough to take me on a tour of the sanctuary and introduce me to these wonderful animals and their personal stories. Along with the cattle from their ranch, they have also begun rescuing other farm animals and hope to expand the sanctuary so they can accommodate even more cute critters 🐮🐔 🐷

cooper

Cooper

The first farm critter I was introduced to was Cooper, a cute little baby turkey. He was rescued by a woman who saw him being mishandled at a feed store. He was being held upside down by his ankles and shown to a prospective buyer that was considering him for Thanksgiving. Luckily, this woman jumped in and bought Cooper and he was eventually rescued and transported to Rowdy Girl by his namesake, Michael Cooper.

Cooper was super sweet and inquisitive when I met him, and made the cutest little turkey noises. Turkeys are incredibly smart and full of personality and enjoy being around people. And it was really adorable how he had his foot in his food bowl while he ate! I’ve seen so many dogs and cats that do the same thing.

herman

renee and herman

Herman

Then it was time to meet Herman, the 11 year old pig. He came to Rowdy Girl after his owner died and he was taken to a high kill shelter, and family members never came to pick him up. Renee needed financial help in order to bring Herman to the sanctuary and people were more than willing – they raised $3500 in just a few days!

When I visited, Herman didn’t seem thrilled by visitors (I don’t blame him, he’s been through a lot), but he did let me feed him a few pieces of banana. From the looks of Rowdy Girl’s website, Herman has 2 new piggy playmates named Roux and Ivy. Yay!

Next to the living quarters of Cooper and Herman are where the rescued cattle reside (not the herd that Renee bought from her husband). I just love cows. Maybe it’s because most people don’t give them a second glance, or because they’re merely thought of as hamburgers and steaks, or maybe it’s because they are so cute and gentle – but I love them and until my visit to the sanctuary, I’d never been able to get up close and personal with one.

frosty

Frosty

I couldn’t wait to meet the cows, and they seemed pretty curious about me as well. Before meeting the chattier cattle, I met Frosty, a sweet boy that had recently come to Rowdy Girl. Frosty is a purebred Longhorn who came from a small breeder in Texas. Usually a bull calf like Frosty is sold or given to kids that raise and show them in county fairs, but ultimately, they usually ended up slaughtered.

Poor little Frosty was only 6 months old when he came to Renee and Tommy. He was rightfully anxious and scared; he missed his mama and had been nursing up until that point. I didn’t get up close to Frosty because I didn’t want to scare him, so I just admired his sweet nature and beautiful white coat from a distance. With time, I know he will settle in and become friends with the other critters.

fireball

Fireball

As soon as I left Frosty’s pen, I was greeted by Fireball, a handsome young steer that was definitely not shy! A woman in Brazoria, Texas contacted Renee because her son, who had raised Fireball since he was a baby and loved him, didn’t want him to end up getting slaughtered. Fireball went to a family member’s pasture, but when that person’s health began declining, they could no longer care for the steer. Bringing him to Rowdy Girl was the perfect solution!

Cinnamon

Next, I met my bovine kindred spirit, the regal Cinnamon. She’s the beautiful lady that I’m brushing in the featured image at the beginning of this post. Cinnamon is a full blood Brahman show cow and she’s got the papers to prove it! She came from a ranch that bred these beauties specifically to show, and if they weren’t in tip top condition, they were sent to the sale barn for eventual slaughter. And poor Cinnamon had a cyst on her ovary which meant she was deemed unworthy and useless for breeding show cows.

According to Renee, Cinnamon was set to be slaughtered the very weekend they rescued her. After a news station in Houston did a story on Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, the ex-wife and daughter of the man who owned Cinnamon called Renee and begged for help.

cinnamon

On Rowdy Girl’s website, Cinnamon is described as an “old soul,” which is really a perfect description. She loves attention from people and for someone who has never been close to a cow before, she is a big lady! I felt like I was standing next to a creature from Star Wars with her long neck, big ears, and broad body. Or a camel! 🐫 She’s very calm and there’s something quite grounding about her presence. She’s lovely.

Jillian Stormy

Stormy

I could have spent all day hanging out with Cinnamon, but there were more furry friends to meet. Renee showed me into a small pen in the barn and when I realized what I was looking at, I halted. Before my eyes was a 3 month old calf named Stormy. I had heard mention of this sweet girl on Rowdy Girl’s Facebook page, and it was one of the many reasons I desperately wanted to visit the sanctuary.

You see, Stormy is blind. She got an infection as an itty bitty baby that went undetected for too long, and it made it’s way to her eyes and blinded her. Renee told me the story of how the wife of a cattle rancher contacted her, worried about the fate of Stormy. She didn’t have the resources to accommodate this handicapped baby and didn’t want her to live in a cooped up pen either, and definitely didn’t want her to end up being put down or slaughtered.

Stormy was still being bottle fed by Renee when I visited. How cute is that?! I kneeled down so I was at Stormy’s level and I petted her nonstop, which she seemed to enjoy. She was soft and fuzzy and smelled like a puppy and she was so adorable and endearing I could barely handle it. Until I heard Stormy’s story, I had never really thought much about the plight of being a cattle rancher’s wife. I just kind of assumed they lacked compassion and didn’t view cattle as anything but property. But most of these women feel completely conflicted because they love their husbands and want to support them, but they also hate witnessing the awful fate of these animals that they care for. Renee knows exactly how they feel because she was in their place just a couple of years ago. I can’t even imagine how miserable it must be to feel so conflicted (especially with something as precious as Stormy standing before you. Look at those eyelashes!)

stormy

Houdini

Okay, so you saw elegant Cinnamon in the top photo in this story. The other girl fighting for my attention with the shiny black coat is Houdini. Her mother is Rowdy Girl. It’s only fitting that Rowdy Girl Sanctuary is named after a cow, right? Renee bought Rowdy Girl as a calf from her husband so she could have the freedom to raise her and love her without fear of her being put on the red trailer and sold for meat. Rowdy Girl later gave birth to a girl named Houdini, because she was an escape artist and had a knack for constantly escaping the property much to the chagrin of not only her husband, but the neighbors and local police. Tommy wanted to get rid of Houdini because she was being such a little troublemaker, but of course Renee would not stand for that.

They comprised by creating a separate fenced in area for Houdini that she couldn’t escape from, and it was also a major turning point in the creation of Rowdy Girl Sanctuary. Renee was already vegan at this point and had dreams of creating her own sanctuary where her cattle would be safe and she could rescue other animals in need. Rowdy Girl and Houdini are both very important girls. Without them, I think Renee would still have opened a sanctuary at some point, but not as soon as she did, which means not as many animals would be safe and sound thanks to her.

signing the red trailer

the red trailer

After meeting all the rescued animals, Renee and Tommy loaded me up in the truck and we went across the property to the infamous red trailer. No longer does it carry away innocent cattle to be sold off for slaughter. That was always the worst part for Renee, watching that trailer drive away with such precious cargo and knowing the fate that awaited. She doesn’t have to worry about that anymore. Instead, she has visitors to the sanctuary sign the red trailer.

Just down a ways from the trailer was a herd of cattle, from the original herd that Renee bought from Tommy when she started Rowdy Girl Sanctuary. They weren’t as interested in people as Cinnamon and Houdini, but they let us come and hang out near them. We spotted a cute little calf with them, so I got to see not one but two babies!

calf

Tommy got out several bales of hay and immediately the herd made it’s way over and started snacking. It was nice to see these docile creatures feeling so safe and peaceful. Included in the bunch is 8 year old Panda 🐼 She was born on the property and Renee thought she was a boy at first because she has horns. Apparently, the girls can have horns too!

panda

I didn’t get to meet the horses during my visit, but I saw them in the distance and hopefully I’ll get to know them next time I visit. I did, however, get to meet three chickens: Lovely, Bodovely, and Dixie Chick. Lovely and Bodovely are sisters that Renee raised from chicks, and all three girls love hanging out with the family. Here’s Renee holding Dixie Chick. The other two girls are pure white.

renee and dixie chick

There’s also a whole gaggle of doggies, including a rescued mama dog and her puppies. And Renee and Tommy are in the works to transform part of the sanctuary into a commercial organic vegetable garden called the Rowdy Girl Veganic Farm. No more selling calves, just plants 🍅 🍆

They’ve also launched their Adopt An Animal Program, where people can sponsor a specific rescue animal at the sanctuary. Keeping an animal sanctuary up and running is difficult work as well as costly, so Renee and Tommy rely heavily on the generous support of fellow animal lovers. Check the Rowdy Girl website for upcoming fundraisers, ways to volunteer, to sign up for their newsletter, donate, or learn how to schedule a visit.

I can’t wait to go back and see all my friends at the sanctuary and all the new arrivals since my last visit! Renee and Tommy are doing a wonderful job not only for the animals, but for the ranchers and good samaritans that would otherwise have no one to turn to. Texas is the largest producer of beef in the United States, so to have farm sanctuaries like Rowdy Girl popping up in the Lonestar State means that change is coming – good change.

puppies

stones

jillian and renee

THANK YOU RENEE AND TOMMY!

Jillian ♥

Related posts on Compassionate Women:

  1. Wintertime at Rowdy Girl Sanctuary
  2. Little Ways to Make a Big Difference
  3. Anatomy of a Dog Rescue

Filed Under: Animals, Bits & Pieces Tagged With: angleton texas, animal rescue, animals, blind calf, calf, cattle, cattle ranch, chickens, compassionate, compassionate women, cows, cute animals, farm animals, farm sanctuary, my visit to rowdy girl sanctuary, pig, rowdy girl, rowdy girl sanctuary, Texas, turkey, vegan, veganic farm, women

Comments

  1. Addie says

    November 7, 2015 at 10:17 am

    Beautiful write-up about Renee, RG Sanctuary, and the sweet animals there!

    Reply
    • Jillian says

      November 7, 2015 at 2:36 pm

      Thank you so much. I can’t wait to go back!

      Reply
  2. Kathryn says

    November 7, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    Yes, nice write up about Renee and Rowdy Girl, a unique woman with a poignant and important mission……

    Reply
    • Jillian says

      November 7, 2015 at 11:00 pm

      Thank you Kathryn! Renee is amazing, I’m truly grateful for all her compassion and hard work 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jennifer says

    November 11, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    My daughter and I are visiting Rowdy Girl this weekend. What a beautiful blog post and i plan to be blogging about my visit as well. I just know I will be a blubbering, emotional mess all day – especially when we get to the red truck.

    Reply
    • Jillian says

      November 11, 2015 at 4:29 pm

      Thank you, Jennifer. You’re going to love Rowdy Girl Sanctuary! Let me know when you post about it, I’d love to check it out.

      Reply
  4. Renee King-Sonnen says

    December 27, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    Thank you for your beautiful blog about Rowdy Girl!!! love you

    Reply
    • Jillian says

      December 27, 2015 at 4:32 pm

      Thank you Renee. Thanks for everything you do. I can’t wait to come back and volunteer again!

      Reply

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HEY THERE! I’M JILLIAN.

I live near Houston, Texas with my rescue dog Stella! I create cruelty-free recipes that are delicious, to demonstrate that it's easy to follow a plant-based lifestyle. Not only are the health and beauty benefits noticeable, but it creates a more sustainable planet and keeps our animal friends safe & happy. In our spare time, Stella and I also love watching movies, reading, snuggling, and taking long walks! LEARN MORE…

Check out the documentary I directed!

remember my soul

Feature-length documentary that uncovers the Jewish history of the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and the customs & traditions the Jewish people there have contributed to.

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compassionatewomen

Compassionate Women
SERIAL KILLERS. Oh, do I have your attention?? 🧐 I visited the prison cemetery in Huntsville a few months back and discovered not only are 2 infamous serial killers buried there, but a cowboy from the prison rodeo who was killed by fellow inmates, and it was the first resting place of a prominent Kiowa chief named Satanta who committed suicide by jumping out the window at the Huntsville Penitentiary rather than spend life in prison. The link in my bio will take you to the full story and more photos from my visit to the cemetery 🪦 
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Today for lunch I made these amazing cauliflower g Today for lunch I made these amazing cauliflower gnocchi and a vegan beef patty both from Trader Joe's with some sauteed mushrooms, lemon, and vegan mayo. Stella helped me cook 🌈⭐
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Perfected my vegan pulled pork recipe 👅 Made so Perfected my vegan pulled pork recipe 👅 Made some tacos with it, a side of roasted potatoes, and my "magic" sauce 💯
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Vintage 1940s cameo ring. If my daughter didn't ha Vintage 1940s cameo ring. If my daughter didn't have such large paws, I'd pass my jewelry down to her 🐶
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Took a lot of coaxing but Stella ventured out to e Took a lot of coaxing but Stella ventured out to experience snow, and also peed in it as soon as she could 😂😂
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In the past week I made 2 deeeelicious lentil soup In the past week I made 2 deeeelicious lentil soups. The first is green lentils with potato and mushroom. The second is Greek Red Lentil soup that tastes like a gourmet tomato soup 🍅 and also has carrot, rosemary, lemon, and a hint of cumin. Both soups have kale because that makes them 💯% better. 
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One of the things that has interested me about the One of the things that has interested me about the horrific scene at the Capitol yesterday is the connection between veganism and colonialism. Some of the mob members yesterday were proudly covered in the skins of dead animals. To me, it's no surprise that white male supremacists are speceiests at their core. They believe they are inherently superior. They have historically compared people of color to animals, and treated them as sadistcally as they treat animals. In America, the government orchestrated the slaughtering of 60 million buffalo for no other reason than as a way to starve Indians into submission. Among other things, white supremacy and colonialism is linked to an obsession with killing, hunting, and dominating over others. So here are some bomb homemade VEGAN Butterfinger I made yesterday. Free of cruelty and made from plants. I'm not just vegan for the animals, I'm vegan for people because it is all connected.
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My little wheel of crystals ✨🌈 I researched e My little wheel of crystals ✨🌈 I researched each one, including their healing properties, and wrote a blog post about them (link in bio) 🌙🌟
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I made this creamy cauliflower dip today and it wa I made this creamy cauliflower dip today and it was delicious with my salad 😋🥗 Cashews, roasted cauliflower, fresh rosemary, lemon juice, and spices 🍽️
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Took a break from audio editing to make my own coc Took a break from audio editing to make my own coconut syrup for some iced coffee 🥥☕ It was my first time making it. Next time, less sugar and more steep time! 
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My first attempt at chickpea tuna salad 🐟 and i My first attempt at chickpea tuna salad 🐟 and it was amazing! It tasted like the real thing. I used chickpeas, fresh dill, lemon juice, chopped pickle, vegan mayo, s&p, and garlic powder topped with red onion and on a bed of spinach and tomatoes 🥗
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Another successful Hanukkah! Stella is scared of a Another successful Hanukkah! Stella is scared of any kind of fire but she still helped light the menorah every night, then we went across the living room to turn the lights on the Xmas tree because one December holiday just isn't enough! 🕎🎄
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Last night I was in bed and realized I hadn't seen Last night I was in bed and realized I hadn't seen Pixie in a while. I got up to look for her and she was nowhere to be found. I kept calling her and looked in every nook and cranny of my house. I thought something terrible happened to her. Then I noticed a pillow moving. She was sleeping inside the pillowcase next to me the whole time. I didn't even know she could climb onto the bed by herself 😂😂
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