10/05/2026
Yesterday we said goodbye to Shakil, our beloved and beautiful rooster 💔
Shakil was a magnificent, intelligent and gentle rooster whom we rescued from the meat industry, and very quickly he became a deeply loved resident of the sanctuary. He loved being petted and receiving attention, and he always stood out with his unique presence.
He did not get along with the other roosters, so he moved to a separate space together with Noodles, another rooster. There, two roosters who had not found their place within the larger group found each other and became best friends. They did everything together and even slept cuddled up every night.
Last week we lost Noodles, and we saw how deeply this loss affected Shakil. He slowly withdrew into himself, became less active, asked for less attention, and his health declined rapidly. In the last few days he stopped eating and became very weak. Yesterday we saw that his condition had become critical. We placed him in an oxygen chamber and tried to treat him in every way we could, but we were unable to help him. When we understood that he was in significant pain and no longer able to stand, we made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize Shakil so he would not continue to suffer. Shakil left this world while being held, gently stroked, and surrounded by love 💔
Shakil and Noodles left us just one week apart. This is not the first time we have witnessed something like this. A few years ago we experienced a similar story with Robi and Michael, two roosters who lived together in their own area and passed away within days of each other.
Then, and still today, these incredible roosters continue to teach us how sensitive, intelligent, and social they are. And sometimes, just like humans, they can experience a sudden health decline that may be connected to loss and heartbreak.
We will always remember Shakil and Noodles, continue to share their story, and do everything we can to save their friends from the meat industry who are still waiting for someone to see them and give them the life they deserve ❤️
