Wendy Taylor, founder of West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton, announced Sunday the passing of sanctuary resident Karl the sheep, a refugee from the horrific animal cruelty operation off American Legion Highway in Westport in 2016.

Ms. Taylor writes about Karl, “I am so saddened that our amazing sheep, Karl, passed away unexpectedly today. He came to us from the Westport (Massachusetts) cruelty case in 2016. He was so sick back then, but had an amazing past few years living his life with us. We honestly don’t know how old he was, and best diagnosis is sudden congestive heart failure. This is my favorite picture of him and anyone who knows me knows he was my favorite farm animal. It’s not going to be the same at West Place. I know I will have a very big hole in my heart. He was LOVED and he didn’t pass alone. We will all miss you so much buddy! ”

Ms. Taylor said that Karl was the sickest animal to survive the Westport case and land at West Place. He had multiple infections and his condition was so severe that he couldn’t be treated at the temporary ASPCA location.

“Karl spent eight and one half weeks at Tufts Animal Hospital and even they didn’t know if he would make it.”

The ASPCA wrapped up the Westport case and packed up to go but Karl was still in the hospital. “It was at that time they turned responsibility over to us. He was released and developed another infection that we were able to treat at West Place. Because of the severe condition of animals we take we can rarely adopt out as we never know when these rescues will need major medical attention because of their compromised systems from what they’ve been through. 

“And he was named by the ASPCA staff vet because ‘he just looked like a Karl.”

One of many at West Place

West Place took in and still shelters dozens of animals from Westport. These include Karl’s sheep companions, Colby and Shaw who are doing well, “two goats, Maggie and Sadie, the four peacocks (who should live about another 45 years), two ducks, and from the 39 fish we took there are now 250 … so they seem to be happy.”