I am looking for people who like sheep and can help finance their living.
Thank you for visiting my crowdfunding project for «my» Skudde sheep. My name is Romina Negretti, I live in the Rhine Valley and work as a clerk in the asylum system.
The well-being and protection of all animals is very important to me and my greatest wish. That is why in September 2022 I saved 31 Skudde sheep from an acquaintance before their slaughter date, because that was the consequence: the then «owner» was given notice to vacate her house and land and had to find a new pasture and a new stable for the sheep within 3 months.
I tried to help her and contacted all the animal sanctuaries and sanctuaries I knew to see if they had space, but they are all overcrowded themselves.
We found brief happiness on a pasture in Siegershausen/TG on a farm with horses. But it turned out that the family themselves were only tenants of the land and wanted to enrich themselves from my lease. There was no longer any talk of caring for the sheep either. On the contrary: I even had to protect them from the couple. They deliberately damaged the tent and the car, mowed the meadow so that the sheep had nothing left to graze on and harassed my helpers who helped me feed them. I had to find a new and safe place for the sheep as quickly as possible!
2 months later I was able to rent a stable in Berneck/SG and move the sheep in. They were safe!
But the joy didn’t last long here either. At the same time, my personal circumstances changed so drastically that I had to downsize my living space with my 6 cats to save costs. I would no longer be able to manage the upkeep of the sheep on my own. The new stable was also only a temporary solution, as the landlord planned to have it demolished soon.
In addition to my regular work, I drove to the stable every day, carried water, mucked out the stables and brought the roughage. All my savings were used up and I made the sad decision to part with the sheep.
After many efforts and emergency calls, I was able to find a suitable home for 6 of the sheep in January 2024. They are now with someone who knows a lot about Skudde sheep and keeps some himself.
I found a wonderful home for 2 more on a life farm in February 2024. Although I was happy about these placements, it was still difficult not to be able to leave all the sheep together. After the last two sheep were moved, some showed grief by temporarily stopping eating, which made me realize again how similar animals are to us in their emotional life, especially when it comes to grief.
Under no circumstances would I give the remaining sheep to any shepherd or dealer. This would inevitably seal their imminent descent to the slaughterhouse. I had promised the Skuddes back then that I would never allow anyone to harm them.
The desperate and urgent search for a new home for the remaining sheep continued. No life farm, no boarding farm, no private individual had any more space or wanted to take in sheep. Until I heard about the Foundation for Farm Animals (StifNu). The foundation supports farmers who want to restructure their livestock farms into a boarding house for rescued farm animals. As a result, StifNu is well connected, especially in German-speaking Switzerland, and was able to find me a farm in the Zurich Oberland for the sheep. The remaining 23 sheep have been living there since May 2024, have enough space and receive the necessary care.
But the problem of further financing is not yet off the table. The monthly boarding costs per sheep amount to CHF 45.00. Not included are the additional costs for regular hoof care, shearing and veterinary care.
I wouldn’t be here with my Skudde sheep project if I didn’t really need help to finance the upkeep costs of «my» sheep.
Are there people here who love sheep as much as I do and think that they too have the right to an undamaged life? Sheep in particular are even more worthless in the animal industry and have no rights compared to other large animals.
This project is a pure animal welfare project with no commercial motives whatsoever. It’s all about the well-being and happiness of the 23 Skudde sheep!
Skudde sheep are an old breed of sheep and are among the animals threatened with extinction.
Sheep in general have even fewer rights in Switzerland than other large animals because they are seen as mass products that you can do anything with because they can’t defend themselves. But they also have a right to live in safety and without fear. Would you like to help me keep the promise I made to the Skuddes?
The pension costs for a whole year would be a huge help!
If the boarding costs could be covered for a whole year, this would give me the chance to put some money back and recover financially. The total amount for the sheep for a year is 12,420.00 CHF. Since 10 % of the desired amount will go to wemakeit as fees if the crowdfunding is successful, we need 13,662.00 CHF to cover the boarding costs for a whole year.
It would also help me a lot if I could find sponsors for one or two sheep this way. There is the option of partial sponsorship from 20.00 CHF per month or full sponsorship at 45.00 CHF per month.
Sponsorships are also wonderful gifts for people who love animals. Or you can also take out a group sponsorship as a couple, family or group of friends. Please contact me directly and I will send you further information without obligation.
As a godfather or godmother, you can come and visit your darling at any time.
The sponsorship contributions for the Skudde can be transferred to the foundation account (see link under MORE INFORMATION) with the note: SKUDDE and are tax deductible.
Every centime goes 100 % and in full to the financing of «my» sheep!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!