The Misfits of Oz plant hooves, paws and feet in Yale

Nov. 20—Jane was perhaps only two days away from losing her life when she wobbled out to meet the people who would help her live her best life and become a superstar.

Jane was a diminutive potbelly pig who was stuck and neglected in a hoarding situation. Keeping herself small in a dirty hovel, her hooves were so long they curled under and she could barely walk. Her skin was scaly and hard from untreated mange and a tumor the size of a cantaloupe hung from her body.

Jane, a pink and black pig, also had cancer. Somehow she survived the situation she was living in and woke up one morning to find people who crowded about her in consternation, people who would then care for her physically and emotionally until the end of her life — the Misfits of Oz had taken one look at her and decided she would have a beautiful life from then on, no matter what it took.

As she rehabilitated and battled cancer, the world then rallied around Jane.

People from more than 30 countries had breakfast with Jane on social media, watched her fight disease and wore T-shirts that said “Strong Like Jane.” Now a book has been published about the little pig and her resilience, her dreams, her smile and how she inspired people (Jane’s Squad) around the globe in a movement called #StrongLikeJane.

Jane is sadly gone, but the woman who initially helped her, Shanda Harris, and her “Misfits” remain. Next week, they will travel from the mountains of New Mexico to a new farm in Yale in Payne County.

There are 41 pigs, eight dogs, three cats, one goat and one sheep who will find themselves as new residents of the state as they move by trailer, truck and van from the snow to the plains.

The Misfits of Oz Farm Sanctuary exists as an organization that fills the gap of being a safe place for neglected or abused farm animals. It is a nonprofit sanctuary where these animals get to live out their natural lives. While many rescue organizations exist to help dogs and cats, few are able to handle large animals who require different care. And many who are with Oz mostly have special needs.

While often animals are “rescued,” sanctuaries differ from rescue groups — those who end up with Oz usually are there to stay, not find new places to live.

Best Friends, one of the largest animal sanctuaries in the country, helps the country work towards the goal of “no kill” for all animals as part of their mission, as do the Misfits. Best Friends has published statistics regarding animals who come from shelters or go through rescue.

Dog statistics

There are about 108 million owned dogs in the U.S. That means:

—There’s an average of 1.56 dogs per household.

—In the U.S., 69 million (54%) households have a dog.

—There has been a 49% increase in households with dogs in the past 10 years.

Cat statistics

There are about 79 million owned cats in the U.S. That means:

—There’s an average of 1.74 cats per household.

—In the U.S., 45.3 million (35%) households have a cat.

—There has been a 17% increase in households with cats in the past 10 years.

In 2021, 4.6 million cats and dogs entered animal shelters in the U.S. Of those, about 355,000 dogs and cats were killed.

Most people surrender their companion animals to shelters for reasons other than a pet’s behavior. Three reasons are: housing (specifically, moving), finances and caregiver or family health/death account for more than a third of animals entering shelters.

Top reasons cats and dogs are surrendered to animal care:

—Have too many animals, 16.1% (often the result of not spaying and neutering)

—Housing, 13.7%

—Financial, 7.2%

—Caretaker or family health/death, 10.1%

—Non-aggressive behavior/personality, 7.8%

There are 4,064 animal shelters in the U.S., of which 2,133 (52%) are no-kill. That’s up from 24% in 2016.

There is not as much data on saving, killing and rehoming numbers for farm animals, though Harris said they endure the same abuse, hoarding, neglect and starvation as smaller companion animals.

It was with this knowledge that the Misfits took on their mission and now occupy a special niche in the United States as a group that provides compassion and care for larger animals. Harris said she wishes they did not have to exist as an organization, but it is clear there are too many animals that need their help.

Harris said they have come to Oklahoma for the specialized vet care OSU can offer, the weather (Pigs have short legs that make moving about in snow tough, she said.) and hopefully the support of their new, local community. They run mostly with the help of volunteers and by donations.

Harris began the Misfits when she lived in Kansas (the “Oz” part of Misfits) in 2012. In 2015 she took in her first pig, then second and third pig and realized she loved the work of providing a safe home for these large animals (tip: there are no such things as “micro-pigs,” Harris said, they are simply potbelly pigs who are starved; people don’t understand), and teaching others about connection to animals.

She knows being in farm country with farm animals used as food can sometimes be a tough sell. As omnivores, people love animals but also eat meat — however it must go from being farmed to their plates, so this creates an uncomfortable place in their minds when they learn about meat farming (the term is cognitive dissonance).

The paradoxical question then exists: how do people care for animals, and use them as food, then, and should they?

While the Misfits main mission is to provide safe haven, they also help people answer that question for themselves, Harris said.

Harris herself is vegan, which was a decision she made, she said, after caring for and loving the pigs. The Misfits have already connected with a few vegan groups in Oklahoma and recently participated in a vegan event in Oklahoma City.

“We do and try to promote veganism through advocacy,” Harris said, “and teach why these animals matter … but we are understanding, patient and kind in our approach … as much as you love your cats and dogs, that’s how we feel about these animals. They are more than food, they are a face with soul … they are sentient beings and we are trying to open that door so people can understand and make a connection.”

The connection is subtle — like sharing Jane’s story with the thousands who watched her transform from a broken pig into one who healed and was full of love.

Connection comes also in helping future veterinary medicine students to see, in part, what their future could be like working with farm animals, specifically pigs, Harris said. The group strongly advocates for veterinary care for all animals as another part of their mission.

“I’m really passionate about vet care for large animals … pigs and cows and ducks and chickens — that is one of the reasons why we wanted to be so close, to be close to people interested in large animal care where they can volunteer and be on site to see vaccinations and hoof trims. Where they can see piglet age to 1,000 pound pigs and learn proper handling.”

The Misfits have already held one volunteer event to help get the new site ready for the animals coming. They hope to hold a tour or luncheon in mid-December.

Cheryl Perea-Dampier is a board member for the group.

“Every resident of Misfits of Oz is cherished and given the opportunity to live their best life. This work has been life changing for me and for that I am grateful,” she said.

To find the Misfits of Oz, go to their Facebook, Instagram or website, misfitsofoz.org/, and to read the book “Strong Like Jane: The True Story of a Courageous Potbelly Pig” shop online or through the group’s website. Part of the book’s proceeds go to help the sanctuary. Anyone wishing to be a volunteer can contact the group through social media or on their website.

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