which had been stranded
after the ice broke up suddenly.
This little whitecoat was one
of the lucky ones who ended up
at the Seal Sanctuary on our farm.
1981 was a memorable year on the farm,
for that is when we set up a seal sanctuary here.
It came about when our son brought home
a baby whitecoat which he had found
while walking along the beach.
Before the day was over we had
accumulated four little seals.
I tried unsuccessfully to feed them,
but it was apparent that I was
going to need help. That was when a friend contacted
Brian Davies, head of the International Fund
for Animal Welfare.
First thing we knew- a helicopter
landed in our field, and along
came Mr. Davies and a Veterinary Doctor.
They bundled the seals into
the helicopter and off they went
to a wildlife park in New Brunswick.
More seals were rescued and
brought to the farm.
The wildlife park couldn't take any more,
so it was suggested that the farm
be designated as a seal sanctuary.
IFAW supplied personnel,
as did Greenpeace, and between us we
managed to save most of the 'babies'.
That was when I gained the title'Seal Mom'.
Chipped ice was trucked in and
an artificial ice flo was constructed
as their habitat.
My day was spent grinding up fish
and adding fresh cream and vitamins
and placing all in blenders until
it resembled a thick creamy paste.
This was fed to the seals by placing
a tube down into their stomach
and pumping the formula into them.
They seemed to flourish on this diet,
and started to gain weight.
Their beautiful whitecoats soon
changed to a mottled gray.
It was a regular circus at the farm
Television crews from CBC,ATV,
and ABC, as well as one from British Columbia
, and journalists from points in
the USA and Canada, descended on the
farm to add to the confusion at our home.
They followed our every move,
all eager to get the latest scoop
from the Rose's Seal Sanctuary
The seals had to be taught how to swim,
and we trucked them to a nearbye
pond to give them practise.
They were playful creatures,
and it was with sad hearts that
we finally released them to take
their chances in the ocean.
Playful Seal Pup
Following our experience with the seals
-I have come to believe that the
seal hunt should be virtually abolished.
Of course, no doubt there are
other opinions on this matter,
but I believe that it is inhumane,
and I have seen very real evidence of
the cruelty displayed by some seal hunters.
Wouldn't it be better to see instead,
these beautiful creatures as they frolic and play?
. . .
This beautiful background designed by
Thank you Michele