Devantè

aka Dev/Devi/Mr. Sheep – the little boy who breathed life into Besida!

One Saturday morning, at an auction where we often find the sick and neglected, our eyes landed on a young lamb, barely 10 days old. He was a frantic blur, darting

through the aisles, slipping into cages with ewes, desperate to nurse, only to be

roughly pushed away. It baffled us; a lamb and its mother should be inseparable. A closer look revealed the ewe he clung to wasn't his mother at all – no udder, no milk, yet they were inexplicably marked as a pair. As the hours dragged on, the tiny lamb grew visibly weary, dehydrated, and desperately in need of nourishment.

Devi on his way home

When their lot was called, the farmer disavowed any knowledge of his mother, and no one wanted him. A bottle-fed lamb, they mused, had little chance of a healthy future.There was no hesitation in our hearts; this little soul was in dire need. For years, we had been rescuing animals, nurturing a dream of officially opening a sanctuary. We never imagined that on the morning of August 3, 2024, the sheer vulnerability of this one small lamb would become the undeniable catalyst, the absolute certainty that the time was now. Not another minute would be spared. Besida Animal Sanctuary was about to be born.

Devi's first night

We christened our Mr. Sheep Devantè and raced home to offer him life. He drank immediately, relished every cuddle, and was, quite simply, the sweetest boy. Little did Devantè know, this tiny, desperate creature, this mere whisper of a life, would become the pivotal force, transforming a lifelong dream into the tangible reality of a sanctuary. His physical smallness at that moment belied the immense legacy he was about to create. Devi struggled with scours, dehydration, a cobalt deficiency, and urinary calculi—all before four months of age. He truly tested our skills, yet he never lost his zest for life, his curiosity in his surroundings, or his bouncy smile.

Devi met the goats and still loves cuddles

When he was big enough to meet the goats, he formed an unlikely, deep friendship with one—a rare occurrence, as sheep and goats are said not to "speak the same language." He has been an exception to every rule. Not only did he grow, but he blossomed into a magnificent 65kg ram, and he's still growing, not even a year old yet as of this writing.

In spite of his very concerning start to life, he hasn't just survived; he has profoundly flourished. And make no mistake, he can be stubborn, mischievous, single-minded, and a magnificent mass of challenge. But his love for his goat friend, his affection for humans, and his willingness to be bribed with apples for a touch of cooperation remain.

Devi loves his apples

This magnificent boy irrevocably and spectacularly changed our lives. But his impact stretches far beyond that. This fateful meeting with Devantè wasn't just a turning point; it was destiny unfolding, the very spark that ignited Besida and set us on our true path. His story became the defining purpose, creating a ripple effect that will touch countless lives. Every animal that walks through our gates, every rescue undertaken, will be a living testament to the tiny lamb who started it all. He leave an immense, living legacy, woven into the very fabric of Besida.