Shipshape Sheep

Everything you need to know about these wonderfully wooly souls
SHEEP FACTS
  • Sheep have matched rodents, monkeys (and in some cases humans) in intelligence tests.
  • Average sheep life expectancy is twelve years old, though some in sanctuaries have lived into their late teens.
  • Sheep have great spacial memory and are able to navigate complex mazes.
  • Just like humans, some sheep are known to seek same-sex relationships. 
  • Thanks to their rectangular pupils, sheep have fantastic peripheral vision.
  • Sheep have been shown to prefer a smiling human face over an angry one.
  • Sheep are able to recognize up to fifty different faces, even recognizing those of familiar humans.
  • Sheep can recognize different tastes and, just like us, will often show food preferences.
  • Sheep have a great sense of smell to help sniff out predators. Remarkably, they can even smell water.
  • Though usually cut off by farmers, sheep have tails ranging from short and curly to long and thin.
  • Sheep have excellent hearing, and are able to rotate their ears in the direction of sounds.
  • Sheep love touch and will 'aggressively' try to snuggle a human they have affection for.
  • Sheep are great problem solvers and have even been documented rolling over cattle grids in search of greener pastures.
  • Mothers form a strong bond with their lambs and develop a special 'language' they use only with each other.
  • Newborn lambs can usually  walk within minutes.
  • A sheep doesn't want to be killed any more than you or I would.
SHEEP VIDS
Rescue touchingly reunited with her lambs
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Sheep having fun with dog friend
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Jack the sheep gets to live like a dog
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Rescued lamb and cat are best of friends
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Sheep opening enclosure gates
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Lily the lamb is a real fighter
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Sheep loves to play with the dogs
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Sheep can recognize faces
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Clever sheep wants to drink
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Boy and lamb are best of friends
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Cuddly pig helps lonely sheep recover
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Orphaned lambs live the good life
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How sheep show affection 
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Sheep shearing at Farm Sanctuary
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Fred the sheep loves to play football
Happy sheep loves to bounce
SHEEP ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Joy the Sheep
Facebook       Instagram
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The Lamb Clan
Instagram
Sheep Ahoy Sanctary
Facebook       Instagram
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Fleecehaven Sanctuary
Facebook
Melbourne Sheep Save
Facebook       Instagram
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Perth Sheep Save
Facebook       Instagram
There's also a list of great farm sanctuaries active on social media here.
   
​     You can find out what happens to sheep when we use them for meat, dairy or wool by
    clicking on the red button below. Much of what you'll find is standard practice to the
    industry or took place at humane assured facilities. It's not easy viewing, but if you still
     think it's fine to use and kill these animals then I highly recommend you take a look.
     If you find instead these things are simply too awful to look at then please ask yourself
​       why, if you can't even bear to look at them, is it okay to pay for them to happen?
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       "To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being."
                                                                                              - Mahatma Gandhi