We adopted Stargazer when she was just one year old. Her previous owner had taken her to Dr. Avery’s office and asked, “Do you know anyone that would adopt a blind sheep?”
“Yes I do,” Dr. Avery said. “And actually, they’ll be here this afternoon.”
That same day, we went to meet her. She had been living alone—her mother had passed away during birth, and all the other animals had been sold. Her owner had lovingly kept her back, afraid she might end up in the wrong place.
Finding Her Place
When we brought Stargazer home to our Sanctuary, she ran in tight little circles for days. Slowly, as she began to recognize her surroundings and feel safe, the circling stopped.
We thought she’d love being part of our flock, but she didn’t! So we built her The Observatory, her own cozy home and yard within the sheep pasture. Visitors filled her space with stuffed animals, and it quickly became her signature spot.
The Best Roommate
Last year, when we rescued Thumbelina, a baby goat recovering from a broken leg, we knew The Observatory would be the perfect peaceful place for her. Stargazer became her gentle companion and protector—earning her the nickname Auntie Star.
The Circling Returns
Over the years, Stargazer had two or three circling episodes. The first happened the day our beloved elderly horse Mae passed away. A sudden gust of wind swept through, and seconds later Stargazer began spinning and foaming at the mouth. We gave her Gabapentin, and she calmed down quickly.
We came to understand that these episodes might be her anxious response to stress, part of the unique challenges of being deaf and blind.
A Clean Bill of Health
Just last month, at her herd check, everything looked great! Her physical exam, bloodwork, fecal test, and even a mineral screening all came back perfectly normal.
But recently, the circling episodes began increasing. She had two in one day. We made an appointment at Texas A&M University Veterinary Hospital for further testing—it was nearly three weeks away. After sending in videos of her condition, the team urged us to bring her much sooner (either that night or the next morning).
The Long Drive
When we checked on her at 8 p.m., she was resting peacefully in her house with Thumbelina, happily munching hay. But early the next morning, at 5:30 a.m., we found Stargazer lying flat in her yard.
We gently placed her in the truck, taking turns sitting beside her on the four-hour drive. She was quiet the whole way, with only two brief seizure episodes. We called clinics along the route, desperate for help—but few are equipped to handle sheep emergencies.
The Fight for Star
When we arrived at Texas A&M, a team of doctors and technicians rushed out with a thick foam pad, carefully lifting her from the truck. Twenty minutes later, they called to tell us she was having Grand Mal seizures and they were giving her medication to calm her.
A CT scan revealed the truth: Stargazer had been born with an abnormally small brain and a leak that had begun to worsen rapidly, causing the seizures. Though anti-seizure medication could have temporarily helped, it wouldn’t have stopped her suffering.
Together, Ariel, our Greenhouse Manager, and Elise, our Sanctuary Manager, made the hardest, kindest decision—to help Stargazer pass peacefully. They stayed by her side as she crossed the rainbow bridge, surrounded by a compassionate team of veterinarians and technicians who had fought for her life. Back at the Sanctuary, the rest of the team comforted one another, and the animals who loved her, too.
Learning from Love
We asked the vets one final question: If we had brought her in on the day she was born, could anything have changed?
The answer was no. Her condition had been present from birth. Her circling was likely focal seizures, and the treatment—Gabapentin—was exactly what we had already been giving her.
Forever Our Little Star
Stargazer was one of the sweetest, most special souls we’ve ever known. You may remember her from her Smurfs commercial, filmed in Shannon and Hani’s bed! Every day, our team and volunteers took her for walks around the yard with her own special leash and collar.
Rabbits made nests inside her house, and she guarded them like a true auntie. She may have been patient and gentle—but when it came time for hoof trims, she was the naughtiest of them all!
Surrounded by Love
We miss our beautiful Stargazer deeply, but we take comfort knowing she never suffered and was surrounded by endless love. Her life was full of care, joy, and devotion—from her first steps at the Sanctuary to her last peaceful moments.
Her light will forever guide us in caring for the next animal who needs a little extra love to find their way.
