Meet the Residents

Every resident has a story. Every one of them is here for a reason.

Some arrived after neglect. Some were injured or unwanted. Some simply had nowhere safe left to go.

At Heartbeat Haven Sanctuary in Toogoolawah, Queensland, each resident is treated as an individual, with their own history, personality and needs.

For some, this is a place to recover before moving on to the right new home. For others, this is where they will stay for life.

These are the animals who make Heartbeat Haven Sanctuary what it is.

Horses.

From Retired Racehorses to Lifelong Companions.

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Floki

The original Heartbeat Haven horse and the reason we had the space to begin helping more animals at our previous property. Floki is an off-the-track Thoroughbred who raced until he was eight.
He is the herd boss, Adam’s best mate, and can switch from high-energy chaos to completely relaxed in an instant.
Carrots, apples and pretty much any treat will win him over.
Born in 2012.
Diego

Diego had been used as an unregistered stallion until his owner became unwell and the family was left unsure what to do next.
We suspect he had experienced rough handling in the past, including practices such as ear twitching, which may explain some of the sensitivities he still carries.
These days, Diego has a safe home where his boundaries are respected and his care is shaped around trust, patience and consistency.
Born in 2004.
Gandalf

Gandalf spent around 15 years abandoned on a cattle property. By the time the property was sold, he was frail, neglected, covered in faeces and already booked onto a truck to the knackery.
Our friends at Happily Heifer After Sanctuary rescued Gandalf and we adopted him!
After so many years of being overlooked, he now gets to spend his days surrounded by kindness, comfort and people who value him.
Born in 1996.
Chewbacca (Chewie)

Chewie spent nearly 20 years as a school horse, carrying countless new riders and teaching people how to ride. When he was finally retired, he was sold with a companion to live out his days as a pet.
His new property was badly overgrown with little usable pasture, and after his companion died from a snake bite, Chewie was left alone and slowly starving.
In the end, Chewie saved himself. He broke through two fences and made his way onto a busy road, where his situation could no longer be ignored.
Born in 2002.

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Goats.

Curious, clever and full of personality.

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Summer

Summer was the catalyst that helped shape everything Heartbeat Haven Sanctuary would become. At just six weeks old, she was terribly sick and unable to move. Veterinary advice was to euthanise her.
With care, treatment and time, Summer slowly found her strength again. Watching her recover showed us just how much can change when an animal is given the chance to heal.
She is the little soul who inspired the sanctuary.
Born in 2023.
Winter

Winter was living on a large property with other goats when a new neighbour moved in and threatened to shoot any goats that entered his land.
With her future suddenly uncertain, Winter came into our care and became a companion for Summer.
She brought company, confidence and a very different personality to the herd, and the two have been part of each other’s lives ever since.
Born in 2022.
Spyro

Spyro is Winter’s son and a real little Mumma’s boy. When Winter came into our care, we had no idea she was pregnant, and at the end of 2023 she surprised us by giving birth to twins.
Spyro is now the only male in the herd and is rarely far from his mum.
He loves spending time with Winter, soaking up attention and getting plenty of face rubs.
Born in 2023.
Cynder

Cynder is Spyro’s twin sister and definitely the dramatic one in the herd. She loves to bleat for attention and has no problem making sure everyone knows exactly what she thinks.
She is also a known dobber and will happily alert us if another goat has wandered somewhere they are not supposed to be.
Full of personality and never short on opinions, Cynder makes sure life in the herd is never boring.
Born in 2023.

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Pigs.

Smart, social and endlessly curious.

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Steve

Steve is Gertie’s lifelong companion and a miniature pig, which in Steve’s case still means around 200 kg.
He spent nearly 10 happy years on a property, but when the property was sold his future suddenly became uncertain. The only people interested in taking him wanted him for meat, and euthanasia was being considered.
Instead, Steve came into our care with Gertie, where the pair could stay together and live out their lives safely.
Born in 2014.
Gertie

Gertie is Steve’s lifelong companion and very much the Grandma of the sanctuary.
She spent nearly 10 happy years on a property with Steve, but when the property was sold, both of their futures became uncertain. The only people interested in taking them wanted them for meat, and euthanasia was being considered.
Instead, Gertie came into our care with Steve, where they could stay together and live out their lives safely.
Born in 2015.
Truffles

Truffles was a free-ranging pet at a campground, where she lived with another pig. After a neighbour threatened to shoot them, Truffles’ companion was tragically killed.
Not long after, Truffles was attacked by dogs. The horrific attack cost her an ear and left scars across her body.
Her owners feared it could happen again, but the only people offering to take her wanted her for a barbecue. Instead, Truffles came into our care, where she could finally be safe.
Born in 2025.
Wilbur

Wilbur was a much-loved family pet for six years. He grew up with four dogs, loved being part of the family and was even known to sit on the couch with his owner.
When the property was sold and the family had to move, Wilbur was left with nowhere safe to go. We rescued him on what was meant to be his final day, as he was due to be euthanised after the only people willing to take him wanted to use him to bait and train pig-hunting dogs.
Wilbur is also deaf due to an ear infection earlier in life.
Born in 2019.

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Cornish Cross Roosters

Big personalities in even bigger bodies.

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Al Capone

Al Capone is part of our Cornish Cross flock known as the Mobsters, and he is very much Jess’ best friend.
Rescued from a meat farm, Al and the other boys were given the chance to grow into adulthood and live full, happy lives.
At around 7 kg, Cornish Cross roosters can face significant health challenges because of the way they have been bred. Al needs specialised shoes to help prevent pressure sores on his feet, along with a carefully managed diet to keep his weight under control and reduce the risk of organ failure.
Born in 2022.
Frank Costello

Frank Costello is another member of our Cornish Cross flock, the Mobsters, and he is very much the boss of the group.
Like Al, Frank was rescued from a meat farm and given the chance to grow into adulthood. Because of his size and breed, he needs careful weight management and ongoing monitoring for the health problems Cornish Cross roosters can develop.
During summer, smoke from surrounding farms burning off grass can trigger serious respiratory issues for Frank. When this happens, he needs to spend time in a small shed with a nebuliser to help keep his airways and lungs clear.
Born in 2022.
Carlo Gambino

Carlo is Frank’s best friend and easily one of the prettiest roosters in the flock.
Rescued from a meat farm, Carlo was given the chance to grow into adulthood and enjoy the kind of life Cornish Cross roosters rarely get to experience.
Because of his size and breed, he needs careful weight management, specialised foot care and regular monitoring to help manage the health problems these birds can develop.
Carlo may be a little more carefree than strategic, but he is gentle, affectionate and impossible not to love.
Born in 2022.

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The Doctor Dragons

Big attitudes, loud opinions and absolutely no interest in being ignored.

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The Bronze Fury and Silverwing

These two are part of the Doctor Dragons flock. We were contacted about the two young roosters after they started crowing on a suburban property and could no longer stay.
Their owners had been backyard breeding and had previously been dumping unwanted young roosters in bushland until someone suggested trying to find them a proper home instead.
Dumped roosters rarely survive for long. They are vulnerable to cats, wildlife, traffic and other predators, and abandoning them is illegal.
Luckily, we had space to take these two in and give them the safe home they deserved.
Born in 2025.
Dr Amelia Shepherd

Dr Amelia Shepherd was originally part of the Grey Sloan flock, but after being bullied, it became clear he needed a calmer place to live.
He was moved in with the Dragons, creating what we now call the Doctor Dragons flock.
Shepherd came to us a few weeks after the Dragons from the same people. At the time, we did not really have the space or funds for more roosters, but the alternative was that he and six others may have been dumped.
We could not leave them to that fate, so Shepherd came into our care and found a safer, more peaceful home.
Born in 2025.
Dr George O'Malley

Dr George O’Malley came to us as part of the group of roosters rescued shortly after the Dragons.
He was the smallest rooster in the group when he arrived, but he certainly did not stay that way. George has grown into one of the largest roosters at Heartbeat Haven Sanctuary.
Despite his size, he is a gentle soul and has formed a close friendship with Kevin the turkey.
They spend a lot of time together and have become a very bonded pair.
Kevin

Kevin was originally meant to be a hen, as his previous owners hoped to breed turkeys. When he grew up and revealed himself to be a tom, they needed to find him a new home.
That is how Kevin came to Heartbeat Haven Sanctuary.
He certainly isn’t quiet and loves to walk around with his feathers puffed, looking absolutely majestic.
Born in 2025.

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Grey Sloan Roosters

Our resident surgical team. No medical qualifications and questionable bedside manner.

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Dr Richard Webber

Dr Richard Webber was part of the same group of roosters who arrived shortly after the Dragons.
After suffering an injury, Richard needed some extra medical attention and time in closer care. Somewhere along the way, the rooster who once tried to attack us completely changed.
These days, Richard is an affectionate cuddlebug who actively seeks out pats and attention and is very happy to make it known when he wants more.
Born in 2025.
Dr Jo Wilson

Dr Jo Wilson came to us from the same group as Dr Richard Webber.
As one of the younger “interns” in the Grey Sloan flock, Jo is supposed to follow the lead of the more senior roosters, but every now and then he decides he would rather be in charge.
Just like his namesake in Grey’s Anatomy, Jo is best friends with Dr Levi Schmidt, and the two spend a lot of their time together.
Dr Levi Schmidt

Dr Levi Schmidt came to us from the same group as Dr Jo Wilson and Dr Richard Webber.
Levi is generally much happier letting Jo take the lead, and the two have remained close since joining the Grey Sloan flock.
His favourite place to make himself heard is the top of the old cattle yards, where he loves to climb up and crow as loudly as possible.
Born in 2025.
Dr Miranda Bailey

Dr Miranda Bailey came to us from the same group as the other Grey Sloan roosters.
Bailey was once the flock boss, but after an unfortunate scuffle left him badly injured, he lost his right eye and his place at the top of the pecking order.
These days, Bailey is much happier living as a lone rooster, where he can enjoy a quieter life without the politics and pressure of managing a flock.
Born in 2025.
Mr Pants

Mr Pants came to us from the same group as the other Grey Sloan roosters.
He was originally supposed to be named Dr Meredith Grey, but it quickly became clear that the name might be setting the intellectual bar a little too high.
After being disqualified from the medical team, he earned the name Mr Pants thanks to the feathers growing down his legs, which look very much like a tiny pair of trousers.
So Dr Meredith Grey became Mr Pants, and honestly, the name suits him much better.
Born in 2025.