The Little Sheep Who Refused to Give Up
Some lives arrive in this world with impossible odds.
Kiki was one of them.
When she was rescued at just 11 days old, the tiny lamb had already survived the devastating mosquito-borne Cache Valley virus. The disease had left her with fused joints and spinal abnormalities, making it impossible for her to walk like other sheep. For many, her story might have ended there.
Instead, it was just the beginning.
At Don’t Forget Us, Pet Us Animal Sanctuary in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, every animal is given something the world too often overlooks—a chance. Not because they’re perfect. Not because they’re easy. But because every life matters.
Founder Deb Devlin remembers the moment Kiki changed her forever.
“When I first set out to find a way for Kiki to have independent mobility, I believed someone, somewhere, would already have the answer. I spent more than a year sending emails, making phone calls, and searching for anyone who could help create a motorized mobility device for a sheep like Kiki.
No one could.
As a respiratory therapist, I had no background in assistive technology or engineering. There were many moments when I felt frustrated and defeated. My mind told me to give up—that it simply wasn’t possible. But my heart refused to let the idea go.
If no one else could build it, I would have to learn how.
After another year of research, trial and error, countless setbacks, and unwavering determination, I finally adapted the motorized wheelchair Kiki uses today.
Exactly one year ago, I placed her into that wheelchair for the very first time.”
Then something unforgettable happened.
Kiki took her first “steps.”
Not tentative.
Not fearful.
Freedom.
For the first time in her life, Kiki could choose where she wanted to go. She could explore, investigate, play, and simply be a sheep. The little lamb who had always relied on others suddenly had the gift of independence.
It was a moment years in the making—and one that brought tears to everyone who witnessed it.
Today, we celebrate Kiki’s One-Year Walkaversary, a milestone that means so much more than the anniversary of a wheelchair. It celebrates hope over hopelessness, persistence over defeat, and the extraordinary things that become possible when someone refuses to stop believing.
A Life Filled With Joy
Today, Kiki races around the sanctuary using her custom head-controlled motorized wheelchair with contagious enthusiasm. She has become known for her speedy adventures, her playful personality, and her endless curiosity.
She loves watching television, dancing to music, relaxing with massages, playing with her favorite toys, and spending time with the family who refused to give up on her.
Watching Kiki, it’s easy to forget she was ever told she couldn’t.
A Mission Bigger Than One Sheep
Kiki’s story has touched hearts around the world, but she represents something much larger than herself.
She reminds us that disability does not diminish worth.
She reminds us that compassion often begins where convenience ends.
And she reminds us why Don’t Forget Us, Pet Us Animal Sanctuary exists.
Every day, the sanctuary opens its doors to animals who have been abandoned, neglected, forgotten, or born with challenges others couldn’t see past. Here, they aren’t defined by what they cannot do. They are celebrated for who they are.
Kiki has become an ambassador for every special-needs animal waiting for someone to believe in them. Through her joyful spirit, she has shown thousands of people that a disability doesn’t limit the ability to love, to play, to inspire, or to live a full and meaningful life.
Happy One-Year Walkaversary, Kiki
One year ago, Kiki discovered freedom on four wheels.
Over the past year, she has done far more than learn to drive. She has challenged assumptions, inspired innovation, and reminded people across the globe that miracles don’t always happen overnight. Sometimes they’re built one obstacle, one setback, and one determined heart at a time.
Happy One-Year Walkaversary, sweet Kiki.
Thank you for reminding us that every life is worth fighting for.
And thank you for proving that sometimes the smallest sheep can leave the biggest footprints on our hearts.
Want to support their work? Check out their website and make a donation: https://www.dontforgetuspetus.org/
