News
22 July, 2025
Snaps for sanctuary
TOOGOOLAWAH-based pet and horse photographer, Adam Wyatt, has launched a heartwarming fundraising campaign in support of a Mount Mee animal rescue. Cranky’s Farm Animal Rescue is a registered not-for-profit sanctuary that provides a safe and loving home for more than 60 previously abused or neglected farm animals.
Mr Wyatt hopes to help Cranky’s with their winter feed, which costs the charity about $3,500 per fortnight. By donating his entire $200 photoshoot fee from the first 10 pet or horse photography sessions booked, Mr Wyatt hopes to raise $2,000 for the rescue.
“I just love the work founders Brett and Natalie do. They both work full time jobs, but still run this amazing sanctuary, so I wanted to support them somehow,” he said.
“I wanted to come up with a way that I could fundraise for them using the photography skills that I have.”
Mr Wyatt, who himself fosters two animals on behalf of Cranky’s, said this cause is very close to his heart.
“I’ve been passionate about animals my whole life, so pet and horse photography sort of seemed like a natural fit to do,” he said.
“So many animals suffer without any assistance and it’s quite sad to see animals that are suffering and don’t have anywhere to go.
“So with Cranky’s there is an ability to rescue an abused or neglected animal who would otherwise continue to suffer for a long time.
“That’s just something that speaks quite deeply to me, because I think all lives are equal, and animals shouldn’t suffer because of lack of knowledge or understanding from people.”
Cranky’s Farm founder, Natalie Stevenson, said they currently have 60 animals at the farm, including around 30 cattle, eight horses, goats, donkeys, ponies, pigs, ducks, chickens, and a turkey.
In 2010, while sitting in a petting zoo, she discovered petting zoos typically sell young animals to meat works when they get too big. She contacted a petting zoo and offered to take three dairy cows that were going to be sent to slaughter. Shortly after, they rescued two goats through a friend.
“Once we had those five animals, it became clear that I didn’t even realize before that animals, apart from domestics, had all these personalities. And they were just amazing,” she said.
When their monthly rescue costs reached about $6,000, they decided to establish Cranky’s Farm as a registered charity in 2017. Being a charity, they rely almost entirely on donations and community support to continue their work.
Through their website, people can pick one of their residents and sponsor them for whatever amount of money they can spare per month. This regular income helps them budget and arrange finances for the animals.
Some of the abuse and neglect stories they have helped with include Johnny the Pony, who arrived with severely overgrown hooves that looked like “long bananas”. Vets initially suggested putting him down, but after five months of careful trimming, he now runs and plays freely.
Two cattle with dislocated hips also underwent groundbreaking surgery - the first of its kind in Queensland. Peg, a Brahman cow, was just 8 months old during her surgery and is now thriving at 5 years old.
Lastly is the $6,000 turkey: a turkey with a completely fractured leg who was rescued from being sold as Christmas dinner. She underwent leg reconstruction, including having her leg re-broken and pinned. After eight weeks of rehabilitation, she now walks without a limp.
Ms Stevenson said she thinks Mr Wyatt’s photography helps people expand their understanding of the word ‘pet’ to include farm animals.
“When he advertises his photographs of the chickens and farm animals, even people who have backed up backyard chickens, then associate the chickens as pets,” she said.
“I think when people see those photos and see the word pet associated with what people predominantly think of as a production animal, a lot of people see they’re just the same as a pet.”
The fundraiser is open to anyone located within 1.5 hours of Mount Mee, and the full $200 photoshoot fee will go directly to Cranky’s Farm.
To support the campaign and book a session, register via:
https://www.adamwyattphotography.com.au/fundraiser
Donations can also be made directly to Cranky’s at:
www.crankysfarm.org.au/
