Article By: Arnold Levine 

The dictionary’s definition of Gold relates to wealth, riches, preciousness and superiority. Although gold is normally seen as a substance to be taken from the earth, a person may be in possession of its riches simply by attaining a “heart of gold”. When a number of people within a community make a commitment to give of themselves, the entire population can be considered as being wealthy. Whether those who support a quality of life environment are recognized or not, their preciousness filters down to all.  

Within the borders of Flagler County live a great many people who are unique in their ability to positively effect society. Ancient sages foretold the future of human happiness by observing how a people respect and care for their animal population. We will eventually treat our elderly, say these sages, the same way we treat our less valued non-human inhabitants. If this is a truism, then people such as Lory Yazurlo will further the quality of life for all in our county. 

Lory Yazurlo, paralyzed since her truck accident in 1991, took it upon herself to create a Farm Sanctuary devoted to saving pigs from eventual abuse and slaughter. At present she houses nearly 500 pigs, including PotBellies, on her 20 acres of land. Yazurlo, with the help of family members and friends, turned a flat, weed laden piece of land into a protective area where pigs can live out the rest of their lives in natural surroundings. “I consider this land holy ground”, said Lory. “Nothing gets killed or sold for slaughter”. One would wonder why someone would accept financial difficulties when all they need to do is sell a few pigs to a slaughterhouse for thousands of dollars in return. Lory Yazurlo’s answer is simple: “I’m a vegetarian because I don’t believe in killing, even for food”. Lory refuses to partake in any foods that come from animals, including eggs, milk or animal oils. 

The one lane dusty dirt road on County Road 90 west of Bunnell serves as a gateway to rural farms that were once the pride of Flagler County. Today, these roads are lonely and desolate except for an occasional pick up truck transporting feed and farm products to the vestiges of businesses engaged in agronomy and husbandry. However, once you cross over to the property of the PigTails Sanctuary, a world of living excitement awaits you. Thor, a black Labrador Retriever who thinks he is one of the pigs, first greets the visitor. Adopted from the Flagler County Humane Society, Thor runs with the pigs and eats their food. When pigs begin fighting, usually trying to show a sense of domination, Thor acts as referee to prevent their injury. Lory has given each one of her pigs a name, although she admits she needs a “score card” to remember them. During storms pigs get frightened, says Lory, so she gives them access to her house. Others hide beneath shelters that were built by her Dad and other volunteers. Certain pigs, because of their condition, need to be isolated. Lory’s favorite, a paralyzed Pot Belly with a broken pelvis and spinal damage, lies in the soft cool mud beside the barn. As she attempts to move, her rear feet drag behind her like a dead mass. “I could identify with this pig”, said Lory as she maneuvered her electric wheel chair past the gate that protects her cherished pig. “We both struggle with life”, she said, “and we’re both surviving”.  

This day was especially busy for Lory  because the Wildlife Management and Rescue Service, on behalf of the Flagler County Humane Society, was about to deliver six pigs. These pigs were found roaming on the West Side of the county where people were shooting at them. Others were delivered earlier when they were found behind a Wal-Mart Super Store. Many of the pigs that Lory cares for were abandoned or found abused. Some were brought to the sanctuary when farms went out of business and there was no place to leave them. Besides the pigs, the sanctuary houses 5 horses and a number of fowl that roam and live with the pigs. “I receive no help purchasing feed for the pigs”, said Lory. “Financially, I use my own money taken from my disability check. I need to order special feed made of plant products because I don’t allow the pigs to eat food made from other animals”. This food needs to be shipped to her from out of the state. 

An advocate and fighter for animal rights, Lory is also attempting to get lawmakers to recognize the problems connected with abuse on “factory farms”. Every year, billions of animals are reared and confined on factory farms and then sent to slaughterhouses. Small family farms have been supplanted by the corporate animal factories, which treat animals as nothing more then unfeeling commodities, according to the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida newsletter. Like all animals, notes the Foundation, pigs experience pain and suffering, and they deserve at the very least to be treated with humane consideration. Another such animal rights organization in the state is Floridians for Humane Farms. “There is a need in Flagler County to take care of our large animal population”, said Lory. “We have societies for small animals like dogs, cats and birds. But what about large animals like pigs, cows and horses?  Flagler County has thousands of these animals and some need to be taken care of”. For this reason, Lori is trying to start a fund for the rescuing of large animal brought to sanctuaries such as hers.

Anyone interested in the survival of Flagler County’s larger animals can reach Lory by mail, at: 596 East County Road 90, Bunnell, Florida 32110,  by calling 437-5580, or by email at Pigtalesanctuary@aol.com or jyazurlo@cfl.rr.com.