Planting the seeds of kindness were the sweet natures of Hawthorn, Poppy and Tulip, young sheep who touched the heart of a kindly pound worker.

From this moment to the next, we grow and change. Yet we stay who we are. We are shaped by our experiences but not defined by them.

Meet Marmalade and Marmaduke, two adorable wee kittens dumped just days before Christmas.

It was the terrified faces of four rams that spoke of their vulnerability.

The first Noelle knew something in her world was changing was not the sight of mistletoe, sounds of Christmas carols or the ka-ching, ka-ching of festive sales, but the teeny, tiny wriggly sensations that came from deep within her burgeoning tummy.

Alone, frightened, feeble and incredibly sick, little Teja lay on the ground.

When Joaquin Phoenix uttered the words of his late brother, River, at the Oscars, “Run to the rescue with love,” it set hearts ablaze across the globe.

Meet The New Kid, a teeny tiny goat, whose name matches his status.

Not only is Cinnamon a warm, brown-coloured spice, but it is also the name of a heart-warming, brown-coloured wee calf who recently entered our fold.

Blending tragedy with hope comes Nepal, a sweet little Merino lamb, born one of triplets, who sadly became separated from his family.

Broken bones can heal, but hearts take a little longer.

Few things in life tug more at the heartstrings than when you see the life draining out of the eyes of an animal. And when that animal is but a youngster, the tug becomes an all-consuming wrench.

Found wandering on a highway that homed no sheep, it is believed that dear Jump did just that.

They have been declared the comedians of the barnyard (goats, that is) and proving this statement is not a work of fiction come Frick, Frack and Applejack.

As a young first-time mum, having barely hit puberty, Margaret found herself in the direst of situations. Recently having given birth, and suffering a life-threatening prolapse, she did not know what to do.

“But she’s so tiny,” were the first words to fall from our lips as our eyes fell on the young calf. Found abandoned roadside, by what means we will never know or understand, Days-zee was surrendered into our care.

Healing in ways he does not understand – not yet, anyway – is Hercules. A young and frightened wether, of just over a year, who is currently recovering from life-saving surgery.

Bearing more than witness to the polarity of our humanity is dear Mozambique. For it was through enduring the worst of it he was to find the best of it. And therein sanctuary.

Nestled into the side of his bloated dead mumma, little Tahiti was found. For how long the little guy had mourned her passing, we do not know, but his scrawny form and baggy skin told he could not have stayed that way for too much longer.

Cultivate a positive mind, we often hear; practise gratitude, we are told; adopt a growth mindset, we are encouraged – all wonderful aphorisms to improve our lives. But what about spending some time with two adorable kid goats, we suggest.

When little Naarm’s mum passed away, it left a hole in his world. A hole we knew we could never fill, but one perhaps our kindness could plug.

When his human’s world began to crumble, their thoughts were with Shaun the Sheep, and so he was surrendered into our care.

As for millions of other lambs, Argentina’s life began on our vast brown land of Australia.

Ever wondered why goats are referred to as Great Of All Time?

Human or non-human, at our core, we are social beings. As such, the importance of finding one’s tribe can never be overstated.

Have you ever wondered why it is we name some animals and not others?

Natasha Dart, or simply Dart to her friends, is a sheep we would never have met had she not attempted to fulfill the dream her heart made.

“Well, that went well,” we mused as three rescued little pigs trotted, brighter than bright, down the ramp of the float and into their new yard.

As we welcome Montreal, Monaco, Waikato, London and Albany, we have yet five more reasons to love lambs. And not lamb chops. For so much more than a meal are they.