Goats Ivy, Simba, & Nala were mentioned in the last update, but I'll go into more detail about them and their time at the former Twist of Fate "sanctuary" here. Mama Ivy is in the middle, Nala is on the left and Simba is on the right.
These 3 were originally rescued in November of 2019. The owner of one of the barns that Ashley DiFelice was temporarily renting for horses had been breeding goats for a few years but decided that he wanted out of the business. Ashley asked what would happen to the goats and he said that he was going to sell them. Since Ashley and Deacon were so attached to these goats, he agreed to release the "dad" as well as the two "moms", both of whom were pregnant. Twist of Fate took in the dad and one of the moms, and Goats of Anarchy took in the other mom. The dad was Deacon's favorite of the goats at the barn and was named Stinky Barlow. Goats of Anarchy named their mama Maybel, and she gave birth to four adorable babies on November 27, 2019 named Benny, Ralphie, Truffle, and Scout. They came to be known affectionately as the 'Babybels".
The other mama that went to live at TOF was named Ivy, and Ivy gave birth to twins the day before Maybel had her babies. Ivy's babies were named Simba and Nala. Ashley's son Deacon is in a few of the photos of the babies and grew very close to them.
When Ashley's horrific neglect was discovered in July 2022, Stinky Barlow, Ivy, and Simba were the only survivors of the family. I don't know what happened to Nala - the only person that knows is Ashley and as we all know Ashley was and is taking the coward's way out and not talking.
The 3 goats had good body scores when they were rescued by the other sanctuaries, not because anyone was feeding them but because they had access to fields with lush grass that was still growing. So many animals did not and died or nearly died of starvation as a result.
Stinky Barlow went to live at Goats of Anarchy with friends Hank, Bruce, Norman, & Linus and was renamed Papa. These 5 animals were mentioned in a previous update as well. At his new home at Goats of Anarchy, Papa was also eventually reunited with his "girlfriend" Maybel and his four children.
Ivy and Simba at one point were safe. Dozens of people representing many sanctuaries were on the property pulling 100+ animals left and right, around the clock and placing them in reputable sanctuaries and private homes, all while still caring for the animals there and cleaning up the disgusting conditions of the property and the home. I mentioned this in the previous petition update, but one night Ashley packed up several animals without anyone's knowledge and illegally took them across state lines from the TOF property in New Jersey to her dad's house in Pennsylvania. Sadly Ivy & Simba were two of those animals. To this day Ivy and Simba should be living at an actual sanctuary and receiving all the love, attention, food, and medical care that Ashley refused to give them. They should be making new animal AND human friends and family, especially after Ashley killed Ivy's own daughter and Simba's own sister. But she wouldn't let Ivy & Simba have that. She cared so little about this family that she wouldn't even give them their freedom or a chance at being truly loved.
These four goats were supposedly some of Deacon's favorite animals on the property, and I'm assuming that one of the reasons why she kidnapped two of the remaining survivors was for his benefit. Why did she all of a sudden start caring about her son's potential broken heart of no longer being with these goats? Why did she suddenly start caring about how much he might miss them if they lived somewhere else? Did he spend any time with them towards the end or did she not let him anywhere near any of the animals? If not - what were the reasons she told him as to why he couldn't? Does Deacon know what happened to Nala?? Did she burden a 7 year old child with the death of one of his friends? I can't imagine what he went through. I only hope that she wasn't grooming him to be anything like her when it comes to "caring" and "loving" animals and that Deacon is still a kind and sweet little boy. It's so sad - Ashley didn't care enough to make sure that Nala survived, who again was supposedly one of Deacon's favorites. Why did she decide to suddenly start caring? I wish I knew what her real motivation here was, because it definitely wasn't and isn't anything to do with Ivy and Simba's best interests.
I also wonder - was she planning on taking Papa too but just didn't get the chance? Was there no more room that night? Did he run away from her? Or did she (STILL) not love him and not want him?
I would also once again like to point out the absolute GALL that she displayed here. She deliberately locked animals in stalls and left them to die. She callously piled up the dead animals to rot out in the open, instead of giving them the love and respect of a burial. She lied to her donors AND the government, defrauding the IRS and continuing to raise money for "rescues" only to spend it on herself and her boyfriend. What little food she did buy for the animals went mostly unopened and undistributed and was also just left to rot. None of the animals had seen a vet, dentist, or farrier for over a year. She murdered dozens of animals. Again, all of this was DELIBERATE. Even after she was caught and she was ordered to stay on the property until all the animals were removed and placed in other homes and she was supposed to take care of them, she rarely showed up and when she did she barely lifted a finger. The nerve of this woman to believe that she had or has any right to take any of the animals that she neglected and sell them, give them away, or keep them for herself or her father is just...deplorable. I can't understand how she's not horrified, embarrassed, or remorseful of her own behavior. But no - she's out living her life, celebrating an engagement and a new baby (yep - she got pregnant just about a month after the pile of dead bodies was found. Nice, huh?). A new baby even after being charged with child endangerment for Deacon. I can't read minds, but based on the fact that she had another child it doesn't seem like she's too remorseful for damaging Deacon's emotional, psychological, mental, and physical health. It actually seems like she doesn't even care, and that she believes like she did nothing wrong.
She is also pleading 'Not Guilty'. None of these are the actions of a person who cares or who feels any actual kind of negative way towards what she was or is doing or any remorse after she got caught. Again - the absolute GALL. She killed Nala but still unapologetically took her mom and twin brother.
To Ivy and Simba: I'm so sorry that this monster still has you as her and her father's hostages and refuses to let you go. I think about you all the time and hope that you're okay, and I know that many others do too.
To Nala: I'm so sorry, sweet girl. I hope your passing was as painless as possible, and I'm sure that your mom and your brother miss you very much.
To repeat crucial info from the last update, the original petition has this plea:
"We are requesting the removal of these animals and any other animals that she kept from her former sanctuary or that she has obtained since to be removed from her and sent to live at reputable sanctuaries for the rest of their lives. Because of Ashley's former treatment of hundreds of animals, she should NOT be allowed to keep these animals, and she should not be permitted to "own" or "care" for any animals ever again."
This plea applies to Ivy and Simba, the other hostages, plus any other animals that she took or has obtained since. This plea includes any animals that her father has custody of and that her fiancé Keith has. This plea includes any animals that she may have obtained since July 2022 either on her own, with her father, or with her fiancé. This plea includes any future animals, whether they are dogs, cats, birds, farmed animals, or any other living, breathing being and to any loopholes that she may try to utilize.
***If you would like to submit a similar request to the prosecution team regarding the animals and negotiating their release as part of her sentence, you can send an email to Barbara at barbara.garozzo@njcourts.gov. Please keep your emails polite, respectful and professional (remember, the prosecution is on OUR side!), and please get them in as soon as possible since her next court date is October 12th, which is THIS Thursday. Thank you!***
Thank you so much for being here. The next update will either be another TOF animal's story or a summary of her court appearance on the 12th.
With that in mind, PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE THE PETITION!! If you have already shared it, please share it again, and even share it to different channels than what you have already used. We're trying to get as many signatures on the petition as possible before what will hopefully be one of her final court appearances. Thank you!