Posts tagged ‘Farm Sanctuary’
Farm Sanctuary Celebrates 25 Years
DiMaggio lives at Farm Sanctuary's Watkins Glen shelter
This year, Farm Sanctuary (www.farmsanctuary.org) celebrates its 25th anniversary! From the official press release:
Over the past quarter century, Farm Sanctuary has provided rehabilitative care and lifelong sanctuary to thousands of rescued farm animals at its world-class sanctuaries in Watkins Glen, New York and Orland, California. When some of the worst natural disasters in U.S history have struck, including Hurricane Katrina and the Midwest floods of 2008, devastating entire regions of the country and stranding thousands of animals, the organization has been on the ground providing emergency relief and rescue to animals in need. Nikki, a pig at the New York Shelter who gave birth to a litter of piglets while stranded on a levee during the Midwest floods, was celebrated in the media for her awe-inspiring courage under fire and commitment to ensuring the safety of her babies when her own life was in peril.
Farm Sanctuary holds a special place in heart. I made a trip to the Watkins Glen shelter in 2008 and it changed my life. I can tell you, firsthand, how peaceful you feel when surrounded by unadulterated happiness. It was (and is) a beautiful reminder of why I am a vegan advocate.
Susie Coston is the National Shelter Director for Farm Sanctuary and writes for their compassionate quarterly publication. In the Spring 2008 issue, Susie talked about overcoming the weight that advocacy work can bring. It really resonated with me at the time and I think it represents the wonderful role that sanctuaries have in vegan advocacy work.
Happy Anniversary Farm Sanctuary! And thank you for all that you do.
Need a recharge? Come to the shelter!
~ Susie Coston, On the Shelter with Susie, Sanctuary, Spring 2008, pg 10
Ever since I started advocating for farm animals more than 15 years ago, I have been talking with fellow activists about the exhaustion and frustration they often feel while fighting for the rights of animals seen as food by most of our society. And in a world where billions of these animals are senselessly killed every year, it is hard to deal with the range of emotions- from the intense anger to pure sadness- that working against such odds brings up from our depths.
I have always felt very lucky to be able to see- through my direct work with farmed animals- victories unfold before my eyes daily. This part of my job helps keep burnout and depression at bay no matter how physically exhausted or emotionally drained I am. Watching a sick, lethargic and scared animal blossom into a secure, playful and healthy being is a blessing- a rarity in a movement that bears witness to so much pain.
Of course, losing an animal who arrives too weak to survive, or a friend who has been with me for years, is deeply painful. But for every sad moment at the shelter, there is happiness right around the corner. For each of our residents whose bodies cannot fight the aging process any longer, a new family member joins us and brightens our lives. Fro each cruelty case we investigate, only to hit a wall and not be able to save all the animals, there is another that is a success. The very fact that each animal we care for once faced a horrible death, but now thrives, allows us to remain hopeful.
If you’ve ever met me before, you probably know that I am constantly inviting people to come to the farm. Over the past eight years, I have seen countless activists heal and recharge at Farm Sanctuary’s shelters, each unique encounter they have with a survivor driving home the reasons why they are fighting so hard to touch the hearts and open the minds of others. So if your life as an activist ever seems overwhelming, I urge you to join me in taking a break at our shelters where you can shower a pig with love, play with a goat, relax with a cow or let a turkey nest in your lap. When you need that extra boost to keep going, let the animals show you just what you advocacy work is making possible every day.
Colvin and Bleu
Dorothy and Chico
Alicia and Ari
Debra and Swoosie
Photos credits: Debra & Swoosie, Colvin & Bleu, Alicia & Ari by Connie Pugh; Dorothy & Chico by Jean Liebenberg for Farm Sanctuary
KD Traegner is an unapologetic vegan. She believes that animals besides us, and including us humans, have the fundamental right to a natural and free life. She is compassionate, believing that her choices matter, and she takes that power seriously.
Her mission is simple: to bring the vegan evolution to the masses, connect vegans with other vegans, and support vegans in their own lives, as well as their advocacy work. She does that through the use of her website, Your Daily Vegan, and her big mouth.
Love on the Farm – Bonds between farm animals
Farm Sanctuary reminds us of the bonds between farm animals….
“Listen closely, and you just might hear the amorous sound of violins emanating from the barns at Farm Sanctuary. Candlelight, however, is strictly prohibited — too much hay around! Seriously, though, love is in the air at our New York Shelter, and just in time for Valentine’s Day, we are pleased to release LOVE ON THE FARM, the latest installment of our Sanctuary Tails blog video series, Reel Life at Farm Sanctuary. Watch as National Shelter Director Susie Coston introduces some very special bonded pairs, including Bing and Bessie – two lifelong lovebirds (pictured below) who have been together for 25 years — since the beginning of Farm Sanctuary! You’ll also get to meet some of our pig, goat and chicken friends too!”
Bessy and Bing, companions for 25 years
Debra and Swoosie
Colvin and Bleu
Alicia and Ari
Dorothy and Chico
Still pondering what to get your sweetie for the big day? There’s still time to “adopt” a full-of-love farm animal resident at Farm Sanctuary: Click Here
Photos credits: Bessy & Bing by Jo-Anne McArthur; Debra & Swoosie, Colvin & Bleu, Alicia & Ari by Connie Pugh; Dorothy & Chico by Jean Liebenberg for Farm Sanctuary
Vegan on Valentine’s Day ~ Animals in Need
And now a Valentine’s Day message from our friends at Farm Sanctuary:
“A day to celebrate love in the world is a day to sponsor a Farm Sanctuary shelter animal! Adopt in your name or give a gift sponsorship to someone special in your life. Right now, many rescued farm animals living at our sanctuaries are in need of tender loving care.
A farm animal sponsorship is a thoughtful, cute, fun, compassionate, original, and all-around wonderful way to share some love this Valentine’s Day! It’s the perfect way to help animals and show you care – whether it’s for your sweetheart, your mom, dad, sister, brother, a special friend, or for yourself.
Sponsors receive an adoption certificate with a color photograph of their adopted friend, an adoption card, an invitation to schedule a VIP tour to meet their adopted friend, and other benefits depending on the animal chosen for adoption. See a list of our sponsorship packages here.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by sponsoring one of the special animals below OR make a one-time holiday gift for the sanctuary animals.”
Riley captured our hearts when he was rescued from a stockyard, only days old and on the verge of death. Now that his health is improving and he is growing fast, Riley is turning out to be a real charmer. Sponsoring this sweet piglet for that special someone in your life is a great way to share your love.
Stella was spared when a change of heart saved her from slaughter and offered her a chance that so few farm animals get: a life of joy and happiness at Farm Sanctuary. Safe at our California Shelter, she now spends all her time amongst friends. Will you keep Stella quacking happily by sponsoring her today?
Persia knows what it's like to be lonely. Motherless since birth and neglected by humans, she was luckily rescued as a tiny lamb and found a home at our California Shelter. Celebrate Valentine's Day by opening your heart to Persia and becoming her special friend.
Romeo was the victim of years of abuse until he and eight other geese were rescued by a compassionate advocate who noticed their plight and came to their aid. Now he spends his days in peace at Farm Sanctuary. Will you adopt Romeo to show him the true meaning of love?
Photo credit: Top calf image and photos of Persia and Stella by Connie Pugh, and photo of Romeo by Karen Gaines.
About Farm Sanctuary:
Farm Sanctuary opposes the slaughter, consumption and commodification of farm animals.
Those who are sincere in their concern for animals and for the environment make a knotty compromise if they choose to eat ostensibly crate-free or free-range meat instead of a vegan diet. The degree to which so-called humane meat is more sustainable than factory-farmed meat is negligible; plant-based agriculture is far more environmentally sound than animal agriculture-whether “humane” or factory farmed. And, while some farmers may treat animals better than others, we achieve a much deeper compassion when we do not eat animals at all.
Farm Sanctuary has never and will never support so-called “humane” meat. We maintain that the words “humane” and “slaughter” are mutually exclusive.
You can find out more information about Farm Sanctuary, including planning a visit to the Sanctuary, by going to www.farmsanctuary.org