Sanctuary Season! Opening Weekend in the Catskills

April is here, and that means one thing in New York State’s Catskill Mountains… time to visit the sanctuaries!

Catskill Animal Sanctuary‘s weekend tours start up again for 2013 today!

On your tour, you’ll learn the history and mission of CAS, meet many of our 150+ rescued farm animals, hear farm animal rescue stories, and learn what working with these amazing animals has taught us. Information on agribusiness and its devastating consequences for animals, humans and the planet is shared honestly but with sensitivity to the ages of those on your tour. The pace is leisurely, with plenty of time for questions and enjoying one-on-one time with the critters. Tours last around 90 minutes.

Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary is also open for weekend tours starting today. Bringing the wee ones? No problem!

A visit to the farm is appropriate for children, and we have hundreds come every year. The residents here are accustomed to humans of all sizes. We do exist in part to educate visitors about animal welfare, but the farm is an environment of respect and compassion and there are no graphic pictures. We do stress that WFAS is not a “petting zoo” in the traditional sense, where animals are thought of as entertainment for people, but communing with the beings here and meeting them up close is an integral part of the experience.

Having visited both sanctuaries, I can say from experience it is worth the visit! While you’re there, stop in Woodstock for a meal at vegan restaurant The Garden Cafe!