Remembering Cattaraugus: Happy 4th Rebirth-day.

Because so few animals arrive at our sanctuaries as newborns or are born at the farms, we consider the day they are rescued to be their birthday — although it is really more of a rebirth day. This is the day when their lives have changed and they are reborn into a life that is quite the opposite of where they came from. So today, we say Happy Birthday to those animals who suffered for so long but are now living the Farm Sanctuary life. 

On this day four years ago, we completed a major rescue in Cattaraugus County, NY, taking in more than 60 animals who had been living in squalid conditions at a “farm-to-table” operation. This was our second of three rescues in this area. The first was in January 2003, when we came to the aid of more than 100 pigs, many of whom were frozen to the ground and seriously ill due to exposure and lack of water. And of course, you’ll remember our Emergency Rescue from just last month; we are still working to have these animals relinquished from the custody of their former “owners.” We are very fortunate to have a strong relationship with the SPCA in Cattaraugus County, whose diligence in identifying and removing animals from cruelty in all three cases has allowed us to meet, help, and love some incredible individuals.

The crying of the lambs — no silence in this barn. These were the voices of the desperate.

Sadly, while farm-to-table establishments present their operations as “humane” alternatives to factory farming, their practices are generally a far cry from humane. Many people think that meat purchased locally or from farmers’ markets came from animals who received a high level of care — that they enjoyed nutritious meals, ample pastures to roam and graze, and spent adequate time with their families. In reality, many of these facilities bank on consumers’ conceptions to make a profit, denying animals even the most basic standards of care in order to sustain their operations. It is therefore important for people to visit these farms themselves, since there is no other way of knowing for sure that you are not dealing with a farm like one of the many we remove animals from. 

At this farm, there was nothing humane about the animals’ quality of life. When we arrived at the scene, we were overwhelmed by the filthy, cluttered conditions the animals had languished in, as well as the sheer terror in their eyes. At least 30 severely malnourished sheep and lambs, seven very thin cows, and more than 20 extremely underweight chickens were being kept in makeshift stalls made of pallets and scrap metal tied together with ropes, halters, and chains. Lila goat, Saturday’s Animal of Farm Sanctuary, arrived two days before the rest of the animals could be seized when she was found, still alive, on a dead pile. 

Trash was strewn throughout the property.

The barn was crammed with old tools, tires, and trash, and the smell of death and decay was overwhelming. And sadly, the worst was yet to come: Adjacent to the sheep’s enclosure was a butcher shop, where the lambs were slaughtered and sold onsite. Their poor mothers, who were malnourished and worn out from years of relentless breeding, were also forced to stand by helplessly as their babies screamed next door. This reality was nowhere near the myth of happy farms and animals that these establishments often work so hard to present.

The animals barely had room to turn around in their makeshift pens, but also had no outdoor access, living only in an ammonia-filled barn with the only light coming form the windows and one door. 

After securing the release  of the animals into our care, the on-the-ground rescue was a three-day process. Lila, the first to be rescued, was so weakened by parasites and anemia that she couldn’t even rise to her feet. We rushed her to the Nemo Farm Animal Hospital at Cornell University for immediate care; there, she received a blood transfusion and was put on IV fluids for the next few days. Since Lila had been immobilized for so long, her muscles had atrophied, and it took more than a month of physical therapy to get her to stand. 

Before: Lila was so emaciated and weak she could barely lift her head.

The next day, April 24, we removed the majority of the animals — including all of the sheep and chickens — from the property, and spent the following weeks working just as tirelessly on their emotional rehabilitation as their physical health needs. The sheep mothers especially had little reason to trust us, as they had only known cruelty at human hands. But as we carried their babies to our rescue trailer, they were able to follow for the first time, and at sanctuary they were finally free to nurture their children forever.

The Rescue

Mother and baby: Yolonda and her son James were two of the rescued sheep — the after picture has James on the left standing behind his beautiful mother.  

Another one of the babies is the magnificent Adriano, who is now the leader of the sheep herd at our New York Shelter and the official greeter of his humanimal friends. Adriano grew from a frightened lamb to a protective one, defending his mother, Florence, and sister, Isabella, from their new caregivers until he realized he could trust us. While he still keeps a watchful eye over his sheeple, he has helped them feel more comfortable around us (especially Florence), and today is one of the most affectionate, loving members of his flock. 

Leaving the barn together: Adriano leads mom Florence to the safety of the trailer, and today protects her from anything that causes her fear. He is an incredible leader of our Watkins Glen sheep flock. 

At the time of the rescue, an older female was actually the clear leader of this flock of sickly ovines; although she was one of the thinnest and weakest of the group, she was also the most assertive. Audrey arrived with baby Abay in tow; she was clearly a sheep who had given birth to many lambs before the boy who she was finally able to keep. One of the other adults, Barbara, once allowed in with the whole flock, attached herself to Audrey as well — likely one of her babies from years before who was put back into the life of breeding at this horrific farm. Her son would have been slaughtered, but now the whole family can be safe forever. 

Three weeks after their rescue, a still very emaciated Audrey is outside for the first time in years with her young son Abay.  

Abay and Audrey a year later — today, Abay is actually much bigger than mom. 

Of the chickens, on of our more popular residents, Milo Gibson, came from this rescue. Known for his amazing courage, this tiny bantam boy takes on even the largest tom turkey to keep others away from his beautiful hens. 

Milo Gibson — tiny, proud and courageous leader of the chicken flock.

Another rooster in the flock is a Silkie boy name Palmer Greening. No longer cooped up in a tiny shed, these boys now spend their days roaming the grounds outside our main chicken enclosure. It is also incredible to see that, four years later, this beautiful chicken family is still together — still roaming the sanctuary grounds and charming the guests who come to visit.  

Palmer Greening — the second of two roosters rescued that day!

Then, of course, the ladies — each with very unique personalities and such a mishmash of breeds and beautiful plumage. The thought that these lovely girls had to live in that dark barn is heartbreaking, as you see them going wherever their hearts desire at our sanctuary.

Barnack Beauty and Lady Alice, two of the hens from the Cattaraugus Rescue. 

The lovely and large Pink Lady and her tiny little friend and sidekick Florena live happily and roam the property in search of dirt to dig in and dust-bathing spots, and hang under the bird feeder hoping seeds will drop!

So why a three-day rescue? Well, when we arrived at the scene, we were unaware of the chickens, and also unaware of the cattle. We had only been called to take in the sheep. When we arrived, there were seven emaciated cattle, including two pregnant girls. One mother, Luna, was actually producing milk to feed not only her calf but a Holstein calf as well, who was clearly not her biological daughter. Because of this sacrifice of her own health to save those two babies, she was the thinnest of the rescued cows.

Receiving a greeting by her new family: Luna with Pattrice Jones from VINE, where Luna and her two beautiful daughters are rebuilding their lives together.

Belinda remains with us, and the other cattle were placed based on their relationships with each other. Belinda stayed with us because she was so sick it was thought she would perish, but now she is living large in our special-needs cattle herd and quite the character. 

Belinda today: curious, sweet, and loving life! 

After our most recent Cattaraugus rescue, the county passed a local law creating an animal abuse registry for anyone 18 or older who is a convicted offender. The law will prevent people on the registry from possessing or owning any animal in the future, which will help ensure that these instances do not happen again. As the property owner from the 2012 case was a repeat offender, this mandate will prevent him, and anyone in similar circumstances, from carrying out further abuse — one small step in creating a more compassionate world for all.

The bottom line, however, is that even with the best care, there is no such thing as a “humane slaughter,” as there is nothing humane about killing an individual who desperately wants to live, who has a family, and who is proven to be sentient.

Anne and Isabella, two of the lambs rescued — now all grown up and living the Farm Sanctuary life!

As we celebrate these animals’ fourth rescue birthdays, we are grateful to know such incredible ambassadors for their species. Now that tour season is set to begin at our New York Shelter, we hope you’ll visit and see for yourself how inspiring and wonderful these beings are! Together, we can increase understanding about the rich emotional lives of farm animals like these amazing survivors, as well as raise awareness that farm animal suffering doesn’t only happen on factory farms. 

With your support, we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. There is so much we can learn from these beings when we allow them to live free from harm. Remember: A compassionate world begins with you!

Farm Sanctuary Goes Wild: Celebrating our Wild Residents and Those Just Passing Through on John James Audubon’s Birthday

Whether they are in the air, on the ground, or even under the ground, thousands of wild beings live on or just pass through our sanctuaries on both coasts, and we love every one of them.  

Let’s start with the sky and work our way down. Our sanctuaries are blessed with an abundance of bird life, and nothing is as incredible as our avian friends at our Northern California Sanctuary.

The great blue heron — a constant visitor and fisher of the ponds. We don’t eat the fish, but he is not getting the whole vegan message we keep sending.  

“Four and twenty blackbirds,” but here they would never be baked in a pie — but we may bake a pie for them! They make quite a scene when they arrive — taking over the sky and everywhere else!

An endless number of songbirds cover our Northern California Shelter in Orland, CA, throughout the year, flitting from fence to tree and sharing their beautiful voices with us all. 

The juvenile barn owl. This little guy was released at our Northern California Shelter after he and his siblings were found orphaned and needed help to survive. He looks very content here, but he was not really happy to see people. He is all grown up now and living at the shelter.

Cliff swallows create their intricate mud nests every year under the eaves of the barns at our Northern California Shelter, and thankfully spend the rest of their time eating the mosquitoes. You can see their little faces peeping out of the holes in what looks like pottery.  

How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? The Great Horned Owl living in the giant live oak at our Northern California Sanctuary.  

Tiny resident songbird (possibly a golden crowned sparrow — birders? anyone?) after a heavy rain, drying off outside the hay barn.  

Ravens are the number-one bird resident at our Southern California location, and if you have never been around them they are just incredible. They stole many items from me during my first week on the sanctuary grounds — including my lunch — but it was worth it.  

Birds and sheep hang together so the birds can ensure that any seed or other tasty morsel can be cleaned from the wool. They also hang out with the cattle and especially the pigs — because who is better at digging up bugs than a pig? Wildlife and farm animals can function quite well together. 

It might remind you of a Stephen King novel when you first drive in, but these gatekeepers don’t kill — they are more like the cleaning crew. Vultures at our Northern California Shelter. 

Although they land across the street and not technically on sanctuary grounds, the annual white pelican migration is a sight to see. Sadly, with the drought we have had a few years without seeing these friends. Here’s hoping that they return with El Niño.  

Many pigeons also call our New York Shelter home. Here they are in slow motion — which gives you plenty of time to appreciate them!

One of these birds is not like the others…

Although killdeer can fly, these birds spend a whole lot of time on the ground and lay their rock-like eggs where they are camouflaged — though often not in the safest place. When approached, these birds pretend they are injured to draw predators away from their precious eggs. We usually put rocks or even cones around the area so no one gets too close and upsets the mama.

This bird decided to make a snow angel and leave it as a precious gift for us to see in the morning.  

In between earth and sky we have a few wild friends including the New York squirrels — which are very different than their West Coast relatives. “It’s unnatural, I say — just unnatural.”  —Quote from a New York squirrel about his California cousins. (More on this later.)

The very curious turkeys seem to enjoy their ability to herd the deer from their pasture and over to the wild bird feeders; since there are only so many apples to go around, sharing is not always an option. 

Mom returns every evening to sleep with the kids in the pig pasture, and as you can see, they are happy she is home!

Help yourself, deer. And they do! The bird feeders turn into deer feeders as the sun goes down.  

Speaking of predators, both of our West Coast shelters have the pleasure and stress of this stunning being. Coyotes howl the night away at both California locations, and besides the birds (who are locked in and counted each night at all locations), the sheep, goats, and any young animals at our California sanctuaries are also safely closed in at night — since we don’t want to tempt this guy. 

While we are at it, another ground-dweller, and someone we all have to be on the lookout for — and, of course, listen out for as well — is the northern rattler. All of our shelters have snakes, from black to rattle — and all are beautiful to behold — but some are better not to run into. 

The Pacific gopher snake is observed to live 12 to 15 years in the wild. They are not venomous like our rattler friends, or Alex (Acton Shelter Manager Alexandra Caswell) would not be holding this one with that big grin on her face. Pacific gopher snake adults range in size from 2.5-7 feet, so they look menacing — and I guess they are if you are a small mammal or a small ground bird.  

Young buck with his beautiful velvet antlers running through the tall grass of our New York Shelter.

Although the final group of wildlife friends often live below ground, we see them on top — because that is where they eat. There are so many underground folks that we are not showing, like the moles, voles, and trolls (oops, those last ones live under bridges — my bad), but this next crew is more easily photographed since they spend a whole lot of time out of their dens, warrens, and burrows.  

If this western jackrabbit from our Northern California Shelter raced the cottontail bunny from our New York facility, who do you think would win?

Our cotton-tailed buddy looks a bit worried about the pending races.  

Dreamboat is betting on her buddy to win. Okay, that tortoise is a companion and not wild — but too hard to resist including. 

What does the fox say? Well, every year at our New York Shelter, the female fox says, “Get in the den kids — there are people out there.” Foxes live in dens in our sheep pasture, as well as in the wooded hedgerows of the sanctuary — and one year, we even had a young male fox, who seemed to be very much alone, sleeping with our special-needs sheep. We do have to watch these sly guys, however, and during the spring and summer we have fox patrol, where staff and interns have shifts checking on the birds before bedtime. It is better to avoid conflict whenever possible. 

A kiss from the baby! From my office window I get the pleasure of seeing moms and babies — from cows to groundhogs — enjoying their lives together as a family. And don’t worry about the groundhog holes — the only animals who seem to get hurt in them are the humanimals— the cows, sheep, and goats seem to know just where they are. 

Some of our turkey friends checking out one of their groundhog neighbors.

One of our groundhog friends stops by to say hello.

Okay — so back to the whole squirrel conspiracy. You see, if you are an east-coaster you may not know that at both our California locations, the squirrels don’t inhabit the trees, but instead LIVE IN THE GROUND! It is unnatural. They also have no fear of their farmy friends and love to share a meal with them. Above, Li Mu Bai gives the stink-eye to an uninvited ground dweller. (Photo by Placement Manager Alicia Pell.)

Not a care in the world. The ground squirrels at our two California locations have little fear of the humanimal — especially if said humanimal interrupts their snacking. Those cheeks are like little grocery bags full of many meals. (Photos by Northern California Shelter Manager Kate Powell.)

Don’t be a pig, little squirrel. 

As you can see, our sanctuaries are bubbling over with beautiful wild beings, and we are so delighted that they have chosen our sanctuaries to make their homes. Every day, they give us a gift by just being who they are — as all animals do. Take time every day to look around and really appreciate the gifts we receive from our wild brethren and wish them all a happy Audubon Day!

The Big Problem With Tiny Pigs: Meet Soda Pop, Left Anonymously at Farm Sanctuary

Every week, Farm Sanctuary National Placement Manager Alicia Pell receives multiple inquiries about rehoming potbellied pigs at one of our sanctuary locations. 

Their guardians mean well; while many purchase these mislabeled “micro pigs” as family companions, they soon discover they lack the resources to properly care for growing pigs and seek out facilities that can. Since Farm Sanctuary’s shelters provide refuge for species used in the animal agriculture industry, we are unfortunately unable to permanently house companion-type animals such as potbellies. Still, we’re determined to do all we can to help an animal in need, from referring a pig guardian to other sanctuaries or potential adopters to, in the case of a pig named Soda Pop, fostering an individual who was left at our Southern California Shelter as desperate guardian’s last resort.

Caregivers found Soda Pop in a crate near our shelter gate.

While most of the anonymous drop-offs we receive happen overnight, we found Soda Pop, a 1½-year-old potbellied pig, between 7 and 7:30 a.m. one morning, after caregivers had already arrived for the day. We believe his guardian had been watching us from afar, to see if she felt comfortable turning her beloved pig friend over to our care. Her decision to leave him at Farm Sanctuary was clearly an act of love; in a note placed beside his cage, she explained how she could no longer properly care for the maturing pig and realized that a more appropriate setting would improve his quality of life. 

Copy of the note Soda Pop’s mom left with him, informing our staff of her difficult decision.

Sadly, such realizations are all too common. While we don’t have enough space or resources to help everyone, in this case we were able to temporarily take Soda Pop in — first, to provide the care he needed until a suitable home could be found, and second, to bring his story to light by showing how the “micro pig” phenomenon causes harm and distress to individuals like him.

Caring for Soda Pop has not been without its challenges. He arrived unaltered and in “full boar mode,” so his excess testosterone left him prone to fighting. He regularly foamed at the mouth, a sign of marking his territory, and would bite our staff when frustrated. Our caregivers also have bruises on their legs from Soda Pop’s repeated mounting attempts, but since he currently only weighs about 38 pounds, this fortunately did not cause too much damage. Soda Pop needed to be neutered, and we hoped the procedure would not only help him feel more at ease, but also increase his chances of finding a loving, stable home.

Fortunately, our suspicions were correct, and he has calmed down immensely since his surgery. Without excess hormones, his true personality is now shining through, revealing a very sweet boy who loves belly rubs from his caregivers and vets. While it will take a month before he is medically cleared to be around other pigs, he is relishing all the attention he’s receiving from his humanimal friends in the meantime. It’s a pleasure to witness this transformation, and to know that once Soda Pop is placed at his new home — Sanctuary One in Oregon — he will spend the rest of his life receiving the individualized care and support he needs to thrive.

Sadly, most “micro pigs” are not as fortunate as Soda Pop, which is why education on these beings is so crucial. The reality is that these “miniature” breeds do not stay miniature for very long. There are hundreds of breeds of potbellies alone, and while some are smaller than others, none will maintain that “teacup" size throughout their lifespans. Soda Pop will continue to grow until he is about three years old and will reach about 60 pounds, which, while still relatively small, can be too much for an unsuspecting guardian to handle. And of course, we also hear cases about pigs born on factory farms who are too small to profitably raise for meat, and are instead falsely sold as “miniature" pigs to generate a few extra dollars. Too many people have been misled into believing the myth of these tiny domesticated household pigs, and soon find themselves unable to care for growing, maturing pigs whose needs may be increasingly difficult to meet.

Next to roosters, the greatest number of placement inquiries we receive come from people hoping to rehome their potbellied pigs; established potbellied-pig-specific rescues can receive 10 to 20 guardian-surrender calls per day. This continues to be a particularly large problem in Southern California; residents may hope a potbellied pig could offer the perfect opportunity to keep an “exotic” animal in a population-dense area. 

The problem is difficult for guardians and rescuers, but of course it is the most difficult of all for the unfortunate pigs at the heart of the issue. It is heartbreaking for these pigs to bond with people, only to be removed from their care and placed in potentially volatile situations where their well-being may not be assured.

Of course, potbellied pigs are wonderful animals who can make great companions for people with the knowledge, resources, and facilities needed to properly care for them. If you are in such a position and are interested in providing a loving permanent home for a potbellied pig or another “miniature” breed, we hope you’ll consider becoming a part of our Farm Animal Adoption Network (FAAN) to help us help animals like Soda Pop connect with the loving, attentive families they deserve. (FAAN members have also helped us to secure placement for thousands of other animals in need, from cattle to chickens.)

Please share Soda Pop’s story and help us to shed light on the plight of so many pigs like him. Together, we can increase awareness of this problem and help other pigs and people avoid the heartbreak that Soda Pop and his guardian have endured. 

With your support we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you! 

Meet Regina Chicken, the Mean Girl Who Isn’t

Backyard hen flocks have become very popular with urban hobbyists, a phenomenon we have witnessed especially in Los Angeles and surrounding Southern California counties. Over the the last several years, urban and suburban cities have been lifting restrictions on keeping hens (restrictions remain in full force for roosters), allowing inexperienced and unprepared enthusiasts to join the backyard-flock craze. Hens require a lot of maintenance and veterinary care is expensive, often costing families more than their dogs and cats. Hens who are kept for egg production will eventually stop laying with many years of life ahead of them, but frequently end up with families who no longer consider them to be of any value.

One such family turned to us with a flock of eight hens who had outlived their production time. The hens were healthy and the family had clearly cared for them over the years, but once their egg-laying capabilities waned, the family was ready to discard them. They briefly looked into leaving them at a local municipal shelter, but thankfully called us instead. We were happy to bring them into our family at our Southern California shelter.

One of the great joys of being a Farm Sanctuary caregiver is the opportunity to name our new animals. At our Acton shelter, we have a dry erase board we write names on and vote for so that everyone can participate. We will often wait several days until an animal displays his or her true personality before settling on a name — their individual mannerisms and quirks are so telling of who they are!

These hens were an absolute exception, though. From day one…they were mean. They would attack every caregiver, fight each other over food (of which there was plenty!), and once they were introduced to our flock, fight anyone they were near. They even sent two of our roosters to the hospital for viciously inflicted wounds! The consensus was clear: The meanest girls in the flock would be named Cady, Gretchen, Janis and Regina — after the popular movie’s main characters.

As time went on, a pecking order was eventually established, and the Mean Girls settled into their new life with fewer skirmishes (although we still look to them when a mysterious injury arises). As they blended into the flock, Cady, Gretchen, and Janis began to avoid their caregivers, but Regina was clearly not finished with her adventures.

Perhaps bored with her friends or ready for a change of heart, Regina was suddenly into everything humanimal! At first, she started following us around — everywhere we turned, there was Regina! Then she started stealing tools from our treatment kits — who ran off with the gauze?? Soon, she was pecking us for attention, staring up at us intently with her serious eyes. And finally, she was on our laps — clearly at her final destination, snuggled in our arms.

Regina’s sudden affection for all humanimals, big and small, earned her a feature spot during our weekend public tours. She is now a star of our main aviary and will follow guests around asking to be held or touched.

At left, Regina visiting with a friend during a recent event. At right, spending some quality time with musician Vicky-T. (Left photo by Vee Hertel; right photo courtesy Vicky-T. See video of Vicky-T’s recent visit to Farm Sanctuary.)

Regina also recently had the chance to mingle with compassionate celebrity Kat Von D, who visited Farm Sanctuary for a special project for the animal advocacy magazine Laika and later generously returned to spend her birthday volunteering to help her new rescued farm-animal friends.

Regina enjoyed visiting with her new friend Kat Von D! (Photo via @moderncompassion on Instagram.)

Regina’s incredible affection for the humanimals she once scorned delights and amazes us every day. Her transformation is a constant reminder that each of us, even a little chicken, can experience a change of heart! 

Please share Regina’s story. Together, we can encourage awareness and understanding about the rich emotional lives of birds like her and make a difference for all farm animals. With your support, we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you!

Scott: Little Orphan Lamby

Scott, like so many thousands of lambs on small farms in rural New York, was born sick and unable to nurse. He was a twin, and although his sibling was up and nursing, he was unable to even lift his head. He had a huge goiter, about the size of a lime, and his tiny body was slowly shutting down.

But thankfully, he had an advocate — someone who saw him as an individual and wanted to let him live. And so Scott was brought to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY. When he arrived, we immediately took his vitals and found that this was a very sickly little lamb. Besides the goiter, he was in hypothermia, with a body temperature of 95°. His breathing was labored and his lungs were crackly and wheezy. He was limp and too weak to even lift his head or open his eyes.  

We rushed him to the Nemo Farm Animal Hospital at Cornell University, where he was started on oxygen. Blood was collected, which showed a variety of health issues, including low total protein — suggesting a lack of immunoglobulins from the colostrum of his mother (which, of course, he had not received, since he had not been able to nurse). Colostrum has to be ingested within the first 24 hours of life in order to be properly absorbed, and sadly, Scott was already around 16 hours old when he arrived.  

He was also septic — the cause of his pneumonia — and without antibodies from his mother, he was started on IV antibiotics and fluids for his severe dehydration. He was also given colostrum with iodine to help with his goiter. 

Sweet baby Scott when he arrived home two weeks after he was surrendered to the shelter. (Photo by intern Christine Dobrick.)

So for the first few days it was impossible to know if he would make it, but by day three — he turned a corner. Unfortunately, there was a lot of back and forth and he had a few rough spots, but two weeks later, he was ready to come home!

With no other lambs or baby goats his age, we then needed to figure out the best plan for our little guy.  He was very needy, as all babies should be, and so when left alone — for even a minute — the crying began. And not just a little crying.  

Scott’s life brings back memories of a very popular children’s classic, the story of the hatchling bird portrayed in Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman. In that story, the baby hatches to find no one to care for him. So he hops around from animal to animal asking all of the unlikeliest suspects — a kitten, a hen, a dog, and a cow — if they are his mother, but of course they are not. 

The search began with the least likely suspect of them all: Mr. Daffodil, a recently rescued turkey. Although Daffodil was not all that worried about the lamb, the lamb was a bit much for this sweet blind boy, and so Scott moved on. 

Mr. Daffodil, are you my mother? 

The next stop was Scott’s first roommate June Bug, who was much closer to a match, but not really in the mood for motherhood — so at first, her response was to flee.  

June Bug, are you my mother? 

Next up were the cats. Not only were they not his mother, but they were not even interested in any type of relationship — heartbreaking again for our sweet lamb who wanted nothing but love.  

Felix, are you my mother? Marley — where are you going, Marley? Anyone?

Which one of you is my mother? Back to trying for a turkey mother, but this crew was having none of it. 

The good news is that very soon, when he is a little bigger, he will have more than sixty sheep to be his family. He is not the first lamb to arrive in this condition, and certainly not the first to arrive without mom. Lambs like Danny, Francis,  Pamela,  Romy, and so many others have found the family they’ve longed for in our sheep flock.

Getting some super snuggles from one of his human moms, Dana Penmen. (Photo by intern Erin Keeley.)

But in the meantime, he is getting all of the love and maternal care he needs thanks to our dedicated staff and interns, who are handling bottle-feedings, long walks in the pasture, hay and grain feeds, and daily snuggles with this little redhead. He also still has June Bug, who now seems to return the love he has for her. The two lie side by side throughout the day, and he runs happily back to her when he returns from his walks.  

Hanging with sweet old gal June Bug, having finally found a substitute for mom to cuddle up with at night and eat hay with during the day. These two have developed a very sweet and loving relationship! (Photo by farm assistant Jesse Armaline.)

Scott’s story is sadly common; there are thousands of motherless lambs out there, and just as many ewes who have been denied their role as mother. All told, there are more than a billion sheep currently in production worldwide, and in the U.S., around two million sheep and lambs are slaughtered annually.  

Eating hay with my new mom! Scott and June Bug loving life together! (Photo by intern Erin Keeley.)

And in the U.S., more than 300,000 lambs perish in their first few weeks of life. The majority of them die due to starvation and exposure (cold temperatures), stillbirths, and respiratory illness.  

Even the photographer loves me! Scott hanging with Luke Hess, who takes all the pretty photos of him and his new friends!

Sadly, it is not illegal for multiple lambs to perish because they are not given access to proper medical care or even proper shelter from the elements. Just 15 minutes from our Watkins Glen farm, we have seen piles of 20-plus dead lambs after a cold spring, with local animal control authorities merely responding that it was a cold snap and not the fault of the farmer. The idea that those lambs just don’t matter enough to make that unacceptable is impossible to comprehend.

So when you meet Scott — which you really should — think of the millions and millions who die annually, and of those who are left to slowly perish without even basic care. And think of their mothers, who give birth to lamb after lamb, unable to keep their family intact — which, of course, they would if they could.   At Farm Sanctuary, we have sheep families who have been together for a decade and never stray from the family that they love. 

The turkey ladies are coming around. The tables turned when they started following Scott!

But we can encourage people to stop eating lamb and other animal products; we can draw attention to the rich emotional lives of farm animals like Scott and friends, as well as increase awareness that factory farms are not the only farms on which animals suffer. With your support we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you!

Every Day is Animal Advocacy Day for Matt Ball

In honor of Animal Advocacy Day we are proud to feature seasoned advocate and Animal Rights Hall of Fame inductee Matt Ball, Farm Sanctuary’s Director of Engagement and Outreach.

Matt came to us last year after spending more than 20 years with Vegan Outreach, an organization he cofounded in 1993, and from his most recent role as Senior Advisor for Vegfund. Through Vegan Outreach, Matt encouraged individuals from all walks of life to choose compassion, appealing to people’s common sense through leafletting educational materials about veganism and animal rights. 

Matt with Li Mu Bai at Farm Sanctuary’s Acton, CA shelter.

It was on one of these outings in 1997 that Matt first met Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur. “My project at the time was to distribute as many pro-veg booklets as possible, and at one point, Gene held up a copy of the booklet and said, ‘We can agree that we need to get more of these out there,’” Matt recalls. Matt continues to be moved by Gene’s warm, supportive, inclusive nature.

Matt likes to say he’s been living the Farm Sanctuary life for as long as Farm Sanctuary has been around; he went vegetarian in 1986, the same year our organization was founded. But he actually credits his freshman-year college roommate, who made him his “personal project” for what was initially a diet change.

“I would love to say I went vegan as soon as I learned about what happens on factory farms, but as I write about in one of my books, this wasn’t the case at all,” says Matt. “Rather, I went vegetarian and then vegan in fits and starts. It is for this and other reasons that I’m very sympathetic to people who are (initially) resistant to the message; who make incremental change while rationalizing other actions.”

As Matt continued exploring his values he learned about Farm Sanctuary, and felt inspired by our mission from the start. In 1993, when our Watkins Glen Bed & Breakfast cabins were unveiled, Matt and his wife, Anne Green, spent their belated honeymoon amongst the rescued residents who called Farm Sanctuary home. Over the years, Farm Sanctuary continued to hold a special place in Matt’s heart, so it is only fitting to now have Matt on our team.

Matt and Anne spent their honeymoon in one of the B&B cabins at our Watkins Glen, NY location. 

Matt’s personal journey has been an asset in his career; he understands firsthand the logic of meeting people where they are. “I have always found it to be much more constructive and impactful to focus on the first step, rather than presenting a fixed dogma,” he says. 

This allows him to tailor his activism to different audiences, making him a more effective advocate for the animals overall. But it’s not always easy. 

He recalls a particularly charged response from a young audience member during a speech Matt gave at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. “As soon as I opened it up for questions, he jumped up and gave a dissertation on the ‘values’ of hunting,” Matt says. “It was obvious that debating hunting wouldn’t be a winning strategy. More importantly, I knew arguing with him wouldn’t do anything to change anyone else’s mind or choices. I was, of course, tempted to make the full, consistent ‘animal rights’ case, but I decided it was more important to try to get some of the people to actually make constructive change that made a difference for farm animals.”

He decided instead to meet the young man where he was. “So I said, ‘Well, I can tell you this: I would rather live my life free and be shot dead as an adult, than be crammed into a bathroom with a bunch of others such that I can hardly move, living in our own waste.’” Matt recalls. “As soon as I said that, the young man visibly calmed, and sat down to listen. I then went on to reiterate how bad farm animals have it on factory farms. At this point, the whole audience was more attentive than they had been during my main talk. I concluded my ‘answer’ to him by repeating that I didn’t think anyone in the room would condone the way these animals are treated, and that each of us can choose compassion every time we eat.”

Afterward, that same young man approached Matt and actually thanked him. “He said he always thought factory farms were bad, but hadn’t known just how bad.” says Matt. “He also hadn’t known how rough it was for chickens (which I had focused on in the main talk), and concluded that not eating meat from factory farms was the right thing to do.”

Throughout his rich history communicating on behalf of farm animals Matt has written dozens of essays, articles, and editorials about animal advocacy, and has even published two books: The Animal Activist’s Handbook in 2007 with past Farm Sanctuary Director of Policy & Advocacy Bruce Friedrich, and The Accidental Activist in 2014. Matt’s work appeals to our innate compassion, encouraging individuals to explore and act upon the issues that are important to them. 

 As a leader of our advocacy department, Matt is especially effective because his work comes from the heart; for Matt, animal advocacy is not just a component of his life, but his life’s work. 

Matt feels privileged that he can devote as much time as possible to the issues he holds dear. “[Farm Sanctuary CEO Harry P. “Hank” Lynch] made the comment, ‘Matt , most people don’t have the opportunity we have, to be able to work for animals.’ This is really insightful: we are really incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity, and I want to make the most of it.”

Among those opportunities Director of Engagement and Outreach, Matt focuses primarily on our Compassionate Communities Campaign(CCC), an initiative centered on helping compassionate individuals better advocate for animals. Throughout his work, Matt represents Farm Sanctuary in a variety of coalitions, and strategizes the best methods to reach individuals wherever they are on their personal journeys. He applies those insights to his management of CCC’s Facebook, blog, and email alert content. 

Matt equally relishes the chance to break away from the computer to walk the walk with like-minded, compassionate individuals. Among these direct-engagement experiences, Matt cites Seattle’s Walk for Farm Animals as a highpoint. 

He was particularly moved by Farm Sanctuary supporters’ overwhelmingly positive response. Matt is continuously inspired by the work of fellow advocates in this field, and it was inspiring to reach new audiences, most of whom have not yet visited our sanctuary locations.

Matt addresses compassionate individuals at our 2015 Seattle Walk for Farm Animals.

“Of course, you don’t need to visit one of our sanctuaries to make an absolutely huge difference in the world,” Matt says. “Every time we choose what to eat, we can make a powerful statement against cruelty and for compassion. Every time someone asks us why we’re vegetarian, we have the chance to provide farm animals a voice.”

Through Matt’s example (as well as that of Farm Sanctuary’s other dedicated humanimals) we are changing the face of advocacy, inspiring more and more individuals to apply their talents and passions to farm animals everywhere.

“There is something truly wonderful about getting to know individuals like Valentino, Emily and Lucie. It makes our choices and our opportunity to advocate for these animals less abstract, more concrete. For me, at least, spending time with these individuals leaves me energized and even more motivated to change the world, to build a society where individuals like Frank and Ellen are no longer our job, but simply our friends.”

Valentino is among Matt’s muses. 

Thanks to this dedicated humanimal’s involvement and that of our non-staff supporters, we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. We welcome you to join us in our mission. A compassionate world begins with you!

Miranda Lee: Stealing Hearts and Changing Minds

Of the 306 million table-egg-laying hens in the U.S. (as of September 2015), 8.6%, or 23.6 million birds, lived in cage-free flocks. (Of those, 11.4 million were USDA Organic and 12.2 million were considered “Other Cage-Free.”) So that leaves more than 282 million hens in battery-cage operations.

For hens in the industry — including those living in battery cages and those in cage-free facilities (a category that includes free-range, cage-free, and “enrichment cages”) — here are the facts: Around 81.5 billion table eggs are laid in the U.S. annually. (This does not include hatching eggs – those used to hatch more chicks who will grow up to be used in egg production themselves.)

Close to 100 billion eggs are laid to be used as hatching eggs — the majority for the meat industry.  

That is around 223 million eggs produced per day. That is a whole lot of eggs. The average hen in production is laying around 286 eggs per year.  The average American is eating about 265 eggs per year.  

For egg-laying hens in commercial production — even those on “free-range” farms — life ends between the ages of one and two years. Pushed to their limits by generations of selective breeding, modern egg-type hens can lay nearly 300 eggs per year at their peak, an output their bodies cannot long sustain. When their productivity begins to decline, these hens are deemed “spent,” and although they could live for many more years, they are slaughtered.

Cage-free layer houses take the birds out of the battery cages and allow them more space to move around, to perch and to nest — but these facilities are not all they are cracked up to be. Read more about cage-free egg production here. 

For 142 “spent” hens from a cage-free farm in Pennsylvania — including Miranda — life would change dramatically when they arrived at Farm Sanctuary. Sadly, these were the only ones relinquished from a farm with around 20,000 hens.

Lost in the crowd: Miranda arrives with her flock mates, still not known as the special gal she is. 

And the only difference between the 142 hens we took and the remaining 19,000+ who had to go to slaughter because they were not relinquished is that we had the privilege of meeting them. We had the chance to get to know them as the individuals they are — each very different from the others.

Miranda, where are you????

And among those 20,000 hens, and then in that group of 142, I had no idea that I would meet an animal who would mean more to me than any chicken I have ever met (and I have met thousands of chickens). A hen who would brighten every day I am able to spend with her — a hen who stole my heart. And her name is Miranda Lee.

The girls move onto the main farm and join another group of recently rescued birds: the Cattaraugus chickens. They became one big happy flock family!

And how did we get so close? Well, it started early on, when a group of us on staff went through our new residents the day they arrived, checking for any health issues — lice, mites, wounds, etc. — and Miranda was one who arrived in rough shape, so she was cleaned up and monitored.

Some of our new friends shortly after their arrival from the cage-free egg operation. Many of the girls were adopted out to wonderful homes through our Farm Animal Adoption Network (FAAN). Those who arrived in the worst condition, including Miranda, would remain with us for life; these are the girls you see here.

So for months we were going in with all the hens, but some of them — including Miranda Lee, Becky, Chris, Eli, Dolly, and Antonia — stood out, not just because they had illnesses to treat, but because they were very curious and spent time jumping on your shoulder or sitting in your lap. 

Miranda quickly became my favorite, and the feeling seemed to be mutual — she followed me around a lot, especially on daily healthcare shifts in 2012-13. Of the 142 hens, we ended up keeping just 10, and the rest were placed in amazing homes. Miranda and her pals stayed with us.

So from the isolation area to the main farm, this group of lovely ladies took over and became well-known to all staff, interns, and guests for their antics. Miranda was well-known for many reasons, one being that she knew her name and would come from anywhere on the farm when she was called. This is a good thing, but she also has quite the independent streak and would follow caregivers into various barns, leaving her flockmates behind.  

We have radios on the farm, which we use to communicate with other staff members, and one thing that is always communicated is the presence of a hawk near any of the bird enclosures.  The roosters are very good at announcing a hawk’s presence as well, and when there is a sighting, all the birds are put inside their barns until the predator moves along. Miranda, being the independent one in the flock, will occasionally be wandering down by the pig yard, picking bugs from the ground as her porcine buddies root away, while the other birds are all being rounded up and put in their home. Thankfully, she is easy to find and comes running when you call — and when I am worried about Miranda, you can hear me all over the farm (and so can she). 

In 2013, Miranda became very sick and was diagnosed with an egg impaction, one of the most common health issues we see with the industrial layer hens. This can quickly become fatal, so it is imperative to be able to pay attention to each of the hens on the farm and catch it before it gets to a point where it is inoperable.  

Miranda loves to just hang out and is only hard to photograph because she is often too close. Note her severe debeaking, a common practice in all laying facilities.

Thankfully, we did catch it in time; we were able to have Miranda spayed, and the impaction was cleaned out. She had a difficult time with her surgical site, so she lived with us in our hospital for nearly three months, giving us even more time to bond. She was allowed out of her pen to wander around with us in the house, although not too much so she could heal, and thankfully she did.

Hey Handsome. (This is her come-hither look.)

Miranda is not just loved by me but by everyone who meets her — including her chicken friends. She has two roosters living in her flock: king of the farm Milo Gibson and fuzzy sidekick Palmer Greening. She started out with Milo as her favorite, but more recently has only had eyes for Palmer, whom she started spending the majority of her time with.

Miranda surrounded by her people. Front, from left to right: Bolero, Miranda, Ambrosia, Shay, Dolly, and Pink Lady.

Miranda with goat pal Marilyn, whom she has known since right after Marilyn was born. Miranda fears no one, including the horned creatures. 

From the time Miranda arrived, and up until their passing, her best friends were Dolly, Chris Dunham, and Becky Thompson hens. The girls ran all around the farm together, and when Miranda came running when called, Dolly, Chris, and Becky were always close behind.  

Miranda, Dolly, and Eli enjoying some seeds. We all love seeds!

Miranda running over to see Laurie Morrison to discuss the Niagara Veg Fest. There is nothing Miranda likes more than a festival for vegetables. 

Miranda also loves to photobomb her gal pals, and when trying to get a good picture of one of the other girls, it’s hard not to also get a little bit or Miranda in the shot. She really loves attention and knows exactly how to get it. 

Oh excuse me, Eli — were you trying to get your photo taken? Sorry.  

Miranda is even nice to other chickens she meets, and although most hens from rival flocks fight, Miranda is all about that peace. She is even helpful and cleans the dirty chickens who come from the turkey barn pasture, since clearly they cannot do it themselves.  

Why hello Pussy Willow — you have a little something on your beak.

Miranda is also known for her amazing jumping skills and follows caregivers into the pig barn, where meds are given in peanut butter sandwiches. (Mmmm, sandwiches.) She is notorious for breaking in new caregivers by jumping in the air to grab a sandwich — usually only getting a corner of the bread, but startling the caregiver all the same.  

She prefers to be hand-fed due to her very severe debeaking — something that continues to happen even in non-battery cage operations, where overcrowding leads to cannibalism. Thankfully, Miranda is mostly a plant-based eater, with a bug or two thrown in occasionally — but her favorite food is whole corn. Not the best for her, but we all have our vices.  

Miranda’s kindness is evident each time she looks at you — so full of love and contentment being around her humanimal friends. 

Sadly, we are now dealing with illness again; just a few months shy of the fourth anniversary of her arrival at the farm, another reproductive disease has taken over. Miranda has cancer, which is also very common in the industrial layers as they age. Reproductive diseases are the cause of death for 98% of our resident “layer” hens. 

Unlike some of the non-industrial breeds, who can live upwards of 15 years (our oldest leghorn layer was just over 15, however), the majority of these girls live five to seven years. We were told that Miranda’s flock was two and a half years old when they arrived, so she is currently over six years old.  

The gang — making their way around the farm. This flock of cuties has changed many an egg eater’s tune. 

About a month ago, Miranda was brought into our hospital for more intensive care, and just a few weeks later, her best friend Chris Dunham also was pulled from the flock to live in the hospital pen. Miranda was thrilled to see her and immediately started to groom her, just as she always had when they lived together on the main farm. Miranda was with Chris when her dear friend died just a week ago. 

No matter how much longer we have this incredible girl, it will never be long enough. She will leave a huge hole in our hearts — which she stole the moment she arrived. Knowing that there are millions of individual hens living in battery cages, cage-free facilities, and other industrialized systems who will never know the love that this beautiful hen knows makes us all want to fight even harder for chickens.

Miranda is one of the lucky few and we are too — for knowing her.

Milo Gibson: The Little Ninja

Weighing only 2.2 pounds — one kilogram — it is hard to imagine this tiny little rooster as a fierce protector of his hens. But there is no one as powerful as this little bird when it comes to taking care of his ladies and his best pal Palmer.

When Milo arrived at Farm Sanctuary, he came in with a flock of 22 chickens, including two other roosters, Palmer Greening and Milton. The three roosters all got along famously at first, but once they settled in it became clear who the true flock leader was and likely always had been. Milton decided to join another flock, and he currently lives with hens in our special-needs duck and goose area, but Palmer chose to stay with Milo and play second fiddle.

When Milo arrived, he was much thinner — although it’s hard to tell under all those feathers — but you can see that his head did seem a bit larger in proportion to the rest of his body. He was just under two pounds and infested with mites and lice.  

Got my spur caps and my leg band and I’m official. I have big things to do on this sanctuary.  

The entire flock was named for different apple varieties, and Milo was named for the Milo Gibson, a one-of-a-kind apple: a chance seedling that’s super-sweet and licorice-flavored. He is super-sweet — at least to his humanimal friends and his chicken family — but more to come on that. 

Thankfully, Milo is a kind leader to his chicken people and graciously allows Palmer to lead a few of then hens — but only a few.  

The thing that is so amazing about this flock is the fact that they have remained so close — they are inseparable. If you have visited our Watkins Glen sanctuary, you have seen Milo and his family roaming the area — especially under the wild bird feeders, which often spill when the squirrels are in them.

Whenever anyone is missing from the flock, Milo crows or calls until everyone is back together. He even uses the food call when there is no food — which is a good way to round everyone up all at once. 

In 2012, when we were called to the site of a backyard butcher operation in Cattaraugus County, NY, we were expecting just sheep — but ended up with chickens loose in one of our cars coming home, because we could not leave them there once we met this amazing flock.

Milo was up in the rafters at this point, but some of the girls were hanging down low with the sheep.  

Getting them proved to be a challenge, however, as were roosted not only on the pens of the sheep in the middle of piles of trash, but also in the rafters of the barn, which was well over ten feet up. By piling boxes and climbing up walls to scale the trusses, we were able to capture these brave survivors and bring them all back to our sanctuary. 

Milo is always on high alert, even while others are relaxing for the afternoon. His job as resident protector is never done. 

From there, they were isolated at our off-site location, and then finally, once they were super-healthy, they were brought onto the main farm. From that moment on two things were established: 

1. This flock of chickens cannot be contained.

2.  No one messes with this flock because their leader — although this is not immediately evident based on his size — is a warrior and protector of his chicken people! Milo is the Little Ninja!

Let’s start with point #1. They moved into a small barn so they could be together as a flock, and we added a few more hens just to balance things out with the boys. We put up brand-new fencing to ensure that they remained safely in their yard, which lasted approximately two minutes. Adjustments were made, but still this crew was out where they wanted to be, and they did very well being out — so out is where they have stayed.

For guests, seeing this tiny flock — who follow you everywhere — is a great way to really get to know chickens. Over the years, they have become friendly and actually enjoy human company, and Milo is a big part of that.

Watching the way he oversees things is quite fascinating. He is constantly surveying his surroundings — calling out when he feels that there is a threat (low-flying birds; hawks, who are a real threat; or someone on staff walking their dog). 

What the…?! Phew — just a squirrel. 

When there is food involved, this guy is more than polite — first calling his ladies over so they can dine first, and then joining in on the meal. This is a very chivalrous rooster thing to do.  

Ding ding ding — come and get it, ladies! Cantaloupe for all. 

And now for point #2 — and the reason he is called the little ninja. Well, ask any large-breed rooster or tom turkey you happen to meet and they will tell you — this tiny firecracker has the power to stop them in their tracks. When Turpentine joined our family years ago, he was one of the birds who just moved freely around the farm and met everyone who visited. This did not, however, include the restricted territory of Milo’s flock — which he established with Turpentine early on.  

Is he in there? Turpentine checking out the scene — making sure the Ninja is out of his barn. 

Unfortunately, while strutting our boy would often wander into these designated zones — like flying over enemy territory — and he would quickly be reminded of those boundaries, as is seen in the video below. Like a little ninja, out of nowhere Milo will appear!

No turkeys or chickens were harmed during the making of this video! It’s just all about the territory. It’s amazing to note that Turpentine weighed in at around 48 pounds, so our little 2.2-pound rooster friend was brave indeed to try to take him on!

Millions of unwanted roosters of all breeds — and, of course, billions from the meat industry — die each year.  Even non-industrial roosters like Milo are constantly in need of homes, with most towns’ backyard flock ordinances not allowing roosters because of the noise. But roosters play a significant role in the chicken flock, and their hens, like Milo’s, rely on them to keep safe, find food, and just to love!  

Please share Milo’s story. Together, we can encourage awareness and understanding about the impressive intelligence and rich emotional lives of birds like him! And if you are in a position to provide a loving permanent home to a rooster in need, please consider becoming a member of our Farm Animal Adoption Network (FAAN)! We receive an enormous number of requests for help rehoming roosters, and FAAN members all over the U.S. have helped us get many of these birds — as well as other types of farm animal, from hens to cattle — out of bad situations and into wonderful adoptive homes!  

Bean: From Protected to Protector

Bean came to Farm Sanctuary when he was just a young chick. He was born into a backyard flock in California and spent his early moments amidst his chicken family; a rare luxury for hobby flock chickens, who are usually born into hatcheries and then shipped, alive and vulnerable, through the United States Postal Service. Fortunately for Bean, this natural birth set him apart as an individual — and even saved his life.

When Bean was just a couple days old, he suddenly disappeared; his owners, fearing the worst, assumed he was killed by a predator. To their relief, Bean reappeared about a week later. But he was in rough shape and unfortunately very ill; displaying signs of neurological issues.

The owner of the flock took Bean to a neighbor for help, but he wasn’t improving and they were running out of options. Bean’s owner decided to take him to a veterinarian to end his suffering. However, on the way to the vet they decided to stop at our Northern California Shelter to see if we could offer a last glimmer of hope for this tiny chick.

We immediately took Bean in and sent him to one of our veterinarians for assessment. Unfortunately, Bean’s prognosis was poor, and the vet told us we should consider euthanasia. However, we wanted to give this little fighter one more chance to survive, and our staff set out to give Bean the individualized care he so desperately needed.

Tara and Luke Hess, who at the time served as Orland’s Shelter Director and Master Caregiver, respectively, were especially devoted to the little chick’s recovery. They took Bean under their wing, offering him around-the-clock care both at work and at home. They even created a sling to help him stand, and used it to feed and medicate the chick by hand, as he was unable to eat on his own. Tara, who is now the Senior Shelter Manager at our Watkins Glen Shelter, recalls getting up multiple times throughout the night to take care of Bean; these actions, however, were a true labor of love: “We knew there was a very guarded prognosis, but because of how much this little chick had already endured, we wanted to give him a fighting chance.”

Despite his poor prognosis, Bean slowly began to improve thanks to this high quality of care. After consulting with National Shelter Director Susie Coston, we decided to treat him for a vitamin E deficiency (a not-so-uncommon issue known as encephalomalacia, which backyard hobbyist refer to as “crazy chick disease.”). 

He still had neurological issues that affected his ability to stand and balance, but he gradually learned to stand for short periods on his own. Shortly thereafter, he was able to take small steps without falling over. Before we knew it he was able to navigate, though not always prettily, on his own. And we couldn’t have been more proud.

Eventually, Bean had improved enough that he could be transferred to our onsite animal hospital. Bean still had to be watched closely and needed lots of special treatment from his caregivers, but there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel for him. He grew stronger and more balanced and was able to navigate our hospital yard with few issues.

The day finally came when we were able to move Bean out into one of our chicken barns with some of our older chicken ladies. He was ecstatic! He still didn’t have the best balance and when he did his “dance” for the ladies in the group he would often end up stumbling, but he didn’t care — he finally had a family, and he wasn’t looking back.

Bean now spends his days in one of our chicken barns where he lives with 16 chickens whom he adores (and the feeling is mutual). He is never far from his flock, making sure he always has a watchful eye out for any dangers they could face. He is a valiant protector, and it is obvious that he is very protective of his family. Some of Bean’s companions are older and receive pain medication for arthritis, and he will often try to prevent the caregivers from picking the chickens up to give them their medications; as soon as we’re done, Bean runs over and stands in between his friends and the caregiver, asserting his dominance over the situation. 

Bean with his ladies: Peepers and Summer (with Peggy peeking out)

Bean takes his role as a protector very seriously. If there are ever any birds of prey in the area Bean lets out a very specific crow, which lets everyone know they should run inside. Of course, we are vigilant about closing everyone in their barns to keep them safe when predators arise, but we’re always thankful to have Bean on alert.

In addition to being a protector Bean is a peacekeeper as well: when chickens get into scuffles he will step in between the two, and does not step back until the scuffle has ended. 

One of the cutest things Bean does is pick up treats (like cranberries or grapes) and hold them in his beak for the chickens to come eat.  It is obvious in nearly everything he does how much he loves his family, and what lengths he will go to take care of them. 

Bean needed an exceptional amount of protection and care in the beginning of his life; now, however, the tables have turned and he has become the protector for all of the birds in his family. 

Please share Bean’s story. Together, we can encourage awareness and understanding about the rich emotional lives of birds like him and make a difference for all farm animals. With your support, we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you!

Meet Sullivan Rooster, the Unexpected Guest Who Won Our Hearts

On a beautiful springtime morning in 2011, the goats and sheep at our Southern California Shelter were visited by two handsome gents — young, spry, tiny roosters whom we later named Gilbert and Sullivan, after the famous theatrical duo. The goats and sheep seemed unimpressed, if not slightly amused, by their two-legged visitors. Shelter caregivers were slightly less amused — and indeed, downright startled — to find the boys, who had been dumped over the fence at some point in the morning. We will never know from whence these boys came; we can only assume that they were victims of the increasingly popular urban backyard-chicken phenomenon, which is creating a sea of unwanted roosters throughout the country. Though the goats and sheep were gracious hosts, caregivers whisked Gilbert and Sullivan away to receive initial examinations and begin their 30-day quarantine — a routine procedure at our shelters, designed to prevent the introduction of any communicable diseases to the rest of the flock.  

Sullivan, left, and his best pal Gilbert.

Once the boys had completed their quarantine period, it was time to introduce them to the main flock; in the fashion of their namesakes, they were quite the hit — well, at least in their own minds. Truth be told, Gilbert and Sullivan did not inspire much of a reaction at all — either menace or affection — from the other chickens, or even from the other roosters. Had the newcomers challenged any of the other roosters for dominance, territory, or hens, it would have been a different story. But since these boys seemed content with the bond of brotherhood, they were able to become members of the flock without much fanfare or worry.

Sullivan with flockmate Rosie hen.

For the next few years, Gilbert and Sullivan kept to themselves and remained unassuming, enjoying each other’s company and minding their own business. Then, a couple of years ago, Gilbert passed away, and Sullivan was left without his buddy.

Through his grief, Sullivan rose to the challenge. The tiniest rooster in all of the land (the sanctuary land, that is) befriended two of the largest hens, Brighid and Branwen. 

Like Sullivan, Brighid and Branwen had been dumped at the sanctuary; we assume they were discarded because their best egg-laying years were behind them. Branwen and Sullivan are particularly fond of one another. In the afternoons, they can often be found lying close to one another, soaking up the last of the sun’s rays. With their very noticeable difference in size, this favorite couple evokes the nursery rhyme about Jack Sprat and his wife — but don’t tell Branwen we said so! Any caregiver on the lookout for Sullivan is likely to do so by first finding Branwen; her girth makes her easier to quickly spot, while Sullivan can be harder to find — his miniature body is well-hidden behind just about everyone and everything! 

Tiny Sullivan with his much larger pal Brighid hen.

Sullivan is now the oldest rooster at our Southern California Shelter. Like many older humanimals, his body has worn with age, and he receives daily medication for arthritis. Sullivan does not shy away from receiving his medication; instead, he jumps up on a perch and gladly accepts it. We’re all very glad that Sullivan is so obliging, because he is particularly difficult to capture! (The combination of his small size and surprising speed allows him to easily evade us when he wants to.) Capturing him for health checks usually involves more than one caregiver and requires everyone to be on their best chicken-movement-predictor game. 

Though sweet Sullivan has found companionship in Branwen and Brighid, he also enjoys his alone time. When he’s not hanging out with his hen friends or enjoying a nap with Branwen, he can often be found spending time on his own. (He doesn’t seem lonely and appears to be contentedly alone by choice, as best we can tell.) But at night, this smooth talker is anything but alone: He spends his nights nesting with Branwen and Brighid, and we’ve even seen him take over the gentlemanly duty of sitting on their eggs overnight!  

Sullivan reminds us daily that the biggest hearts sometimes can be found in the smallest bodies!

While this special bird’s story has a happy ending, many roosters like him aren’t as fortunate. We hear every day from well-intentioned hobbyists who find themselves with roosters they are unprepared to care for, or prohibited from keeping due to local ordinances. Please share Sullivan’s story to help spread the word about this sad side effect of the backyard-chicken phenomenon. And if you have the resources and rooster-friendly zoning to offer a loving permanent home to a rooster in need, please consider becoming a part of our Farm Animal Adoption Network (FAAN)!

Rainbow and Unicorn: Rescued from Peril, Now Thriving at Sanctuary

With names like Rainbow and Unicorn, today’s featured chickens could have come directly out of a fairy tale  — and in a way, they have. While their early days were a far cry from a picture-perfect fantasy, their rescue from dire straits led them to their happily-ever-after at sanctuary.

In early March, we received a call about a couple of chickens roaming around a rest stop, and knowing how dangerous it is for chickens to be loose and unprotected, we immediately set out to see if we could locate them. After a long and thorough search of the area where they were spotted, we still hadn’t located the birds. We were close to giving up, fearing the worst, when we noticed a small, white ball of fluff in a dense patch of trees and brush. Our hearts jumped, and after investigating the area we were deeply relieved to find the chickens we had been called about! There, in the dense underbrush, were a white silkie rooster and a small red star hen. 

Rainbow hen, left, with Unicorn rooster. (Photo by Hilary Woznica)

Silkie chickens are a very unique breed. Their feathers are soft and fluffy, and they have black skin underneath. Another thing that sets them apart is their five toes (one more toe on each foot than the average chicken has).

Rescuing these stranded birds proved complicated: The brushy area they were hiding in was covered in poison oak. To make matters worse, they were terrified of us. In the end, we were able to surround the area, and a caregiver found a way into the thick brush to rescue them. 

Once home at our Northern California Shelter, we were able to give both birds a thorough examination. Their exams revealed that they were both underweight, had long nails, and were infested with poultry lice. We immediately set to work, trimming their nails, treating them for the poultry lice, and starting them on a nutritious diet. Rainbow and Unicorn thrived once safe at the shelter, relishing the opportunity to scratch around in the straw and eat all of the healthy and nutritious food we offered them. (They soon discovered new favorite foods: blueberries and grapes!) In addition to healing physically, they became much more emotionally settled as well. Instead of running anytime a person showed up, they would linger nearby, by now interested in what we were doing. Rainbow began to run to the door to meet us in the mornings, knowing we had a bowl full of delicious food for her and her friend. And as soon as we placed the food down for them, Unicorn would also run up and pick out his favorite parts of his breakfast. 

Once they completed their routine quarantine period and had been cleared of any health issues, they were able to move out to one of our chicken enclosures with other rescued birds. It is always nerve-wracking to introduce new animals to established residents, and we kept our fingers crossed that these two would mesh well with their new family. To our delight, they fit in with little issue. There were a few standoffs between Rainbow and some of the other chickens, but luckily everything calmed down quickly. Rainbow and Unicorn spent the first few days exploring — chickens are extremely inquisitive, and they clearly wanted to see all there was to see in their new home. 

Rainbow and Unicorn exploring their sanctuary home. (Photo by Hilary Woznica)

One of the most exciting moments for shelter caregivers was when Unicorn started charging us — running full-speed at any caregiver who came to medicate or perform a treatment on one of his new flockmates, then stopping right in front of them. We knew when he started doing this that he wanted to protect his family — and that he did indeed now consider all the chickens in the barn to be his family. 

Rainbow checking out one of the watering lines to a pear tree in her yard. (Photo by Hilary Woznica)

Rainbow and Unicorn love to be outside. There’s a fruit tree in the yard they live in, and Rainbow is fascinated by the water line. She loves to try and catch the water that comes from the line, and she’ll sit in the shade of the tree enjoying the cool, moist ground after the watering is done. Unicorn prefers to explore the yard — he likes to dig in the dirt and then bathe in the dust he kicks up.

It is incredibly rewarding to see the animals we rescue become confident and comfortable at Farm Sanctuary. At our shelters, they are able to be exactly who they were born to be — and whenever we see Rainbow scratching around and exploring or hear Unicorn crowing as loudly as he can, we are proud to see how these ambassadors for their species pave the way for countless individuals just like them.

Unicorn’s impressive crow!

Please share Rainbow and Unicorn’s story. Together, we can encourage awareness and understanding about the rich emotional lives of birds like them. With your support, we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you! 

Thumbelina: Reason Number 8.8 Billion to Switch to a Plant-Based Diet

During Be Kind to Animals Week, and just two days after International Respect for Chickens Day, we have chosen to feature a resident from the chicken meat industry — an industry that sends more than 8.8 billion chickens to slaughter annually in the U.S. alone, and more than 50 billion worldwide. Thumbelina is one of those billions who, if not for a strange twist of fate, would just have just been an unnoticed and unappreciated number and not seen for the amazing chicken gal that she is. 

On factory farms, where the majority of these birds are raised, even the most basic individual care is unheard of. Illness, injury, and early death are common, both because of the conditions in the facility and because these birds are bred to grow prodigiously, rapidly reaching unnatural weights that strain their bodies’ vital systems.   

Thumbelina was one of thousands of birds packed into plastic poultry crates, stacked and held down by straps, being transported down a highway on their way to slaughter. These trucks, driving at or even above the speed limit, carry thousands of these birds at a time, and this one truck had crates improperly secured.  

Trucks stacked more than 12 crates high, each crate containing ten chickens each, drive down major highways taking these frightened birds to slaughter facilities around the world. Above photo by Jo-Anne McArthur of Toronto Chicken Save Vigil — bearing witness as a truckload of Cornish chickens arrives for slaughter.

Because of the loose strap, the crates that held Thumbelina and more than 100 other chickens fell off the truck and onto the Staten Island Expressway. Many of the birds died on impact, and others were humanely euthanized due to the severity of their injuries by the Animal Care Centers of NYC, the agency that rescued the survivors of the accident.  

Thumbelina was one of the 87 surviving birds, and like so many of them, she arrived in rough shape. 

Thumbelina was injured, but also underweight, likely due to her crossed beak. Like the other birds from the rescue, she had suffered abrasions from the fall onto the highway. Many of the birds, like her friend Avalon, needed more serious care, including wing and toe amputations due to compound fractures suffered in the fall.

With the large number of chickens needing care, multiple caregivers worked daily on their treatment.

For weeks, this flock of injured chickens lived at our Melrose Animal Hospital and our outdoor hospital shed, where they received daily treatments ranging from antibiotics, wound care, and pain management to post-surgical care for those who required it.

I think the most important thing to remember is that these chickens, though large enough to be sent to slaughter for meat, are only babies. But they are also around five to six pounds. Five pounds is more than a full-grown leghorn layer weighs, so to see them, you may not realize they are just youngsters.

At night during the first few weeks, the babies huddled together tightly — most still very frightened and unsure of their new surroundings.

And every time birds like these arrive at our shelters, they are frightened at first — not just from the trauma of a fall like the one Thumbelina and her friends experienced, because the majority of so-called “broiler” chickens we rescue do not come from transport accidents — but instead because they are so roughly handled in the industry in which they have been raised. Grabbed by wings and back legs to capture them, and then stuffed into crates, these sweet babies just are not given even the slightest consideration for their status as living, sentient beings. When we first attempt to treat them or handle them to check them, the sounds they make are heartbreaking — they are sounds of fear.

So after a few days with us just being with them, taking care of their wounds, talking to them like they are the special little beings they should be seen as — they come around. And their young-bird playfulness also comes out. This crew took weeks to get there, because many were just too sick and in too much pain, but then they did come around and they had a whole lot of fun.

Thumbelina, like so many of these birds, quickly learned her name, and she soon became a favorite of caregivers who spend time ensuring that she is healthy and happy. She remains on a special feed and is separated from her flockmates during mealtimes, since she cannot consume food as quickly as the other birds because of her beak issues.

Two years later, she is running to us when we call her by her name! Come on, Thumbelina!

Thumbelina runs when called and knows the feed routine — going into her pen to eat, and then when done, waiting patiently to be returned to her pals. She and the group of the most severely injured girls from this rescue live in our healthcare barn and are all still close buddies. As you can see below, she remained with buddies Felicity, Jasper, and Avalon, with whom she spent so much time when she first arrived.

The dry erase board in Thumbelina’s barn, which allows us to make sure everyone is where they need to be! You can see names of her favorite chicken pals, whom she still lives with two years after her arrival. 

Thumbelina with her pals Zoot and Felicity, with Jasper and Avalon in the background. 

And Thumbelina still loves her caregivers and enjoys spending time with them. She is a huge fan of helping with things like charting, as seen below in photo by Senior Caregiver Abbie Rogers, whom Thumbelina loves hanging out with.   She loves to just plop down beside you and see what you are up to (and of course help when needed). 

Very, very helpful when it comes to charting medical issues.  

Thumbelina also loves to sit in a lap — climb on your legs, preen your hair, or just spend time in your company. She is a very special, sweet, and very kind young lady who we all love deeply. And the only thing that separates Thumbleina from the billions of Cornish chickens killed every year for food was fate — an accident that, instead of killing her, saved her life.  

Taking a perching break on Abbie’s leg.

So during this week where we should all be kind to animals, remember that for the land animals who make up the majority of those living on our planet, kindness begins on your plate and with the decisions you make every day when you are deciding what to eat.

Chickens: Just the Facts

The Sad Truth of Life Today

• There are only 7.4 billion humans on our earth right now (“only” is relative to chickens).

• At any given time, there are around 20 billion chickens living on the planet.  
• More than 50 billion chickens raised for meat are slaughtered annually. Most of these chickens live in factory farms.

• Chickens, the vast majority of them in industrial farms globally, lay enough eggs so that every human on the planet could consume an average of 180 eggs per year. On average, Americans used 248 eggs per person in 2015, but the numbers are already showing an increase in 2016.

• Of the 20 billion chickens currently on earth, around 4.93 billion are egg-laying hens.

As you will see from the complex lives of chickens and the information we’ll get into below, this is not even touching the surface of these incredible beings — these billions of chickens are being denied the ability to be who they truly are. 

A Rich History:

1.      Paleontologists believe that birds evolved from dinosaurs, based on fossilized remains. In fact, chickens may actually be the closest living relative of the largest and also scariest predatory dino — the T. Rex. That’s what I said.  

2.      Chickens were domesticated 8,000-10,000 years ago.

Okay — they didn’t look like this eight-foot-tall Phorusrhacos carnivorous creature, but I bet things would be a whole lot different if they had tried.     

3.  Domestic chickens are descendants of wild jungle fowl.

4.  Jungle fowl come from subtropical and tropical forests, from the seashore, or from scrubland bordering cultivated land.  

Two of our beautiful jungle fowl, Flutter and her lovely brother Alfie, hanging with the sheep.

(To learn more about this incredible history, get my favorite chicken book: Chicken, by Annie Potts.)

The Modern Chicken

Let’s start with the brain:

• “Bird brain” is actually a compliment, if you are comparing someone’s brain to that of a chicken. They are very intelligent birds. The brain of the chicken is similar to the brain of the human, in that chickens have great memories but are also problem solvers.  

Chickens have amazing memories! “I remember coming out of this odd oval thing…”

• Chickens can recognize more than 100 different faces of people and other chickens. I know some people who cannot do that.

• Chickens have more than 30 recognizable vocalizations that allow them to communicate with their people. A few favorites include:

• Tidbitting (call and dropping of pieces of food by the rooster to bring his ladies and other flockmates to food);

The loud “kuk kuk kuk” of the male calling the ladies to some good food — and then, of course, either dropping the food for them or allowing them to eat first, since that is what a polite rooster does. 

• Alarm calls: Roosters also sound the alarm when there is danger, such as an aerial predator (often a pigeon overhead will set off the call accidentally) or a ground predator (a cat will also often get this, just because you cannot be sure who is lurking around).

The ever-watchful Milo is always on the lookout for hawks and other predators that could hurt his people. 

• The egg song — or birthing announcement. There are many theories about why the hens start this bawking sound after they lay an egg — but really, only the hens know for sure.
  

The loud sounds of the hens after egg-laying is what we call the “birth announcement” at our sanctuaries (although we do not let them hatch. Sorry, ladies — so many chickens need homes).  

• The sound of a lonely chick — that is one loud sound. (Sad but loud enough to hear all through our hospital — including upstairs — and it works!)

When Cricket arrived, she had leg issues and no other peep friends. The chickens we tried her with would not take her in, so we were her sole companions. She ended up moving in with a caregiver, because when left alone — this was what we heard all over the hospital.

What the Flock

A group of chickens is called a flock, and that flock has a very ordered and easily recognized hierarchy.  

While the girls are hanging with their main man Milo — someone is trying desperately to get their attention off camera. See below.

There can be multiple roosters in the flock, but only one is the head rooster.

The less dominant roosters can use trickery to get hens to come over to their side, but most of the time this is only temporary and they return to their main roo. (See “tidbitting,” above.) 

Pay attention to me- please ladies please! Palmer tries really hard to win over the ladies of his flock, but he is not the dominant rooster. Sorry, Palmer.

Mother hens converse with the chicks while they are in the egg. Chicks in the eggs vocalize back to mom the day before they hatch. They also vocalize to each other.  

Wake up, brother — wake up!

For the first 10 to 12 days after hatching, chicks stay close to the hen. After this age, they begin to feed independently of the hen, but still sleep and warm themselves under her. This stage lasts until six to eight weeks of age. The time at which a hen disassociates from her brood varies, but it typically occurs before the chicks are 12 to 16 weeks of age.

June had around 12 babies under there, but you can only see a few. Mother hens keep babies safe from the elements!

Studies Show: These are some super-complex beings

• Chickens feel and demonstrate empathy. 

Miranda Lee hen grooms an ailing friend while the two are in our onsite hospital.

• Chickens dream when they sleep.

Jane shortly after her rescue, dreaming of a life of freedom.

• According to The Scientific American in their January 2013 edition, chickens possess “communications skills on par with those of some primates” and “use sophisticated signals to convey intentions.”
  

• This same article notes that chickens make decisions taking into account their prior experiences. They can solve complex problems. We see this every day with our chickens. One good example of this comes from Pussy Willow, who learns quickly when an area is available for her to get under the fence and out with the free-roaming flock or with her people. When the fence is patched she stops going to that spot and finds a new area and does not return to that spot again.  

Every day, a group of hens wait for me just outside the hospital and then run after me, clearly letting me know that snacks are what they need. Goby, Clementine and Pussy Willow are my girls. 

A Day in the Life — what do chickens do all day?

The majority of the chickens on our sanctuaries, during the less-extreme temperature days, spend most of their time foraging. Just ask those who work tirelessly on our landscaping — since chickens love nothing more than to scratch and dig.  

No one is better to forage with than a pig — as the ladies here will tell you. They do all the heavy digging — we get all the bugs!

Just like people, birds love to keep clean, and they like to keep their feathers healthy. Birds from industrial farms have very damaged feathers; the thin barbs that come out from the shaft of the feather are pulled apart, and then no longer provide insulation for the bird.

With nowhere to dust, no clean areas, and no room to preen, chickens coming from industrial egg-laying facilities often look like this. 

So sorry about the holes everywhere, but a girl has to dust.

When they preen, chickens are actually using their beaks to realign those barbs — like we do when we pick up a feather on the ground that is messed up, you can smooth the barbs right back down.

Phyllis, let me do that. You are such a mess. Pattrice grooms pal Tekla.

Birds also have a preen gland; during chicken health-check days at our sanctuaries, we check each bird to ensure that this gland is functioning. It produces oil, and during preening, the bird squeezes out the oil onto the beak — so as they are going over each feather, they are also oiling it.  

Chickens also love and need to dust-bathe. Getting dirt under all those feathers keeps the creepy-crawly critters like lice and mites away. We provide dust areas for our chickens year-round — although they kick up quite a bit of dust in the winter inside. In the spring, summer, and fall, however, they love to create their own dust areas.

Dust-bathing is more fun with a pal! Pamela and bigger-than-most-hens gal pal Shannon turkey living it up in the dust!

It’s time for bed:

As the sun starts to set, the chickens go home to roost — the saying is very accurate. All our chickens are put inside at night so they are safe from predators.

Every barn at our sanctuaries has a dry erase board to let you know who lives there, so you can get an accurate head count every night. No one is left to fend for themselves.  

Chickens like to go up as high as possible to ensure that they are safe from predators. Chickens cannot see in the dark — no night vision here — so they have to be high up and safe.

Chickens have feet that lock on the perch so when they fall asleep they do not fall off the branch or perch.  

Because of the genetic and selectively bred changes to the Cornish birds, they cannot perch past a few weeks of age, so they often huddle together on a bale to sleep.  

They usually stop perching just before the sun is coming up, although we find some chickens still perched in the morning when we come to open the barns.

When it is colder chickens snuggle together more tightly.

Celebrating Mother’s Day at Farm Sanctuary

Mother’s Day is a special time to reflect on the influential women in our lives, whose love and guidance have shaped us into the individuals we are today. Whether these mentors are biological or adoptive parents, other relatives, or treasured maternal figures, this day invites us to honor the women we hold dear by sharing how their care has made a difference.

Just like people, farm animal mothers form deep, enriching relationships with their children. Sadly, animals raised for food and other commodities are prohibited from exhibiting these bonds, as profits can only be sustained by separating these families. At Farm Sanctuary, however, animals are valued as the individuals they are, and are free to carry out the natural behaviors they had been deprived of for so long. This includes raising families, and it is a joy to behold.

To celebrate the day, we are pleased to share some of the special bonds we currently see here at sanctuary and to explore the commonalities that mothers and children of all species share.

1. Bovine Bond: Cheryl and Pecan

We are very fortunate to have Cheryl and Pecan in our lives and to witness on a daily basis the transformative power of their love. You see, Cheryl, like most cattle raised for beef, was so terrified of people that it took hours to bring her to safety during the Hudson Valley rescue last fall. Cheryl had seen her friends and family slaughtered before her eyes, possibly including her own children, and the pregnant cow was determined to do all she could to keep this baby safe from harm.

Over the next few months, Cheryl remained wary of our staff but gradually grew more comfortable in her new surroundings with help from Dennis, the only other survivor from their herd. With Dennis’ reassurance, Cheryl became more playful when the humanimals were out of sight, enjoying morning runs together around their pasture. We hoped that once Cheryl’s baby arrived, he or she would further ease mom’s anxiety; that Cheryl would start to trust us more – and perhaps, someday accept us as friends – once she realized she could keep this baby forever.

Cheryl keeps a watchful eye over the energetic Pecan, who is living Farm Sanctuary life to the fullest! With every leap of joy her baby takes, Cheryl feels more and more at ease about her son’s safety.

Pecan’s birth has given Cheryl a new outlook on Farm Sanctuary life. While Cheryl is still cautious around the humanimals she respects our interactions with Pecan, and no longer darts when we approach the pair for health checks. Little Pecan will grow up knowing nothing but love and kindness, and already engages playfully with his humanimal friends. It is a true joy to watch Cheryl finally feel safe enough to just be a mother – to love and care for her child unconditionally, to triumph in his milestones, and to give mutual support as they navigate the rest of their lives together. Pecan’s presence is helping her heal – and we are honored to help them achieve the security and companionship that all beings deserve.

Pecan is always under Mom’s gaze, though Cheryl has become more comfortable letting her son explore the world around him.

2. Kids Make Three: Aretha, Lulu and Min

When we rescued Aretha during the Hudson Valley cruelty case last fall, the pygmy goat was far along in her pregnancy with twins. Due to her small size and our suspicions that a much-larger goat was the father, we monitored her carefully to ensure she would have the necessary support for a safe delivery. 

Fortunately, Aretha’s delivery went smoothly, and we welcomed twins Lulu and Min to our New York shelter. While Aretha was very frightened when she first arrived, her babies are allaying her fears by trusting us – and showing their mom that we mean no harm. Their relationship is beneficial for mom and kids alike, demonstrating how our lives are enriched when we are guided by love.

Early days: These cuties coordinated their outfits for Mom’s first Mother’s Day card.

Enjoying some sunshine and warmer weather.

Aretha and Lulu, two peas in a pod.  With her children by her side, this girl is unstoppable!

3. Co-Parenting Champions: Honey and Nikki

Honey

Nikki and the kids: the early years.

Honey spent her early life as a gestation sow in Iowa, enduring unspeakable loss as one after another of her babies were taken away to be slaughtered for pork. After floods ravaged the region, freeing Honey and her friends from their confines, she was finally able to pursue the relationships she had long sought to maintain. When we paired her with Nikki and her children Ellen, Portia, and Chuck, Honey happily provided co-parenting duties. Pigs by nature form matriarchal societies, where multiple mothers raise their young as a collective family unit. We are honored to allow Honey to live as nature intended, and it warms our hearts to see how much this blended family loves each other.

The kids are all too willing to let their Moms sleep in for Mother’s Day! Ellen, Portia, and Chuck turn eight this year, but they’re never too old for a good cuddle session!

Honey and Chuck enjoy a good Mother’s Day spa treatment; mud baths are the best!

Then they all finish the day with a Mother’s Day hike, led by Nikki!

4. From Christmas Miracle to Mother’s Day Marvel 

When Maggie was born there was not a dry eye in the room; first, because this alert and healthy kid was of course too perfect for words to describe, but additionally because we knew that Maggie would spend her entire life knowing only love, kindness, and protection. 

Born on Christmas Eve, our own little “Christmas miracle” is already changing hearts and minds about farm animals by demonstrating how all beings have rich personalities just like her. And as Maggie and mom Olive celebrate their first Mother’s Day together, they serve as ambassadors for farm animal families everywhere, showing the world just how necessary and beneficial these relationships really are.

Maggie and Olive enjoy some snacks and snuggles!

These two have been playing together since day one, and we look forward to many more adventures in years to come!

“Pssttt… Maggie. Yes, you both have horns, but Dennis is a steer, not a goat!” Olive offers some motherly advice.

Whenever we see this family– including Maggie’s older siblings Jennifer and Roger – play and bond together, we are overwhelmed with gratitude to know these incredible beings. To watch Jennifer stand and eat her way out of a hay bale during mealtime, or to experience the now 50-pound Maggie continue to frolic like a newborn, is a true joy to behold. Please join us as we honor Olive’s first Mother’s Day at sanctuary, where this playful, lovable goat is finally able to simply love her children without inhibition.

5. For the Love of Valentino

Valentino gets some love from adoptive mom Stella.

As we all know, we don’t need to be related by blood to be family. In fact, for many humans and animals alike, some of our deepest bonds come about when we create kinships of our own. For Holstein girls like Faith, Diane, Stella, Kirsty, and Heloise, surrogate motherhood is a way to heal their hearts after recurring loss. Cows in the dairy industry undergo relentless breeding cycles so they can produce milk, at the expense of  the beings for whom their milk is intended. 

Valentino with Faith, one of his many “moms”

Sadly, boys like Valentino are considered useless byproducts since they won’t produce milk, and as Valentino experienced leg deformities as a calf he was considered too “defective” to be sold for veal or cheap beef. Forcibly removed from his biological mother, Valentino lacked the essential nutrients and love that he needed to thrive. After alleviating his medical conditions, however, we introduced him to our Special Needs Herd, where he continues to be showered with as much love and care as he deserves!

Kirsty, our oldest lady, keeps a watchful eye along with the others over her precious Valentino.

There is always enough love to go around; as cattle are herd animals they thrive in groups, so it is only natural that they give and receive love collectively as well. In this family – and in all of our farm animal families – the bonds created are equally important for moms and kids alike, and we are overjoyed to see how each individual truly shines when given the right to live and love as nature intended.

Thank you for honoring all of these family members of Farm Sanctuary. Please share their stories and celebrate with us these individuals who are free to carry out the natural behaviors they had been deprived of for so long. 

With your support we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you!  

Meet Julie Janovsky: A Compassionate Voice in the Face of Disaster

As yesterday was both Mother’s Day and National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, we are honored to share the story of former Farm Sanctuary Director of Campaigns Julie Janovsky, who led us through chaos to rescue 69 pigs — including the incomparable Nikki, an exceptional mother who continues to nurture her babies to this day.

One of the many visits to see her girl and her babies who are all grown up. Julie has not missed watching this beautiful pig blossom into the amazing mother and ambassador that she has become.  Pictured here with Nikki, daughter Ellen, and Julie!

For Nikki and her best friend — and co-parent — Honey, every day is Mother’s Day, as the former breeding sows fully relish all time spent with the babies they are finally free to raise. But sadly, it took a tragedy to grant Nikki, Honey, and kids Ellen, Portia, and Chuck this basic right that all beings deserve.

Always together: Nikki, Honey, Ellen, Portia, and Chuck enjoy a good nap-time snuggle!

Nikki and Honey were born in Iowa, the largest pork-producing state in the nation, and spent the first years of their life producing piglets to be raised and slaughtered for meat. Breeding sows are first impregnated when they are just seven months old, and endure between two to three pregnancies per year before their bodies become so “spent” that they, too are sent to slaughter. In addition to the physical toll of repeated pregnancies, these sows spend most of their lives confined to gestation crates that are barely larger than their bodies; when their piglets are born, they are moved to slightly larger farrowing crates that are still so restrictive that interactions between mother and babies are limited. Even more heartbreaking, however, is the emotional strain these mothers endure; within three weeks their children forcibly removed from them forever, and they are denied their basic instincts parent their babies.

Life as a gestation sow: Mother pigs are so tightly confined that they cannot even stand or turn around.

In June 2008, the course of these pigs’ lives changed forever when the Iowa River overflowed, bursting the levees guarding the region. Media reports indicated that several massive hog factories were located within the flood zone and sadly, many of these pigs were sent to slaughter as a means of evacuation. But the majority of farm owners decided to cut their losses by simply abandoning their facilities, leaving hundreds of pigs to fend for themselves. Many tragically drowned while still in their gestation crates, while others released from their crates were swept away by rapid currents.

Pictures of pigs began to arrived shortly after the flooding sent to us from various groups including Best Friends that showed the horrific state of the pig farms and the surviving pigs.  

“The first kick to the gut was understanding the scope of the many thousands who were left for dead,” recalls Julie. “It was another blow when I realized that they were the more fortunate ones, because they at least had some slim chance. We were there to do whatever we could to help these animals survive.”

Pigs swimming for their lives, many only to make it to land to be killed for fear they would destroy the levees built to save the town.  The situation was heart breaking. 

Farm Sanctuary’s Emergency Rescue Team (which also included humanimal Dan D’Eramo, Farm Sanctuary’s then- Chief Rescue and Investigations Officer) joined forces with teams from three other organizations in one of our most ambitious and extensive farm animal rescue efforts to date. 

A very dirt covered Julie with other rescuers (including Nicholas Gilman in the blue hat) with pigs Sweetpea and Charlie pigs, covered in scabs and terrified (and almost as dirty as their rescuers)!

Julie describes the experience as a “rollercoaster of emotions – shock, sadness, anger, hope, determination, frustration, exhaustion, and ultimately gratitude.” The scene was ghastly to behold, as the grounds were strewn with dead and dying pigs, some of whom were beyond aid and had to be euthanized. 

But through it all, these incredible humanimals drew strength from one another. “My fellow rescuers were inspiring, refusing to give up on even one animal, no matter how tired, bug-bitten, or disheartened they were,” says Julie.

Dick Green, the guru of large scale rescue and now Director of Disaster Response for the ASPCA is setting up the plan for the day. He was an amazing leader that inspired confidence in us all.  

Fortunately local, state, and federal authorities accepted the rescuers and helped in our efforts, allowing us to fully focus on what mattered most: bringing the survivors to safety and granting these individuals the quality of life they deserved. 

Out of the water and searching for areas where pigs are located.  

Surviving on little to no sleep for weeks and working round the clock, Julie and our Farm Sanctuary team along with teams from IFAW, Animal Rescue League of Boston, and the American Humane Association were able to rescue all the surviving pigs. 

One of the systems created for containing the pigs during the rescue.  And what an amazing team involved!

During the second round of rescues (pigs were brought to Farm Sanctuary from the first group already), Julie had the pleasure of meeting Nikki, whose fight for survival and indomitable spirit continues to inspire her to this day.

Team Pig Rescue (or at least some of them!): These are the amazing people who brought the 69 pigs to safety.  All awe inspiring.  

After breaking free from her confines, Nikki gave birth to her piglets on a levee, where she spent the next few days defending them from the scorching sun, predators, and human interference. However, once Nikki realized we meant no harm, she accepted our offers to help her family survive. These initial moments were Julie’s favorite from the entire experience:

Our first glimpse of Nikki and her babies; this sweet girl was dedicated to protecting them at all costs.

“After days of walking the levee in teams, I spotted a clearing in the tall grass that resembled a deer path. Walking toward it and peering into the woods, I spotted a woefully skinny pig with floppy black ears. I grabbed the sports drink that we used to replenish their electrolytes and called softly to her. She approached cautiously, and as I dribbled a little of the drink on her nose, she perked up and downed the entire bottle.”

“I was excited and hopeful, but then she turned and ran. I rushed to follow her through the brush to a small clearing, where I found her lying on her side. Just then, seven tiny piglets came running out of the underbrush to nurse. They were oinking and nudging, and I was giddy beyond comprehension. She just wanted to feed her babies!

“While the piglets romped and chased one another like puppies, we noticed two nesting areas that Nikki had built. In the midst of this catastrophe, she was determined to keep her babies safe, and she had clearly been neglecting her own nourishment in order to provide for them.”

Nikki feeding the babies with her own body breaking down. She kept her children safe in one of the more dangerous environments and as a gestation sow, for the first time, was able to love and care for her children.

As we prepared to escort Nikki and her family to safety, however, we realized just how strong her protective instincts were. “She let out a tremendous squeal,” recalls Julie. “All of the playing piglets immediately ran into a thorn-covered nest – the third that we had not yet discovered. Ultimately, our muddy and bruised team finally managed to pull the piglets out and reunite them with their mother, who we had secured in a holding pen. As we removed each piglet from the dog carrier, Nikki sniffed and nuzzled each. When the final piglet emerged, she immediately rolled over to feed her babies.”

Reunited and it feels so good! Nikki settles in at the rented facility where we housed the pigs until we could bring them back to our Watkins Glen sanctuary.

Despite her appreciation for her rescuers, it took some time for Nikki to realize that she could keep her babies forever. During the piglets’ first health check, for example, Nikki agonized when they were apart, tearing down gates to ensure she would not lose the family she had fought so hard to maintain. Over time, however, Nikki understood that this was to be their forever home, and she has been one of our greatest teachers and friends at sanctuary ever since.

A devoted guardian to these beautiful babies!

Grass under their hooves and the sun on their backs: Nikki’s family grew up living just as pigs should.

“Whatever Nikki had previously endured, she stayed strong for her piglets and as the next days and weeks would show, she was willing to forgive being left behind,” Julie reflects. “Instead, she trusted us. This was almost certainly the first in her four- or five-year life that she had even been outside, much less alone and in muddy flood waters. We don’t know how many other litters she previously had, but there is no doubt that she was confined to a crate, unable to socialize or feel the sun, or even nuzzle her own mother.” 

And yet, as horrific as Nikki’s life had been, she constantly put her own needs aside to become the mother she had long yearned to be. “Admiration, love, forgiveness, and strength – that’s what I took away from the Midwest Flood Rescue, and what Nikki taught me.” To this day, whenever Julie visits she brings “her girl” some Gatorade, in honor of their first connection and to symbolize the sweetness that Nikki brings to her life.

Red lips and tons of love for rescuer Julie.

We are so thankful for Julie and all individuals who take tremendous risks to save animals from disasters every day. With their support, animals like Nikki are finally free to live the lives they were born to have, and they teach us important lessons in resilience and gratitude in return. This treasured friend inspires many, whether they connect with her story in our What Came Before video or spend the night in Farm Sanctuary’s onsite Bed & Breakfast cabinnamed in her honor.

Whenever we see Nikki we think of all the people who helped bring her to safety and how very lucky we are to be part of such a hard working community of animal rescuers.  We could not have rescued Nikki and the 68 other pigs without the wealth of knowledge and experience that Julie brought to the table and without her tireless energy and drive to get the job done.  

And the bond between the pigs and Julie continues when she visits them usually multiple times a year.  She and Nikki are like old pals catching up (and Julie brings the drinks, the red Gatorade that started the trust and love between them). And Nikki clearly knows exactly who Julie is and we are sure she will never forget that first act of kindness she ever received by any human; her friend Julie. 

Please share this story and help inspire others to join humanimals like Julie in pursuit of a more compassionate life. Together, we can encourage awareness and understanding about farm animals like Nikki, her family and all of the pigs we rescued from the Iowa floods of 2008. With your support we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. And we can continue to tell the stories of these animals as someone, not something. 

The Doctor is Definitely In:  The Story of a Very Special Pig and his Journey to Freedom

When I look back on the 2008 Iowa flood rescue, I think of the phone calls, the loading up of the trailer, the sending two of our staff members out to Iowa knowing nothing of the severity of the floods. I remember the sick and injured animals, the sleepless nights and long hot days — but what I remember the most are the times with the pigs in the rented stockyard where we held them until we could bring them home. This is where I met “The Doctor,” and where he got his name.

Like so many of the pigs found on the levee during the rescue, The Doctor was weak, unable to stand on his own, had horrible pneumonia, and was suffering from 2nd- and 3rd-degree burns. Like all the pigs, he was dehydrated and terrified and completely unaware of what was happening. 

Like all of the pigs, The Doctor had been in a factory farm. He’d been a “feeder pig,” taken away from his mother in one of the many gestation houses in the area to be raised for six months and then killed for meat. But he and his friends were considered too small and not worth the low price the farmers would get for them. So rather than being sent to slaughter, they and thousands of other pigs in the many industrial farms in the town were simply left to die. 

Feeder piglets start out with space, but like other animals put in factory situations as babies, they quickly grow — from 2.5 pounds to 250 pounds in six months, actually. That is a lot of weight, and they soon become very crowded. 

But The Doctor and 68 other pigs proved them all wrong. They did not drown in the floods, although thousands of pigs did. Their will to live and their ability to navigate this strange and frightening world during that terrible storm brought them out of the hell they had lived in to a place where, for the first time, someone cared for them as individuals. They really mattered. 

And The Doctor stood our right away. He had the most beautiful eyes, a very unique face, and a kindness that was evident from the moment he came in. I was not out on the levee, but instead remained at the rented stockyard to assess health issues and start treatments on the pigs as they arrived, and to get them healthy enough to travel back to New York.

When the Doctor arrived, he was too weak to stand. He was with a group of about six pigs, including two others in the same shape as him, so we put the three sickliest in a pen by themselves to recover.  The Doctor and his two friends were in horrific shape: loud, crackling lung sounds; severely burned ears and backs with thick, infected scabs; and infections in their legs, which can easily be fatal in pigs and piglets.

Based on their size, these pigs were around two months old at the most, and they were so frightened. The bravest was The Doctor, who, once he had settled in, took on the role of greeter. In a pig herd, this is the sound they make to get reassurance from the head pig that they are being passive — not wanting any problems.  

The other two, who we named Phillip and Mr. Biggles, were so frightened that they trembled uncontrollably at first. Phillip was so ill that he could not regulate his body temperature, even in the summer heat. But he would not sleep in blankets — he wanted instead to be close to his friends, who were too hot to sleep under the covers, and Phillip would wedge himself every night between Mr. Biggles and The Doctor. 

So how did The Doctor get his name? Well, it turns out that, after a few doses of antibiotics and pain medications, this boy rallied and became my partner in all things healthcare. His two friends were far sicker, and when I came in to check them and bent down on the ground to do their treatments, this amazing, sweet pig would put his head on my shoulder and talk — like he was instructing me on what they needed. I used to say, “Who are you — the doctor?” … and it stuck. He became “The Doctor.”

And in fact he was like a doctor. He licked the wounds of his sick herdmates, but most of all, he was the buffer between them and the humans they were so afraid of. He was by their side during treatments, including shots and wound debriding, both terrifying and painful for young pigs who knew little of kindness from humans at this point. By the time we were ready to take this group of pigs home, their fears were subsiding and they were healthy enough to travel to New York to start living their new lives. 

Bravely walking off the truck and to his new life, with buddies Gomer, Biggles, and Felicia coming out behind him. Humanimal Dan is handy with a flashlight. 

Hanging with pal Julie, who helped rescue him in Iowa. 

Cute-faced boy looking up at his caregivers waiting for a meal. He has always had the most beautiful eyes!

And don’t think his life was all sadness — even though it started out bad, it has been nothing but good since the day he was rescued. The Doctor became quite the popular pig and is a friend to so many humanimals as well as to his lifelong partner in crime, Sleepy.  

Sleepy was found washed up between two trees and taken from Iowa directly to the Nemo Farm Animal Hospital at Cornell University, where she remained for weeks while the Doctor and friends were being rescued. The last picture is Sleepy now — a far cry from the dying young pig we met in Iowa. 

Sleepy was the sickest of the young pigs rescued, and because of severe damage to her lungs, she cannot live in a larger herd (where she could potentially get in a squabble with others) — so she and The Doctor have their own place. Their home is a small barn on about an acre of land, which they immediately turn over when spring hits.

Sleepy and Mr. Biggles running through the grass — free at last!

And like so many pigs raised on industrialized farms, these two are nonstop action. They do not like to stay inside all day, and spend as much active time outside as possible. Even in the coldest winter months, they will be seen plowing through the snow, looking for dirt to root through or sticks to bring into their house, or just to eat some fresh snow.

Loving the snow! The Doctor creates a path by his precious apple trees — although it is a long wait until fall, he may find some old apples under the snow!

And the Doctor is one smart pig. He has personally trained a team of caregivers to do his bidding, especially in the fall when there are apples on the tree. 

He starts talking — and loudly, if his message is not getting through — to explain to his often-clueless humanimals that he cannot reach the apples on the tree and needs their reach to shake the branches and shower him with his favorite fruit!

I need apples! Here I come in my muddy boots!

He also loves to follow the cattle up the hill when they are walking from pasture to pasture — since their alleyway butts up against The Doctor’s area. He and Sleepy “hoot hoot” and run beside their long-legged neighbors as they make their way to the upper pastures.

A visit from Joan Jett brings the Doctor out to meet her — with Sleepy close behind. 

And the Doctor is quite famous — so much so that a short video of him was narrated by John Corbett — yes, the John Corbett, from “Northern Exposure,” Aiden on “Sex in the City,” and he is also a country western singer. Pretty amazing indeed. And Joan Jett came to visit him — just incredible!  The Doctor is one lucky and very special guy!

The Doctor’s story, as told by John Corbett.

The Doctor also has lots of friends beside celebs who come to visit him and is quite popular with many people. Over the past eight years, The Doctor has made a lot of connections with guests and has really taught people how amazing pigs really are! He is an amazing ambassador and has changed many people into vegetarians and vegans.  

Doctor posing with buddy Eric. Sorry if I got you muddy, Eric!

He is still very much in love with Sleepy, but is also a friend to his many caregivers. He loves attention, and when he was smaller, he would literally lay across your stomach and talk into your ear. He loved to be hugged tightly against your body and would actually fall sound asleep being held. He got a little big for that, of course, so now he settles for a belly rub (thank goodness).

He was already a bit big in this photo and made it impossible to get a picture of him. This was the typical tackle-and-snuggle move.  

He still loves a good nap, and has no shame about it. After hours outside in the morning, a pre-lunch siesta is often on the schedule.  

Big yawns from our big friend.

So although The Doctor had a rough start, his life ended up being one of the very best a pig could dream of. Pigs are brilliant animals who live life to the fullest. (Read about some fun pig facts here). Sadly, more than 100 million every year in the U.S. live on industrial farms and never get even the most basic joys that The Doctor, Sleepy, and others are able to experience every day. 

The Doctor is among the lucky ones, and we hope you’ll share his story. He is truly someone, not something. With your support we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you!

Bill: From Slaughterhouse to Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary was first alerted to the plight of Bill and his friends by Santa Cruz Animal Services. SCAS investigator Todd Stosuy had first seen a cow with a bloody horn from the road, which prompted him to take a closer look at the Watsonville, CA, feedlot and slaughterhouse facility where Bill and his friends were being kept. Stosuy then initiated a full investigation at the property, where he found many ill and malnourished animals, including a group of goats with overgrown and rotted hooves. All of these animals had either been acquired by the facility owner at auction or bred on the farm — and all of them, had Stosuy not intervened, would have eventually been hand-picked and then slaughtered by local customers, if they didn’t die from neglect first.

Some of the animals at the Watsonville property.

Fortunately, Bill and 12 of his friends found their way to Farm Sanctuary. (Learn more about the animals rescued in Watsonville and the compassionate animal control officer who made it possible.)

Bill disembarks from the trailer to begin his new life at Farm Sanctuary!

Since their rescue, the goat survivors from this facility have been a tight-knit family. At our Northern California Shelter, they were provided with all the love and care they had previously been denied, and we were determined that they would never want for anything again. (Except, perhaps, for strawberries — which they want all the time! As far as they are concerned, they will never have enough strawberries.)

Bill peeks out of the barn shortly after his rescue.

From the beginning, Bill stood out, not just because of his poor condition and missing horn, but also because of how gentle he was; he seemed to know that he was now in a better place and was finally safe. 

Bill with some of his fellow Watsonville survivors, shortly after their rescue.

It has now been eight years since these formerly sick, emaciated, parasite-infested, and scared goats arrived at Farm Sanctuary. When Bill first came to us, he was desperately thin and suffering from a horrible lice infestation all over his body. We started him on a nutritious diet and began treatment for the lice. In spite of all he had endured before his rescue, Bill was sweet, calm, and gentle from the start — some things never change! This remarkable goat continues to be a rock of the herd. He always seems to be balanced, never wavering from the kind and lovable personality he first showed us when we met him in 2008 (eight years ago this week!).

Bill, front, with friend Tanya shortly after their rescue in Watsonville.

Though Bill now lives in a herd with more goats than just the guys and gals he was rescued with, he still takes extra-special care of his friends who survived with him. He’s never far away from one of his best friends, Swoosie goat, who was also rescued from the Watsonville property. But that isn’t to say he hasn’t made new friends at Farm Sanctuary as well! He has become extremely close to many of the other rescued goats at our Northern California Shelter, including two especially dear friends: Mac and Poppy.

Bill, center, with his family in the pasture!

From the moment they run out of the barn first thing in the morning to their last lingering moments hanging out outside the barn before being put inside for the night, Bill is inseparable from his family. If his friends are in one spot and his beloved strawberries are in another, Bill will forego the strawberries to be near his friends. Now that’s devotion!

Goat buddies! Bill, right rear, with some of his nearest and dearest.

After a traumatic beginning, Bill’s past eight years have been filled with good food, clean dry straw to sleep on, back scratches, treats, and lots of playtime with his animal and humanimal friends. He often likes to be the first goat of his herd to exit the barn and seize the day. He relishes his life at the farm, and we love having him here every bit as much as he loves being here!

Bill likes to be one of the first goats out of the barn in the morning, ready to begin his day with his friends by his side!

As Bill has gotten older, his care needs have gradually changed; he’s now fed a special mash to supplement his diet every day. When we first started him on this special feed, he and his pal Mac were both receiving mashes in the mornings, but they were separated to make sure they were both getting all the food they needed. However, neither goat was eating as much as we expected, and each would go and stand by the gate that separated them, just waiting for the moment when they would be put back together. It soon became clear that these dear friends would only eat their food if they could eat it together — so we modified the way we were feeding them, and now they both eat happily next to one another (and neither ever has any issue finishing all of their food). 

Mac, left, and Bill enjoying mealtime together. These friends showed us that they did not need (or want) to be separated to eat!

Of course, Bill is a much older goat today then he was when he first arrived, but he still knows how to live the good life on the farm! After his breakfast, he likes to take a break to go outside and nap in the California sunshine — always close to his friends. After this (or if it gets too warm), he will come into the mister-cooled barn to eat fresh hay and snuggle with his buddies. He always has time for his humaninal friends as well, and will usually come over for a quick (or not so quick, if the mood strikes!) scratch or brushing before going back to his goat friends. 

“Is that a camera I see?” Sweet Bill coming over for a visit with a humanimal pal.

Bill avoided a terrible fate and is now living the Farm Sanctuary life! We are grateful every day that we were able to offer him everything that he — and every animal — deserves in life. 

For Bill, right, and his Farm Sanctuary buddies, life is good!

Please share Bill’s story. Together, we can encourage awareness and understanding about the rich emotional lives of goats like him. With your support we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you!

Thank You, Turkey Fairy! 
Love, Christina and Jackie

So just who is this Turkey Fairy? Well, it is the name we call the mysterious someone who leaves boxes of poults (baby turkeys) — usually recently debeaked, and detoed, or in some cases just debeaked — on our doorstep. When I first arrived at Farm Sanctuary and found my first cardboard box filled with turkey poults on the porch of the white house (which served as both the office and hospital area) 16 years ago, I remember opening the box and being so shocked to find recently debeaked and detoed poults — a few dying and the rest very sick. I asked where they came from — and got the answer, “Maybe it was a turkey fairy.”

The story of Jackie and Christina started out much the same way — only 16 years after my first “turkey fairy” visit. Their group was not in a box but instead was dropped off in an empty pen in our rescue barn. We had it all set up for chickens who were to arrive a few days later, but there they were, like they had been there all the time. And these were not newly hatched poults, but about a month old, with only a tiny amount of baby fluff remaining. 

They all had upper respiratory infections, but they were not as sickly as the group that arrived the previous year. They were very dirty, but with a little cleaning and a round of antibiotics, they quickly rallied and were acting like healthy baby turkeys in no time.

They became active and very curious, and the two who really stood out were the two tiniest of the babies. These two turned out to be Jackie and Christina — our featured “rebirth-day girls” of the day. And these two tiny gals were (and are) incredible. Full of curiosity, but also very trusting, they became our official Lap Turkeys. 

Getting a little love from their new friends Timothy and Samantha! Christina shows them what the term “lap turkey” actually means.  

These two little gals quickly won over everyone they met with the attention they gave the humanimals and also because they were so adorable. Even as tiny little turkeys, they wanted so much to be grown up. Jackie and Christina were far smaller than their pals (who were mostly boys, but a few were female). But that did not stop them. They perched on the fences, jumped on bales, and kept up with their giant buddies, never missing a beat. These were two tough little ladies. 

Sweet baby Christina  perched on the fence, her tiny little feet holding on like her wild cousins.  The way a turkey should be!  

And then came the time when they were ready to hit the flock and learn to be the big turkeys they thought they were. At first they were terrified, but soon they found their place in the ranks of the older girls. They even became friends with a few of them — and then came right back to the humans they had grown to love.

Outgrowing their little pen at our onsite hospital, it was clear the time had come for them to join the flock. 

So Ben, I know you are just a guy and I am a turkey, but we have so much in common. Stop laughing — I am being serious. (Ben is a friend to all turkeys!)

Both girls had a love for farm assistant Ben, who always stopped by after work to chat with the turkeys. They adored him and often took to perching on his arm, like Jackie in the photo above — or even on his head, like some of the bigger boys. Thankfully, Ben could handle their larger size. 

For the first few months, the babies continued to roost on the fence. Sadly, as turkeys like them (who’ve been bred to be abnormally top-heavy by the meat industry) grow, they can no longer fly up to perch — but while they can, they take full advantage. 

But even when they became too big to perch, nothing was keeping these two life-loving ladies from running around and checking out everyone and everything in their new world. 

Jackie and Christina having fun in the pasture.

Going from the confines of a factory farm to rich green grass, straw bedding at night, sunshine and fresh air — it is like a dream come true, not only for these two beauties, but for us all, seeing the way they relish every moment of their lives. 

Hey, Rachael — thanks for the grain, lady!

At our annual Hoe Down event, the girls were a huge hit, along with the turkeys dropped by that super special turkey fairy the year before them. They delight all who meet them and teach people that although more than 230 million turkeys are killed each year for food in the U.S. alone, there is more to them than just a meal.  

Beautiful Christina striking a pose!

They are kind, loving, sensitive beings who choose whom they like and dislike, and whom they become friends with — other turkeys, humanimals, chickens, or even goats. They are individuals, as all animals are, with very different personalities.

Christina met her first! The girls made a new friend in Vyolet at last year’s Hoe Down!

She seems okay so I will meet her too! Jackie also decides to check out her new humanimal pal Vyolet! 

Christina loves to just be quiet and very zen with people who want to spend time petting her and just enjoying the day, while Jackie is more action-oriented and wants to go on walks outside. She will walk all over the pasture with a humanimal she gets attached to. Christina will lay beside a humanimal for hours, purring softly as they pet her beautiful feathers, while Jackie is just a bit more hyper and wants to keep moving!

The girls and their friends getting some attention from humanimal friends Mark and Lisa — you can actually hear the turkeys purring!

Christina was always our resident lap turkey as a baby, but Jackie took a while to come around, and she still is hesitant with people she does not know. She is, however, much more curious about the nonhuman animals, like the new goats who moved into her pasture — Benedict and Chucky, a far cry from their usual roommates!

Newcomers to the turkey area are tiny special-needs goat boys Chucky and Benedict. The girls are quite smitten with them.

Sweet-faced Christina posing for the camera!

Seeing these birds go from frightened babies to curious and loving adults makes us all so happy. Both Christina and Jackie have gone from frightened and very sickly babies to healthy, happy, and loving adults who have replaced their fear with curiosity and a love of their new world.  

Jackie and Christina, together forever — BTFF, Best Turkey Friends Forever!!!

And this past November, the ladies were able to join in their very first Celebration for the Turkeys — our 29th annual event. They, like the turkeys rescued over the past 29 years, had a feast as the guests of honor — not the main course. They had the time of their lives, and the human bonds they had made only grew stronger as they met new people who clearly loved and appreciated them for who they are, too!

A party — for us????

Jackie, the shyer of the two girls, really showed her stuff during the celebration. She not only came right up to people she had never seen before, but she really seemed to enjoy this party atmosphere. She seems to have finally realized that people who come to the sanctuary mean her no harm and actually really look at her with a sense of awe and love. 

Jackie hanging with her new people at this year’s celebration!

And the two girls remain together — best pals for life, though they have both made friends of their own along the way as well. Jackie seems to be buddies with Elsa, and Christina with her pal Anna. Turkeys, just like people, pick out their friends and who they choose to spend time with.  

Please share Jackie and Christina’s story. Together, we can help spread awareness that turkeys like them are each someone, not something — each with his or her own personality, interests, likes, and needs. With your support we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you!

Meet Vince! The Goat Once Used as a Tree Trimmer’s Payment Has Become an Expert Tree Trimmer Himself

Farm animals raised commercially are treated as commodities rather than the sentient beings they are. Take Vince, who, at just two days old, was essentially used as currency. Vince was born at a goat dairy. Like cows (and all other mammals), goats must be impregnated in order to lactate, which means that goat dairies produce not only milk but also baby goats. The male kids, being of no use to the dairy operation, are considered byproducts and often sold cheaply at auction. In Vince’s case, the dairy owner found an even more direct way to trade in on Vince: He gave the tiny kid as partial payment to a man who had trimmed the farm’s trees.

Like the dairy owner, the tree-trimmer had no use for Vince, so later that day he began going to door-to-door in his neighborhood attempting to sell the kid. When he offered Vince to a compassionate neighbor, Jolene, she initially declined, since she had neither the expertise nor the facilities to raise a goat. But then she saw the man heading toward the home of neighbors whom she knew had previously slaughtered pigs in their backyard for family celebrations. Envisioning the same brutal end for Vince, Jolene panicked. She ran after the tree-trimmer, secured Vince, and brought him back to her house.

Four days later, in the evening, Jolene called Farm Sanctuary in desperation. When she had obtained Vince, she’d researched the needs of young kids, procured appropriate food for the baby, and provided care for him on top of looking after her four young children and two dogs — no small task, since baby goats require frequent nursing.

For the first three days, Vince had fared well. But on the fourth day, he had no appetite and drank hardly any of his formula. Since failure to nurse is dangerous for baby goats, Jolene grew increasingly concerned. She called a local vet, explained what was happening, and sent photos of Vince. When the vet told her Vince was a sheep, not a goat, she decided to seek help elsewhere. She called other groups and organizations, but to no avail. Then she got in touch with Farm Sanctuary.

We knew Vince needed aid immediately or he might not survive the night. Two of our staff members set out at once, driving four hours to arrive at Jolene’s house after midnight. There, they met Vince, who had been suffering from a case of diarrhea for the previous two hours. In another two hours, the staffers arrived at a veterinary hospital with Vince in tow.

Farm Sanctuary staffer Danielle Petrovich holds tiny Vince on the way to the hospital. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

Vince had a rough start at the hospital. He continued to have diarrhea and refused to eat for the first day, requiring tube-feeding. His protein levels were low, indicating that he had not been able to receive enough immunity-boosting colostrum from his mother’s milk (or possibly none at all). Vets started Vince on antibiotics and pain medication. Slowly but surely, he began to feel better. Finally, after two weeks of hospitalization, he was ready to come home to our Southern California Shelter.

National Placement Manager Alicia Pell holds baby Vince.

At Farm Sanctuary, Vince had a safe home, nourishing food, and devoted caregivers, but something was missing: a friend to be by his side. As luck would have it, we soon met two other kids who needed the same thing. 

Calvin, Vince, and Paul Harvey: the best of friends!

Within weeks of Vince’s arrival, we rescued two other young male goats, Calvin and Paul Harvey, from a local goat dairy. Vince and Calvin had a couple of weeks to get acquainted before Paul Harvey arrived.  

Vince and Calvin (or, as they were collectively known until Paul Harvey entered the picture, “Calvince”) at play.

The three boys were instant best friends, and nearly a year later, they are hardly ever out of each other’s sight.

Calvin to Vince: “Let me tell you a secret about Paul Harvey…”

Vince initially led the trio of young goats, but before long, he had abdicated his throne to Paul Harvey. Vince is more stoic than Paul and appears to appreciate having his friend take the lead. Vince will wait patiently as Paul makes the initial exploratory inroad for affection from a humanimal. Once contact has been made, though, Vince is quick to follow his friend and soak up all the affection he can get.

Vince decided to let Paul Harvey take the lead.

Vince now spends his days enjoying roaming the hillside with Calvin and Paul Harvey and the mother-daughter goat duo of Claire and Erika. Fear not, Yoda llama is usually lurking nearby, too!

The goat boys with their ever-watchful babysitter and friend, Yoda.

Vince is particularly adept at traversing the hillside for nature’s hidden treats. The hill’s best treats are high in the trees. Vince does not despair at this obstacle; instead, he rears back and stands tall on his hind legs. The delicious juniper trees are his playground.  

He stands tall (if not a little precariously, with his round belly) to enjoy the trees’ bounty. He even graciously shares the spoils with his friends.

When not gallivanting on the hillside, Vince can be found testing his balance on a recycled teeter-totter. He, Paul Harvey, and Calvin spend time every day jumping on and off this toy. Vince, in particular, enjoys following their humanimal friends onto the teeter-totter.  

Playing and foraging are lots of fun, but Vince is a multi-dimensional goat who also enjoys life’s quiet pleasures. Napping and sitting in the barn in quiet contemplation is where he’s most likely to be found when he’s not running up and down the hillside.

Vince’s rocky start in life — from the dairy farm where his life was not valued to the potential peril of winding up in the wrong hands to critical illness – stands in stark contrast to the peaceful existence he now enjoys with his friends at sanctuary. Every day, this special young goat inspires us with his resilience, his love of life, and his dedication to his friends. 

Please share Vince’s story. Together, we can increase awareness that the dairy industry is harmful to goats in addition to cows, and spread the word about the rich social and emotional lives of goats like him. With your support we can continue to promote compassionate vegan living through rescue, education, and advocacy efforts. A compassionate world begins with you!

The Week in Photos, Videos (and a GIF or Two): May 8-14 at Farm Sanctuary’s New York Shelter!

It’s been a busy week at Farm Sanctuary’s New York Shelter! Here’s a look at what our residents have been up to.

Little Calf, Meetthe Big Cattle!

For new mom Cheryl and her young son Pecan, the week was especially eventful: Cheryl spent her first Mother’s Day with the baby she loves so, so much. As you may recall, Cheryl was rescued from a horrific backyard butcher operation in October. She was pregnant when she arrived, and gave birth to little Pecan in the safety of sanctuary last month. Cheryl and Pecan bonded in a private pasture for his first month (and change) of life, but we knew that life in a herd would help Cheryl feel more comfortable. This week, they moved into the special-needs herd, where the members tend to be more gentle than their counterparts in the main herd and the vibe is a bit more calm.

Cheryl and Pecan have been getting to know their new herdmates, like gentle Merlin, shown above meeting young Pecan.

Above, Pecan exploring his new surroundings.

Did you hear? Pals Chucky and Benedict have new roommates, too.

The boys, who were also rescued from the backyard butcher operation in October, have both dealt with health issues as a result of the treatment they received there. But they are so happy and absolutely love Farm Sanctuary life!

And now there’s even more for them to love: They’re enjoying a new (to them) pasture and meeting their new pasture-mates, the turkey ladies!

They’re settling in nicely (as Chucky demonstrates above), and the turkeys seem to approve of the arrangement, too! 

And speaking of turkeys…

We’re celebrating the anniversary – or “rebirth-day,” if you will – of two very special best friends this week. Christina and Jackie turkeys were left at Farm Sanctuary a year ago by an anonymous person we know only as the “Turkey Fairy.” They and the rest of the group we found that morning had clearly come from an industrial farm; they were suffering from upper respiratory infections but, with proper care, were soon feeling better and taking to their new lives with the gusto that only baby turkeys can. (The other members of their group have since gone on to wonderful homes through our Farm Animal Adoption Network, whose members have made it possible for us to rescue and rehome thousands of farm animals, from turkeys to cattle, over the past 30 years.)

Christina and Jackie are thriving at sanctuary, and incidentally, they are quite smitten with their new goat “roommates”! In honor of their special occasion, these amazing turkey gals were our featured Farm Sanctuary residents of the day on Thursday here at Animals of Farm Sanctuary.

And more moves…

It was time for our sheep friends, and the goats who live with them, to move to a new pasture as well. 

This was an exciting development for Roger goat, right, who seemed like he couldn’t wait to explore this new (to him) pasture!

“It’s a bird…it’s a plane…” It’s Skye goat looking at the sky!

The beautiful Anne sheep (who recently marked a happy milestone: four years at Farm Sanctuary!) was ready to get down to the business of grazing.

After the pasture move and some grazing time, Skye was ready to relax!

And even more moves…

It was also time for our main cattle herd to switch pastures.

Sonny made sure to take time out to say hello.

Main-herd member Moo checking things out.

Gidget taking in her new surroundings. The new pasture seems to meet with everyone’s approval…

…even the deer! They can often be found hanging out in our various pastures, unfazed by the farm animals grazing or playing nearby. (Learn more about our wild-animal neighbors and see photos and video.)

Baby-goat shenanigans 

The grass is always greener…

Young Lulu broke in to the turkey ladies’ pasture, and as you can see, she was quite excited about it. This little lady — who, like Pecan, was born in safety after her mother Aretha came to Farm Sanctuary from the Hudson Valley rescue — was very proud of herself, but she was soon returned to mom.

And squirrel shenanigans

Caught in the act! This little one decided to help him- or herself to some food from the bird feeder. And look at that expression — not even the slightest bit guilty about it.

Time for some relaxation!

As they often do, life partners Lila and Elliott took time out to cuddle in the pasture on a lovely sunny day! Like Anne sheep, Lila recently celebrated her fourth “rebirth-day.“ Four years ago, she was rescued, near death, from terrible neglect, and embarked on a wonderful new life. 

Chuck enjoyed his first mud puddle of the season! (Read about the rescue that brought this happy boy, along with his mom Nikki, honorary mom Honey, and siblings Ellen and Portia, to Farm Sanctuary.)

What will the next week bring? Stay tuned! Chucky is on the edge of his seat.

For more updates from our shelters, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Want to meet our incredible rescued residents in person? Learn how to visit here. Want to help? Your support makes our rescue, education, and advocacy efforts possible. You can also help by sharing our residents’ stories to spread the word that farm animals like them are each someone, not something. A compassionate world begins with you!