Finding New Life in a Sanctuary
June 26, 2012It's not everyday that you see a cause dedicated to the non-domesticated animals of the world, such as cattle, goats, pigs, chickens or sheep. After all, these are livestock – animals primarily bred for slaughter towards human consumption.
Farm Sanctuary begs to differ. An organization with three shelters in the United States, Farm Sanctuary offers a safe refuge for farm animals that have been victims of neglect and abuse. In a world where instant gratification is the norm, factory farm warehouses and breeding places often resort to cruel means in order to provide the world with meat. Animals are crowded with no room for movement in dark, damp places, have no access to fresh air and wholesome food, and are de-beaked, tail-docked, castrated, de-toed and generally mutilated in order to cater to public desire for “better” animal products.
On Farm Sanctuary's New York, Northern and Southern California sanctuaries, animals that are being constantly rescued from such perilous situations are given new hope and better lives. Since it was founded in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has been visiting stockyards, farms, warehouses and slaughterhouses to look for animals in need of care. Most of the farm animals residing at the sanctuaries are those that have been left for dead.
Farm Sanctuary doesn't just stop there, though. They also make it a point to educate the public on the plight of these animals, and on the poor living conditions present in such farms and warehouses through their “Visit the Farm” program, where people can see the rescued animals for themselves, and the yearly “Walk for Farm Animals,” a fund-raising campaign for awareness. The organization likewise has a video and photo library which documents the issues in agriculture, many of which have been used to promote the cause. Prominent publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post have featured Farm Sanctuary and its efforts, and the organization continues to push for reform in federal laws to include farm animals in the Animal Welfare Act. Farm Sanctuary is currently helmed by Gene Baur, president and co-founder, and the man whom TIME magazine has called “the conscience of the food movement,” due to his activism for farm animals.Posted by Charity Watcher. Posted In : Environment
