Farm Sanctuary facts for kids
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| Formation | 1986 |
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| Founders | Gene Baur and Lorri Houston |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose | Animal protection |
| Location | |
Farm Sanctuary is an American group that works to protect farm animals. It started in 1986. It was the first place in America to offer a safe home, called a sanctuary, for animals like cows, chickens, and pigs.
Farm Sanctuary helps animals by rescuing them. They also teach people about animal welfare and encourage veganism. Veganism means choosing not to eat or use animal products.
The organization has two main locations. One is a large 300-acre sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York. It is home to over 800 animals. The other location is in Acton, California, near Los Angeles, and cares for more than 100 animals.
The documentary film Peaceable Kingdom once showed Farm Sanctuary. Another film, The Ghosts in Our Machine (2014), features a scene where photographer Jo-Anne McArthur visits the farm. She went there to relax from her work photographing large animal farms.
Contents
History of Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary was started in 1986 by Gene Baur and Lorri Houston. They first raised money by selling vegetarian hot dogs at concerts. The very first animal they rescued was a sheep named Hilda. She was found in a pile of animals behind a meat processing plant.
Gene Baur wrote a book in 2008 called Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food. This book shared the story of the organization. It became a bestseller in some newspapers. In 2015, Baur released another book, Living the Farm Sanctuary Life. This book included many vegan recipes.
Helping Animals Through Laws
Farm Sanctuary works to change laws that affect farm animals. They want to stop cruel ways of keeping animals.
Stopping Animal Confinement
Farm Sanctuary has helped ban certain ways of keeping farm animals. They supported public votes to make these changes.
In 2002, they helped pass a law in Florida. This law stopped the cruel caging of pregnant pigs. These pigs were kept in small metal pens where they could not even turn around. The law passed with 55% of people voting for it.
In 2006, Arizona residents voted on a similar law. This law required that pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal have enough space. By December 31, 2012, their pens had to be large enough for them to turn around and stretch. This measure passed with 62% of the votes. Farm Sanctuary helped fund this effort.
Banning Force-Feeding
Farm Sanctuary also worked to ban the force-feeding of ducks and geese. This practice is used to make foie gras.
In 2004, California passed a law banning this practice. The law also stopped the sale of foie gras made this way. Both parts of the law became active in 2012.
Farm Sanctuary supported a ban on selling foie gras in Chicago in 2006. However, this ban was later removed in 2008.
In 2007, Farm Sanctuary started a campaign in New York City. They wanted to stop the sale of foie gras there. Many stores and restaurants in New York City agreed not to sell it. Large grocery chains like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's also made this promise.
Concerns About Animal Cloning
Farm Sanctuary has spoken out against allowing cloned animals for food. They are worried about the health problems in cloned animals. They also worry about the mother animals carrying cloned babies. They say cloned animals can have serious health issues.
Legal Actions for Animals
Farm Sanctuary has also used lawsuits to protect animals.
In 1998, a Farm Sanctuary member tried to get the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ban "downed animals" from the food supply. Downed animals are those too sick or injured to stand or walk. They argued these animals could spread diseases. A lawsuit followed, and in 2003, a court agreed that downed cattle might be more likely to have certain diseases.
Soon after, the USDA announced a new rule. It banned downed cattle from entering the food supply. This rule became permanent in 2007. In 2009, the USDA made it a complete ban.
Farm Sanctuary also challenged animal care standards in New Jersey. In 2008, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the state's agriculture department had not set good enough humane standards. The court also said that certain painful procedures on farm animals were not "humane" just because a "knowledgeable individual" did them.
Changing Businesses for Animals
Farm Sanctuary has influenced how some businesses operate.
In 1993, a Burger King owner was inspired by Farm Sanctuary. He decided to offer a veggie burger in his restaurants. In 2002, Burger King added a veggie burger to its menu across the country.
In 2007, Wolfgang Puck Companies announced new rules for their restaurants. With advice from Farm Sanctuary, they aimed to stop the worst practices of factory farming. This included using eggs only from hens not kept in small cages. They also started serving pork and veal from animals not kept in crates.
Farm Sanctuary also worked with a dairy-free ice cream company called Turtle Mountain in 2007. They promoted dairy-free products for kids.
Rescue, Care, and Shelter
Farm Sanctuary is known for rescuing animals and giving them a safe home.
In 2008, when severe floods hit Iowa, Farm Sanctuary helped rescue over 60 pigs. These pigs were taken to the Watkins Glen shelter in New York.
After Hurricane Katrina, Farm Sanctuary rescued more than 700 chickens. These chickens were from a large chicken farm in Mississippi that was hit by a tornado. Many animals at these farms are kept in huge buildings. When storms hit, many were buried alive by bulldozers.
The Watkins Glen sanctuary also takes in animals from neglect cases. They also rescue animals from city markets. The sanctuary offers tours from May to October. They also have cabins where visitors can stay overnight.
Farm Sanctuary has an "Adopt-a-Farm Animal" program. People can pay to help feed and care for an animal without taking it home. They also help find homes for turkeys.
In 2009, Farm Sanctuary started a blog called "Sanctuary Tails." It shares stories about rescuing and caring for farm animals.
Farm Sanctuary used to have a shelter in Orland, California. It closed in 2018. In 2011, Farm Sanctuary took over another animal shelter in Acton, California, called Animal Acres. This shelter was started by Farm Sanctuary co-founder Lorri Houston.
Jon Stewart, a famous TV host, owns a sanctuary farm in New Jersey. This farm is connected with Farm Sanctuary.
See also
- Factory farming
- Animal welfare
- Animal rights
- The Humane Society of the United States
- List of animal rights groups
People
- Gene Baur
- Nick Cooney
- Peter Dinklage
- Tracye McQuirter
- Peter Singer
