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 farmed animals. It started in 1986. It was the first place in America to offer a safe home, called a shelter, for animals like cows, chickens, and pigs.
Farm Sanctuary works to make laws and rules that help animals. They also teach people about animal welfare and veganism. They do this by rescuing animals, teaching others, and speaking up for animal rights.
Today, Farm Sanctuary cares for over 800 animals. These include cows, chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, sheep, and goats. They live at a large animal shelter in Watkins Glen, New York. Another shelter in Acton, California, near Los Angeles, cares for more than 100 animals.
Some movies have shown Farm Sanctuary's work. The original film Peaceable Kingdom featured the sanctuary. The documentary The Ghosts in Our Machine (2014) also showed a scene there.
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 saved was a sheep named Hilda. She was found in a pile of animals behind a stockyard. Hilda became a symbol for the organization.
Gene Baur wrote a book in 2008 called Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food. It tells the story of the organization. His second book, Living the Farm Sanctuary Life, came out in 2015. It includes many vegan recipes.
Helping Animals Through Laws
Farm Sanctuary works to change laws that affect farm animals. They have helped ban certain ways of keeping animals.
Stopping Cruel Confinement
Farm Sanctuary has helped ban small cages for farm animals. They supported votes that changed laws in different states.
In 2002, they helped pass a law in Florida. This law stopped the "cruel and inhumane confinement of pigs during pregnancy." It made it illegal to keep pigs in tiny metal pens called gestation stalls. These pens were so small that pigs could not even turn around.
In 2006, Arizona voters approved a similar law. This law, called Proposition 204, made sure that pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal had enough space. By 2012, their enclosures had to be big enough for them to turn around and stretch.
In 2008, California also voted on a law called Proposition 2. This law required farmers to give egg-laying hens, veal calves, and pregnant pigs more room. It mostly affected the state's 18 million egg-laying hens. Before this law, hens often had less space than a sheet of paper. This measure passed with a lot of support.
Banning Foie Gras
Farm Sanctuary also worked to ban foie gras. This product is made by force-feeding ducks and geese.
In California, Farm Sanctuary helped pass a law in 2004. This law made it illegal to force-feed ducks and geese. It also banned selling foie gras made this way. Both parts of the law started in 2012.
Farm Sanctuary also supported a ban on selling foie gras in Chicago in 2006. While the ban was later removed, Farm Sanctuary continued its efforts.
In 2007, Farm Sanctuary started a campaign in Manhattan, New York City. They worked to stop the sale of foie gras there. Many restaurants and grocery stores, like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's, agreed not to sell it.
Concerns About Cloning Animals
Farm Sanctuary has also spoken out against approving cloned animals for food. They are worried about the health problems that cloned animals can have. They also worry about the mother animals carrying cloned babies.
Animal Rescue and Care
Farm Sanctuary helps rescue and care for farm animals in need.
In 2008, when severe floods hit Iowa, Farm Sanctuary helped save pigs. Iowa is a big pork-producing state. More than 60 pigs were brought to Farm Sanctuary's shelter in Watkins Glen, New York.
After Hurricane Katrina, Farm Sanctuary rescued over 700 chickens. These chickens were from a broiler factory in Mississippi hit by a tornado. Many animals in such facilities are kept in huge warehouses. Sadly, many were bulldozed into mass graves. Farm Sanctuary saves animals from these situations. They also help animals from neglect cases and city markets.
The Watkins Glen sanctuary offers tours from May to October. They also have vegan bed-and-breakfast cabins for visitors. Farm Sanctuary has an "Adopt-a-Farm Animal" program. People can pay to help care for an animal without taking it home. They also find homes for turkeys.
Since 2009, Farm Sanctuary has 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. In 2011, they took over the Animal Acres shelter in Acton, California. This shelter was started by Farm Sanctuary co-founder Lorri Houston. It needed help due to money problems.
