Get Involved

Featured Activist!

Ardele Murphy grew up just outside Pittsburgh, Pa., in the town of Aliquippa, where she happily shared her childhood abode with several friendly felines. Now retired after 28 years of service at the same company, Ardele still shares her love and home in New York City's Greenwich Village with five rescued cats! Lucky for farm animals, Ardele's compassion and interest in animal issues extends to all critters big and small. And, although she continues to be saddened by the deaths of furry friends as she was in her younger years, she has since discovered the power that can be found through activism and is now a strong proponent for the rights of non-human animals.

Ardele's involvement in and dedication to animal activism really began in the fall of 1987. She attended a street fair in the Big Apple and happened upon a flier announcing an anti-fur march sponsored by a local animal advocacy group. From that point on, Ardele participated in all the tabling events, demonstrations and other outreach efforts she could! For 20 years, she has been educating others about needed improvements in NYC animal shelters and the plight of animals exploited on factory farms, in animal research and by entertainment industries.

Ardele has been involved with Farm Sanctuary's outreach efforts in New York City for the past several years. She frequently staffs information tables at Penn Station and Grand Central Station alongside our humane educator, Carol Moon. Thanks to Ardele's natural ability to be friendly, honest and non-confrontational, city commuters, tourists and passersby who visited the Farm Sanctuary booth when she was there were often open to hearing about animal suffering and thinking about how their lifestyle choices affected farm animals.

Anyone can see that Ardele has a heart of gold, but her word is just as precious! Carol has called upon Ardele to help out — sometimes with short notice — and says she could always rest assured that this remarkable advocate would follow through, even if volunteering meant that Ardele would need to endure inclement weather or carry cumbersome boxes through crowded streets. When informed about the Farm Sanctuary Outstanding Activist title she earned, the very modest Ardele exclaimed, "All victories for the animals make me the happiest I can be!" But truth be told, such victories wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the dedication and determination of exceptional activists like Ardele. Thank you, Ardele, for your lifelong labor of love to help critters in need. You truly are an inspiration to us all!

Together, we ARE making a difference. If you would like to find out more about volunteering your time to educate others about factory farming and vegetarianism, please contact us at activist@farmsanctuary.org, or call 607-583-2225 ext. 229. Click here to find out what YOU can do to help!