Current Press Releases

Farm Sanctuary's New York Shelter Open to the Public for 2007 Tour Season

Watkins Glen, NY - May 2, 2007 - Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading farm animal protection organization, announced today that its Watkins Glen, N.Y., shelter will open for tours May 5. The New York Shelter is a 175-acre refuge for nearly 800 cows, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigs, sheep, rabbits, and goats. Farm Sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates and provides lifelong care for farm animals who come from stockyards, factory farms, slaughterhouses, and cruelty cases. Here, the animals are given all the care and love needed to recover from abuse and neglect.

This year, Farm Sanctuary welcomed several new shelter residents. JD piglet, found washed up on a riverbed in Western New York; Joey, a 6-month-old goat found wandering in a busy intersection in Brooklyn near several live markets; dozens of multicolored chicks, dyed in the egg to be sold for Easter presents; and nine bantam roosters rescued from a pile of trash on a New York City fire escape know for the first time what it feels like to live without misery.

"Animal ambassadors like these have a very special way of reaching and teaching people, and our shelter is a sanctuary for people as much as it is for farm animals," said Michelle Waffner, Farm Sanctuary's education manager. Farm Sanctuary's shelter offers farm tours and accommodations for overnight stays, retreats, weddings, and conferences.

The New York Shelter season runs from May 5 through October 31. During May, September and October, guided tours are held Saturday and Sunday on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. From June through August, guided tours are held Wednesday through Sunday on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Farm Sanctuary is also open Monday, May 28, for our annual Memorial Day Open House, where free tours are provided on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On tour days, Farm Sanctuary guests are welcome to browse a unique visitor center and country gift shop.

For those guests looking for a more lengthy experience, Farm Sanctuary visitors may make reservations for overnight stays in our B&B cabins, located on the shelter grounds. Details are available at www.farmsanctuary.org/farm/.

Directions to NY Shelter: Take Rt. 409 West from Watkins Glen to Rt. 23 West (toward Tyrone). After about 8 miles, turn left onto Aikens Road and you will see the Farm Sanctuary Visitor Center on the left after about 1½ miles.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.