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Chicken Rescued From New York City Bus Being Driven to Upstate Farm Animal Sanctuary

Watkins Glen, NY - February 1, 2001 - In a true life "Chicken Run" -- that actually was more of a "Chicken Ride" -- a hen who was found on a New York City bus is being driven to greener pastures. Farm Sanctuary, a national farm animal rescue and protection group, which operates a farm animal shelter in upstate New York, has offered to provide the chicken a safe, loving home.

The chicken, named "Henrietta" was rescued by the ASPCA after a city bus driver found the hen hitching a ride on his bus. Instead of kicking the hen out, the kind driver took the chicken under his wing and made sure she was given a ride to freedom.

Since her rescue earlier this month, the ASPCA has been nursing Henrietta back to health until she could make the trip to her new home. Henrietta appears to have escaped from a factory farm, because she was "debeaked." On factory farms, where thousands of birds are crammed into small cages, the tips of hens' beaks are cut off to prevent injuries from excessive pecking due to stress and overcrowding. Henrietta was suffering from stress and malnourishment, but she has recovered well with nourishing food and lots of caring attention by the ASPCA.

Farm Sanctuary Director Gene Baur (formerly Bauston) will be picking Henrietta from the ASPCA on Friday, February 5 at 1:30 p.m. From there, the hen will travel in comfort for the five hour trip to the Farm Sanctuary's shelter in Watkins Glen, New York.

According to Gene Baur (formerly Bauston), "We were happy to provide lifelong loving care for this special hen who decided to board the freedom bus. At Farm Sanctuary, she will be a loved 'animal ambassador' and help teach people that all chickens want to go to sanctuary, instead of the slaughterhouse."

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.