In animal agriculture, billions of beings are treated like products. But at Farm Sanctuary, animals rescued from the cruelty of the meat industry are seen and loved for who they are.
Here, farm animals are allowed to live the lives of freedom and safety that they have always deserved.
In our 40-year history, Farm Sanctuary has rescued and transformed the lives of thousands of farm animals. Each of these individuals is an ambassador, as we tell their stories to change hearts and minds.
Below, meet a few of these inspiring animals.
Oscar steer escaped slaughter to find not only freedom, but the friendships he longed for. First used in a 4-H program that taught students to raise animals for agriculture, Oscar was then purchased by a local veterinary school. When this growing steer got too large to handle, the college staff faced the choice of sending Oscar to slaughter or finding a way to save him—and thankfully, they turned to Farm Sanctuary for help.
At our California sanctuary, the extroverted Oscar settled right in. In fact, after years of isolation, he broke out of his quarantine area (standard for all our new residents as they adjust to sanctuary life and get health checks) so he could be with his new herd right away! Thankfully, he had arrived with a clean bill of health. Now, Oscar even has two best friends: June cow and Leo steer.
Orange County Animal Save
Billie Eilish hen was saved at the last second. She had already reached a slaughterhouse when activists from Orange County Animal Save, holding a vigil for animals arriving in their final moments, inspired a transport truck driver to surrender the hen for a life of sanctuary.
As Billie, understandably a bit nervous, adjusts to a life of care and compassion at Farm Sanctuary, it has been emotional for our caregivers to see her realize she’s safe. “You can hear her playing with the wind chimes from inside the shelter office. There’s something so visceral about witnessing her joy and curiosity,” said Senior Wellness Manager, Brooke Marshall. “Billie was literally on the way to slaughter, with hundreds of other chickens just like her.”
Sandy turkey was named after a sand fire that ultimately saved her life. After evacuating our staff and animal residents from our California sanctuary, we came across a backyard flock of neglected birds. Sandy was suffering from multiple injuries and a severe and untreated bumblefoot infection, but thanks to finally getting the care she needed, she was soon healing.
Rescued in 2016, Sandy spent the rest of her life with us until her passing in 2024, having changed the hearts and minds of many. “Sandy was the bird who made me reconsider turkeys. I didn’t know they could be so affectionate,” says Director of Communications, Denise McCarthy. “ I met her when I first started working at Farm Sanctuary, and even as she was still recovering from the burns she had sustained, her ability to connect was truly remarkable. I’ve always had a special fondness for her, and my guess is that anyone who has met her felt the same way.”
Jo-Anne McArthur
Julia pig came to Farm Sanctuary because authorities alerted us to the violent abuse the pregnant pig was facing, after a factory farm worker recorded her screams of pain and fear. As she was being moved from a gestation crate to a farrowing crate, where she would have given birth, she was beaten and shocked with an electric prod. When she collapsed, she was dragged by her ears. As heartbreaking as her story is, the cruelty Julia faced is common in animal agriculture, where mothers and babies are treated like commodities.
Thankfully, just eight hours after arriving at our New York sanctuary, Julia gave birth in safety. Her 16 piglets were born prematurely, and Julia was still injured—but with round-the-clock care, we helped this family heal. Unlike most pigs born into the heartless world of factory farming, Julia’s babies grew up at her side, and this protective mother never needed to be afraid again.
Hilda sheep was Farm Sanctuary’s first rescue. Saved from what the factory farming industry calls a “dead pile,” where deceased and dying animals are discarded like trash, Hilda raised her head for help as our co-founders walked by while investigating the since-closed-down Lancaster Stockyards. She was left to die, but it was soon clear that Hilda had collapsed during transport, and was not injured or sick—she was exhausted and dehydrated. Twenty minutes after we brought her to a veterinary hospital, she was eating and drinking.
Hilda went on to live 11 years at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, where her memorial plaque still inspires and moves our visitors. And Hilda’s “name and legacy live on in everything we do,” says Farm Sanctuary President & Co-founder, Gene Baur. “From those humble beginnings, a global sanctuary movement has grown, and awareness about the harms of factory farming and the benefits of a vegan lifestyle continues to expand.”
Hilda sheep was Farm Sanctuary’s first rescue. Saved from what the factory farming industry calls a “dead pile,” where deceased and dying animals are discarded like trash, Hilda raised her head for help as our co-founders walked by while investigating the since-closed-down Lancaster Stockyards. She was left to die, but it was soon clear that Hilda had collapsed during transport, and was not injured or sick—she was exhausted and dehydrated. Twenty minutes after we brought her to a veterinary hospital, she was eating and drinking.
Hilda went on to live 11 years at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, where her memorial plaque still inspires and moves our visitors. And Hilda’s “name and legacy live on in everything we do,” says Farm Sanctuary President & Co-founder, Gene Baur. “From those humble beginnings, a global sanctuary movement has grown, and awareness about the harms of factory farming and the benefits of a vegan lifestyle continues to expand.”
Sign up for Farm Sanctuary emails to find out the stories of our animal residents, hear about the latest rescues, find timely ways to help farm animals, and much more.
