Here, the stories of these survivors inspire compassion for billions of others like them. Here, our vision of a kinder world is put into action each day.

In the beautiful photos below, get a glimpse of the magic of sanctuary.

Cashew and his mother, Liz, are living a life of family and freedom—a life that too few farm animals get to experience. In the dairy industry, calves are routinely taken from their mothers so their milk can be sold for profit. But when a small dairy farm could no longer care for the animals there, the farmer thankfully chose to surrender this loving mother-son duo to live at our New York sanctuary when Cashew was just four days old. Now a gentle giant, he’s never far from Liz’s side.

We love seeing the rescued birds at Farm Sanctuary stretch their wings and revel in the freedom they’ve found here. Lisa was saved from a backyard egg farm with two other geese, including her best friend to this day, Deborah. Their legs had been cruelly tied to a fence, and their wings had been injured so they couldn’t flee. Today, Lisa is still understandably nervous around humans, but in sanctuary, we’re able to give her space and autonomy, while still providing lifelong care.

This serene sight perfectly captures the peace Van Gogh is enjoying at Farm Sanctuary, in stark contrast to the suffering he once faced. Van Gogh was found among dozens of starving pigs on a New York farm. Thanks to a collaborative rescue effort, the survivors found adoptive homes, including many who came to Farm Sanctuary. Here, Van Gogh is not only cared for, but he’s found contentment and joy, knowing that he’ll never need to be afraid again.

Excited that autumn’s here again, we’re looking back at this beautiful image of Ash amid the fall foliage at our scenic New York sanctuary. Ash is known and beloved as one of our most affectionate residents, always happy to greet visitors and his caregivers alike. Once struggling to survive on a farm operating under the guise of a rescue, yet severely neglecting the animals there, Ash has since been surrounded by the love of so many, including his mom, Connie.

Dana’s wise and loving face melts our hearts. Now around 11 years old, Dana is among the fortunate few farm animals who get to live their golden years. On farms where animals are exploited for meat, many goats are killed before one year of age. Dana and her twin sister, Hope, were among the survivors of a cruel backyard butcher operation, but thanks to rescue and sanctuary, they’ve grown old in safety and love, side by side.

A place of hope and healing

Each of our rescued residents is an ambassador whose story inspires kindness for farm animals everywhere, as we educate to change hearts and minds and advocate to build a food system rooted in compassion rather than cruelty.

Learn more and find ways to get involved in our mission.