In animal agriculture, farm animals are viewed as tools for profit-making rather than who they really are: individuals who deserve to live out their full lives in peace. Producers disregard their health and well-being, instead prioritizing the return on investment their bodies can provide.

Animals raised for meat are fattened quickly on unnatural feed (and sometimes growth hormones) and slaughtered as soon as their bodies are large enough to maximize profit. Animals farmed for milk or eggs face slaughter the moment their production begins to decline, quickly replaced by their offspring in a heartbreaking cycle of forced impregnation, separation, and slaughter.

At Farm Sanctuary, life is vastly different. Each and every rescued animal is given the chance to live full, rich lives and enjoy their golden years in peace. In fact, 99% of our current residents have lived beyond the ages at which they would have been slaughtered in animal agriculture.

We don’t just allow animals to grow old—we provide the specialized, individual care they need to truly thrive.

Aging animals require extra attention, especially farm animals who have been selectively bred in the food system to maximize rapid growth and high production. In animal agriculture, longevity and quality of life are not of concern, since producers never intend for these animals to live past their financial usefulness.

When rescued farm animals have the chance to grow old, they often face significant health and mobility issues stemming from their past treatment on farms. At Farm Sanctuary, our caregivers tend to these unfortunate consequences daily, doing everything they can to keep the resident animals healthy and comfortable in their golden years. Many of the animals in our care receive daily joint supplements, while others take medication for past bone injuries, mobility struggles, and chronic pain. We also provide deep, soft bedding to cushion stiff joints and keep our senior residents cozy and content.

Every Farm Sanctuary resident receives healthy, species-appropriate food, which is especially essential for aging animals with unique dietary needs. For example, animals with missing teeth enjoy custom diets consisting of soft mashes with grass and hay. Residents on weight management plans receive nutritional supplements, like omega fatty acids, to help them absorb essential nutrients.

Beyond their daily diets, our residents also love healthy snacks—often served up as part of enrichment activities. Puzzle toys and treat balls encourage physical movement and provide mental stimulation to keep their minds sharp. One particularly food-motivated goat, Ellis, can often be found right on the heels of his caregivers when they have snacks in hand, especially apples, bananas, and fig cookies. Residents like Brunnhilde (turkey) love playing with their treat balls, while our particularly prickly pigs—like Blue—get delicious snacks to distract them while staff members administer necessary grooming and care.

Food isn’t the only fun on the farm. In addition to indulging in natural behaviors like foraging, the animals also play with puzzles and toys, climb on the safe structures we provide, and gaze into mirrors, perhaps pondering the meaning of life or just admiring their own magnificent mugs. For residents like Billie Eilish, a favorite pastime is listening to—and making—music!

After experiencing so much loss in animal agriculture, including separation from family members, having a trusted loved one at the sanctuary offers invaluable safety and comfort. Whether it’s a familial attachment or a connection between friends, bonded animals at Farm Sanctuary always stay together. 

When animals face setbacks like illness or injury, their loved ones provide the comfort and security they need to heal. Pigs Gus and Roxy, for example, came to the sanctuary together and remained inseparable. When Gus faced a serious illness, Roxy’s steadfast support helped to lift his spirits so he could make a full recovery.

Other animals arrive separately but form instant bonds, as if they’ve known each other for years. When Taco had a hard time fitting in with the other goats, he turned to a gentle cow named Omi. To this day, Omi provides a reassuring presence whenever Taco feels uneasy, like during routine bloodwork or hoof trims.

Life at Farm Sanctuary is a world away from the horrors of factory farms. After such rough starts, our residents finally get the life every animal deserves—complete with individualized care, healthy food, enrichment, and lifelong friendships. It’s an honor and a privilege to watch them age in peace—truly thriving in their twilight years.

At 26 years old, Honey is our oldest living resident in Watkins Glen. She arrived alongside two companion cows from a dairy farm: her granddaughter Camina and a steer named Lux. 

Before her rescue, Honey endured years of forced impregnation, repeated births, and the heartbreaking loss of her babies to slaughter. When the farm’s owner decided to phase out dairy production, she kept Honey and the other two cows as companions. If not for that rare decision, Honey would have been sent to slaughter when her milk production declined around 5-7 years of age.

Eventually, the farm owner could no longer care for the cows, and Honey, Camina, and Lux were surrendered to Farm Sanctuary. They’ve been flourishing at our shelter ever since. Honey has adopted Lux as her own son—a touching sight and a bittersweet reminder of the devoted mother she was always meant to be.

Honey’s gentle, loving spirit charms everyone she meets, and she only grows sweeter with every passing year.