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36 Sanctuary Moments You May Have Missed

Farm Sanctuary's lifesaving work officially began on April 17, 1986. From the beginning, President and Co-founder Gene Baur has worked tirelessly to shift the dynamic of our relationships with farm animals and has encouraged countless individuals to make more compassionate choices. Please join us in revisiting this classic interview from Farm Sanctuary's 30th anniversary. Here, Gene reflects on what the past 30 years have meant to him, and how Farm Sanctuary has evolved into the effective proponent of change it is today.

April 17th marks 36 years since Farm Sanctuary's incorporation! To celebrate, we asked some of our long-time members and volunteers to share their favorite memories and reflect on what Sanctuary means to them.

On a late winter’s day, two young steers trekked through mud and melting snow towards a sunny patch of earth to warm their backs. They paused—one in front of the other—and closed their eyes to drink in the rare light. Then, the taller one leaned over his friend to plant slow, cleansing kisses along his neck and back. Grooming is a way that cows show trust and affection—and for these two, a sense of belonging at long last.

Consider this: Farm animals do not have to be farmed. Many of us grow up believing that cows give us milk, chickens give us eggs, sheep give us wool, and meat gives us protein that we need to sustain life. But the biggest misconception is that they “give” us anything: Humans take them, often at the animals’ expense.

Norman’s ears twitched at the distant mooing. Standing up to his full height of 5’5” from ground to shoulder, the dark brown steer craned his head towards the horizon. They were coming: his new herd. It had been nine years—nearly his entire life—since Norman had last lived among other cows. He threw back his head and gave a joyful bellowing moo. “I’m here,” he seemed to say, “and I can’t wait to meet you!”

Travel + Leisure’s Global Vision Awards spotlight changemakers who are creating more sustainable and responsible travel products, practices, and experiences.

It was a Saturday in New York City and two separate but urgent situations were each unfolding: In one part of the city, rescuers were caring for chickens freed from a common religious ritual sacrifice. Farm Sanctuary, in collaboration with local activists, had already planned to take in a few birds rescued from this first case. That same day, though, other people discovered birds who’d fallen from a truck bound for a Brooklyn slaughterhouse. By the end of the day, we’d be arranging to help 41 chickens in need.

From “Charlotte’s Web” to “Babe,” pigs have a way of capturing our hearts. These stories, along with the ones about our friends at Farm Sanctuary, champion pigs as individuals—not meat. Some are spunky, some are mischevous, others shy, but all are sentient and emotive beings who deserve lives free from harm. On National Pig Day, held annually on March 1st, we celebrate our porcine pals and pay homage to the millions of pigs still slaughtered for meat in the United States each year. Each is “some pig” in his or her own way: It’s simply up to us to pay attention.