Vector was born with a severe cross beak (her beak overlaps like scissors, instead of aligning at the tips). This makes it hard for her to eat solid foods; she just can’t get a grip due to the unnatural angle. Through experience treating similar cases, we felt that Vector could thrive.

In the cold winter of 2021, a case of “fowl play” landed four ducklings in jail.

Every year, we welcome new rescues through our doors and celebrate each milestone they reach in our care—events they were never expected to clear in animal agriculture. The animals who survive and make it to Sanctuary get a second chance at life. Here, they touch our hearts and inspire compassionate change in others. We’re grateful for every day, week, month, and year that these survivors have at Sanctuary. But it’s also hard to say goodbye to those we love—especially when they should have had more time. Please join us in honoring the animals who passed away this year.

Mickey was born unable to stand up or walk. He came to Farm Sanctuary, and with the help of splints and physical therapy, his mobility has been gradually improving! ⁣

On Saturday, November 13, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara visited the rescued turkeys at the Acton, California location of Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s founding farm animal sanctuary and advocacy organization.

Shani and his guardian both needed a safe place to land. However, when the pair reached a houseless shelter, staff had to turn the tiny chick away. They couldn’t accommodate his needs — but when we learned about Shani, we knew we could help!

In a potential victory for billions of birds, a federal judge ruled yesterday that a lawsuit filed against the US Department of Agriculture for failing to require humane handling of poultry at slaughter will move forward.

Jenny pressed her snout against the walls of the crate, choking through the blazing heat for a breath of fresh air. She should have spent this kind of day rolling through the cooling mud, coating each outstretched limb with nature’s sunscreen. But her throat was dry; her cramped legs ached. And nobody knew the little pig needed help.

Dogs are “man’s best friend.” Cats rule our homes—and the Internet. So where do turkeys fit into our lives? Some might argue, “on a plate.” In 2019, the United States slaughtered and processed nearly 230 million turkeys as food. Roughly 20 percent—46 million—were killed just for Thanksgiving, a.k.a. “Turkey Day.” It’s a fate we would never subject to our companion animals. But Thor, Lady Sif, Freyja, Brunnhilde, and Sheila turkeys were companions. Their former owner, a small hobby farmer, refused to let any harm befall them—even though most other farmers would raise them for meat.

In 2018, Farm Sanctuary added 96 acres of neighboring land to our New York shelter. With that expansion came the “Pig Woods”: an improved living space for our rescued pigs more akin to their natural habitat.