A sweet sheep named Dottie gave birth to twin boys on January 21, 2021, in Dutchess County, NY. What should have been a joyous event for Dottie was likely one of great stress. Dottie’s baby boys – Freckles and Patches – entered the world to severe neglect. Yet the persistence and determination of compassionate neighbors and our Farm Animal Adoption Network have given them a second chance.

This morning, we hosted a kickoff event on Capitol Hill, celebrating Representative Earl Blumenauer’s (OR-03) introduction of the Food and Farm Act of 2023. Joined by animal, health, justice, farmer, and environmental advocates, we shared how today’s Farm Bill fails nearly all of us – while advancing a transformational vision for United States food systems.

The Agriculture Improvement Act, or “Farm Bill,” is the most important legislation shaping United States food systems. Passed only twice per decade, the bill determines how we grow, distribute, and dispose of food in the United States, and is therefore responsible for the immense harm today's food systems cause to farmed animals, people, and the planet.

Women who entered animal behavior sciences have shifted the field by offering perspectives that challenged and differed from the majority. As the 36th celebration of Women’s History Month is underway, we are proud of our women-led research team as they aim to contribute to the field of animal behavior and play a role in making science more accessible for others.

Farm Sanctuary continues our work in a diverse coalition of organizations officially endorsing the Farm System Reform Act (FSRA) (HR 797 / S 271). This common-sense legislation restricts the expansion and abuses of factory farms, which have been proven to harm animals, communities, and the environment.

Today’s food systems work for nearly no one. Here at Farm Sanctuary, we are working across movements to fight the worst harms of animal agriculture and to “build the good” – just and sustainable food systems that support animals, people, and the planet.