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.

The backyard chicken industry is not an alternative to factory farming: it’s part of it. When you buy chicks online, from catalogs, or at feed stores, you’re supporting the very same types of facilities that supply large egg producers.

abillion and Vegan Women Summit celebrate International Women’s Day by announcing a new women-led beneficiary, Farm Sanctuary, America’s first farm animal Sanctuary and advocacy organization.

Missy pig, born on Halloween, had a grim and haunting start to life. She spent her days alone in a solitary pen—a nightmare for pigs, who are social beings and grow distressed without friends, enough space, and stimulation. People didn’t pay much attention to her, either. Now we know that Missy is a friendly and affectionate pig who enjoys attention (and deep belly rubs); however, the farmers who owned her didn’t see her as a friend but as a means of production.

No summer camping trip is complete without fireside tales of the land’s local legends—from Bigfoot to Moth Man to Glen: a long-horned creature roaming through a New York state park! Glen wasn’t easy to spot. He was an expert at hiding—even with his giant horns. Hikers reported seeing flashes of white as Glen darted through the woods. Others caught glimpses of him on the outskirts of town. But unlike mythical creatures, Glen was real. He was cautious, curious, and shy—and he was in desperate need of help.

A Q&A with Dana McPhall, Farm Sanctuary’s Director of Community Learning & Engagement