Consider this: Farmed 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.

After “this little piggy went to market,” Jack and his friend Allan went home to Sanctuary. The boys—a Yorkshire pig and Hampshire/Duroc cross, respectively—were both raised for production purposes. They met at Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, and are friendly and rambunctious boys with a bit of an eye for trouble. Mischievous behaviors aside, these are signs of social and problem-solving skills which likely helped the boys survive.

Adopt a Farm Animal: Milo

At Farm Sanctuary, Mother’s Day is a celebration of survival and renewal. Join us with a gift to honor Olive goat and her daughter Maggie; Amari sheep and her twins Laura and Bailey; or Hayes, an orphaned steer who found a second family at our New York shelter.

36 Sanctuary Moments You May Have Missed

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!”