FARM ANIMAL RESCUES ARE BEAUTIFUL NOW

WOODSTOCK FARM SANCTUARY

If you’re all about peace and love, and if you are what you eat, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary is a place you should visit.

Founded by activists Jenny Brown and Doug Abel in 2004, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary’s mission is to rescue farm animals from abusive conditions and to allow those animals to become ambassadors for compassionate living.

It turns out that many of the sentient, endearing qualities possessed by common pets are shared by farm animals. We love our domesticated dogs and cats for their loving, affectionate, intelligent, loyal nature and many similar traits can be found in cows, pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, and rabbits.

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary envisions a peaceful world rooted in respect and justice for all living beings. They rescue farmed animals and give them care and sanctuary, connect animals with people to advance veganism, and advocate for animal rights in alliance with other social justice movements.

Brown’s interest in animals began when she lost a leg to bone cancer at age ten. She was given a rescue kitten to keep her company in recovery. Boogie, the kitten became her constant companion. Brown gained an intimate understanding of Boogie’s complex emotions and personality.

About 8 years later, when Brown came upon a leaflet about the massive cruelty endemic in the majority of factory farming, she saw a connection between her beloved cat and the farm animals.

Immediately after that epiphany, Brown became a vegetarian and began to volunteer for animal advocacy organization. Then, working as a film and tv producer, she worked on a documentary about farm animal abuse, she was moved to go all in. She went to work a Farm Sanctuary, farm rescue organization founded in 1986. She’d found her true calling, the courage to speak out and take action, a vision.

In 2004, Brown and her then-fiancée award-winning editor Doug Abel, bought a house with 23 acres in Woodstock, NY. They immediately starting building barns and fences, and soon began rescuing and sheltering animals. Their wedding, that October, hosted the 1st fundraiser for their newly established non-profit organization.

Brown and Abel started with a small group of rescued chickens from a factory farm and a rooster who had been dumped in a NYC schoolyard.

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary grew rapidly, and when, in 2015, the number of its rescued animals topped 250, and thousands of visitors further strained their capacity, it moved to a new 150-acre property in the nearby community of High Falls, NY. Brown and Abel recently turned the management of the shelter over to Rachel McCrystal, Executive Director, and Jeff Lydon, Managing Director.

The shelter regularly takes in, or works to place, farm animals that are victims of cruelty and neglect. Most are rescued during investigations of farms, stockyards, auctions, and slaughterhouses. Some come from humane societies such as the SPCA. A surprising number come from the streets of New York City.

Thanks to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, for the first time in their lives, these rescued animals that have only known fear and pain, now enjoy warm clean barns, pastures of plenty , veterinary care, and love. Despite years of abuse, they can and do grow to love and trust human beings during the course of their rehabilitation.

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary welcomes visitors. You can check out the love firsthand. Check out their November “Thanks-living” event, where turkeys are the guests of honor. Dine together WITH the turkeys on a full-course vegan meal including delicious vegan pumpkin pie.

Need more inspiration? Check out Brown’s memoir-with-a-mission, The Lucky Ones: My Passionate Fight for Farm Animals.

If you are so moved, there are many ways you can help Woodstock Sanctuary help animals in need. Volunteers are welcome throughout the year and may volunteer for the day.

You might also sponsor an animal. Each sponsorship provides an animal with feed, shelter, and care for one year. You’ll receive a personalized photo and note from your sponsored animal, including the animal’s name and background information.

Make a donation to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary and get more information here.You can donate items from the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary Amazon Wish List.

100% of donations go towards the feeding, care, and safety of Woodstock’s animals. Currently, all gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a very generous anonymous donor. By “doubling the love,” Woodstock will continue to grow their education and outreach programs.

Check out some beautiful farm animal portraits and read about comedian Jon Stewart & Tracey Stewart’s support and advocacy for Farm Sanctuary in our previous posts.

Read more about Beautiful Activist in Tiny Schools Change The World, Rising Up, Resisting, supporting women’s health with Art, A Tiny Light Packs Infinite Power to Change the World and Grace Delivers A More Beautiful World.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. A rescued white baby lamb enjoys being petted at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
2. Image: “This little piggy WILL NOT be going to market thanks to a caring college student who won her freedom.” Lexi & Matthew her rescuer. Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
3. Image: Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
4. Image: “Clyde, the rooster.” Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
5. Image: Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. Jenny Brown kissing a cow at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
6. Image: Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
7. Image: Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. “Sundance the Rooster at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary.”
8. Image: “Atticus, the goat.” Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
9. Image: Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. Rescued cows.
10. Image: Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. “Dorothy Jo & George out with the rest of the flock.”
11. Image: by Amy Barta, of The PeachTree Brooklyn. “Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.”
12. Image: by Lincoln Spaulding. Visitors pet a rescued llama at the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
13. Image: Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. Founder Jenny Brown comforts a rescue cow at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
14. Image: by Thomas. “Common Communication.” Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
15. Image: Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. Founder Jenny Brown comforts Cesar, a rescue cow, at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
16. Image: by BN App - Download now!
17. Image: “Neglected Ducks See Water For The First Time.” Courtesy of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.