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Put Spring in Your Step With a Rejuvenating Visit to Farm Sanctuary

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 May 2008, 06:00 CDT

Spring has finally sprung, which means Farm Sanctuary, the largest rescue and refuge facility for farm animals in North America, has thrown open its barn doors to visitors for its 2008 tour season. The nonprofit invites people of all ages and backgrounds to come and meet the very special rescued animals who call Farm Sanctuary's New York and California Shelters home--from playful pigs and contented cows to chatty chickens and remarkable rabbits.

Farm Sanctuary provides lifelong refuge to more than 1,000 farm animals rescued from factory farms, stockyards, slaughterhouses, and cruelty cases. Some of the new residents people will meet at the New York Shelter include: Goodwin, a tiny goat who escaped from a live animal market in New York City; Andy and Joan, two piglets rescued from a factory hog farm; and Georgia and Freckles, two lambs left for dead at only days old. And, guests to the California Shelter will meet: Cupid, a calf who fell from a slaughter-bound truck; and Loretta and Harrison, a mother-son pair of cattle rescued from a life of abuse at a beef ranch in Santa Cruz.

"The animals at Farm Sanctuary have a wonderful way of opening hearts and changing minds, and we encourage anyone and everyone to come and meet them and be inspired by their compelling rescue stories, delighted by their charming personalities, and thrilled by the affection they show us despite all they've been through in the past," said Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary's national shelter director. "We have no doubt that guests will love visiting our beautiful and unique farms every bit as much as our animal residents will love meeting and greeting them."

Visitor season at both shelters runs from May through October. At the New York Shelter, guided tours are offered during May, September and October on Saturday and Sunday on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. From June through August, tours are held Wednesday through Sunday on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At the California Shelter, tours are given all season long on Saturday on the hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tour admission costs $3 for adults and $1 for children (under 12). Admission for children three and under is free.

Guests looking to stay overnight at Farm Sanctuary can reserve a B&B cabin at the New York Shelter, located in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region near Watkins Glen, or the Country Cabin at the California Shelter, a cozy accommodation overlooking Orland's stunning Black Butte Lake. Both shelters also offer rental space for birthday parties and weddings and welcome group tours. More information and directions to the shelters can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org.

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at http://www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.

Source: Business Wire

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