By Susie
It takes a village to give a farm animal in need a second chance – and behind every rescue are many compassionate people working together toward the shared goal of saving lives: Good Samaritans who lend a helping hand to remove animals from deplorable situations and lead them to safety, Farm Sanctuary members who offer the support we need to respond to emergency calls and provide lifelong refuge at our shelters, and last but not least, the incredible adopters who open up their homes to take in animals and make it possible for us to do even more.
Through our Farm Animal Adoption Network, the largest of its kind in North America, we have placed thousands of farm animals into happy homes throughout the U.S. since 1986. Among the lifesaving adoptions this year were those of 145 lucky animals who came to our New York and California Shelters, in some cases for urgent care, and then moved on to their new lives with fantastic families, including: Teddy, Felipe and Rambo who went to live with Mary-Jane Morgan in Virginia; six special hens who now reside with Denise Goodman in Pennsylvania; Lulu and Tara who are enjoying life with Tammy Parker in Vermont, and Constance and Marianne turkeys who’ve settled in with Tamara McFarland in California.
Beyond those animals who come to our shelters first and move on to homes from there, are countless more who are directly placed through our National Placement Board, or those we reach out to help by providing some other type of support to safely see them home. Perhaps no story better illustrates the power of team work in placement efforts like these than that of Jasper – a 10-year-old bull whose caretaker passed away, leaving this gentle, friendly animal without anyone to look after him long term. After alerting our FAAN members about his plight, we pulled our resources together with Carol Eiswald at Tusk and Bristle in New York, who also reached out to other animal rescuers and adopters she knew for help; Lydia Weaver, who found the potential adopters; Dawn Camp, who fostered him until he could move to his permanent residence; and Laura Brahim at Kindred Spirits Sanctuary in Florida who arranged for him to be neutered. After Jasper recovered from his surgery, Farm Sanctuary staff transported him to his new home with Dave and Kathy Tickner in Georgia, where he is well-loved and doted on – particularly by Lydia Weaver’s 15-year-old daughter, Brenna, who visited the Tickners’ farm to make the sweet video below.
The importance of placement in farm animal rescue efforts, just like that of cats and dogs, cannot be underestimated. For every animal we place, another life is saved. For that very reason, we are truly grateful for all of our FAAN adopters and everyone else out there who is welcoming rescued farm animals as companions into their families and homes. Together, we are making a difference.
P.S. If you’d like to learn more about joining FAAN, please visit our website today!