FARM SANCTUARY

Farm Sanctuary is in a word love. Simply put, they rescue and provide shelter for animals, advocate on their behalf and educate people on healthier ways to live. I have personally never witnessed a more compassionate organization of people who care so deeply and work so relentlessly to save, protect and lesson the suffering of millions of lives every single moment.

My family and I had the opportunity to first visit the Los Angeles Farm Sanctuary shelter back in 2013. After some research on how and where to go and what animals were there, I happened to see that they had just rescued a calf whom they had named Safran.

We went on the tour and enjoyed meeting, petting and playing with the pigs, chickens, roosters, cows, goats and sheep. At the end of the tour as we were about to leave, I noticed a small speckled black and white head poking out of the barn. I asked the volunteer, “Is that Safran?” She said yes. I then asked if we could see him and she replied “Of course! Come on in.”

We quietly stood at the entrance of the barn where Safran was. He was only 4 months old. Lucky stars for him, he had been rescued by Gene Baur and his team of volunteers and brought there to Farm Sanctuary, as he would have otherwise spent a frightening life of confinement in a wooden crate unable to move.

Safran was beautiful. He was a slice of innocent heaven, bashful yet nudging my legs with his head in anticipation to play, speaking a language that I understood well. His black and white coat was sleek yet furry, his eyes wide and dark as night. He was delightful and puppy-like, only bigger!

Before we left, I even got a hug, one that made an indelible impression on my heart, one that would launch the “Road to Awesome Gives Back” that you are reading about right now. We are proud to support Farm Sanctuary through this project. 

We have seen Safran many times since then and each time he remembers us. They say cows remember, and this I know now for sure is true. We just saw him again a few months ago and what a big boy he has become! He gave us cow kisses and licks. He is a happy, energetic adolescent living out his days just as he should – free to run and play and form friendships with cows and people alike.

If you have not heard of Farm Sanctuary until now, please visit www.farmsanctuary.org and learn more. Better yet take a trip to visit one of their three shelters — a 175-acre sanctuary in upstate New York, a 300-acre sanctuary in Northern California and a 26-acre sanctuary in Los Angeles where they provide lifelong care for hundreds of animals who have been saved from stockyards, factory farms, and slaughterhouses.