A Day in the Life of the Farm Sanctuary

Jan 31st 2011

Many of us envision farm life as idyllic: cattle grazing against a blue sky, chickens pecking at the grass outside an airy red henhouse. Sadly, that's not the reality for the majority of farm animals in the United States, who live in overcrowded factory farms or even small farms where they are neglected or abused.

Which is why Gene Baur co-founded Farm Sanctuary in 1986 to protect animals that suffer at human hands. The organization rescues and advocates for farm animals through a variety of outreach efforts, ranging from grassroots pamphleting to legislative support. It also operates two shelters for rescued farm animals -- in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif.

Curious about what a day at the shelter is like, we asked Farm Sanctuary's California shelter director, Leanne Cronquist, to fill us in.

6 a.m.: An intern opens the shutters and doors to the sheep barn, letting the sheep out of their nighttime housing where they've been kept safe all night. Barns and hutches protect the residents not only from large predators, but also smaller ones, such as raccoons and opossums.

6:30 a.m.: A calf, recognizing the intern who has opened his barn, comes over looking for a neck scratch before strolling outside to enjoy a day at pasture.

7 a.m.: Eager to get outside, chickens run excitedly into the sunshine and peck at the ground.

7:30 a.m.: Wendy, a generally shy sheep, follows a caregiver to a stall in the barn, where she will receive a bowl of special food. Many residents are fed separately, so that they can be treated for medical issues or have special needs tended to.

8 a.m.: The turkeys are fed the first of two daily meals. Turkeys raised for food are bred to be much heavier than their natural weight, so the staff regulates what they eat.

8:30 a.m.: Time to clean the pig barn. With some encouragement, the pigs move down to the pond. A few are not so eager to leave their comfy digs.

9 a.m.: Hank, Joanie and Neil -- members of the geriatric cattle herd -- are given pain medication for their arthritis. The special herd allows older cattle to live a slower lifestyle than the younger, higher-energy herd who likes to travel the pastures a lot.

9:30 a.m.: Chrissie (a cow) and Quartz (a donkey) wait eagerly at a gate, knowing it's time for their special feeds. The caregiver is running a little late, so Quartz stomps at the ground and talks a lot until she arrives.