Six reasons you should visit an animal sanctuary

Animal rescues and sanctuaries are a special kind of place for me. Meeting all of the precious animals that have overcome so much, and seeing them in a place where they are finally cared for and respected both breaks and warms my heart. I usually cry when I'm at a sanctuary, mostly because I'm a crybaby with a hyperactive sense of empathy, but also because it really is a moving experience.

Farmed animal sanctuaries are their own kind of special, because while vegans obviously respect and care for animals of all species and walks of life, we find ourselves impacting and defending farmed animals the most. To have a personal connection to the animals we work so hard to help is nothing short of powerful.

So, here are my 6 reasons everyone should visit an animal sanctuary. Of course, I've peppered the post with pictures from my visits to sanctuaries.

Near the entrance of Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary in Gainesville, Florida.

1. Having firsthand experience with the animals you defend on a day to day basis makes your argument stronger. If you have seen the scared, disturbed eyes of a monkey saved from medical testing or have rubbed an 800 lb. pig's belly as she rolled over for pets, then it's a lot easier to defend these beautiful creatures in casual conversation.

   

   Dylan the steer enjoying stratches from my husband at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary near Woodstock, New York.

2. Profile pictures. Yeah, you COULD use a selfie in your bathroom with your favorite Herbivore shirt on. Nothing wrong with that. But for real vegan cred, use a picture of a cow licking your nose (or, in my case, a mustang eating my hair). 

   

   You didn't think I was joking, right? At C.J. Acres in Keystone Heights, Florida

3. You'll make so many new friends. Especially if you choose to volunteer instead of taking a tour, you will have the opportunity to meet all of the wonderful animals (both human and nonhuman), and form lasting relationships with them. 

   

   Athena is a particularly friendly little goat. At C.J. Acres in Keystone Heights, Florida.

4. It can be a great workout. Why go to the gym when you can muck stalls, move bales of hay, chop a hundred pounds of vegetables and socialize with goats? 

   

   Olive stole our shovel and tried to hide it in her bed. This was the first of two times she stole it. The second time, she tried to get it out of the pen. At Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary near Woodstock, New York.

5. You really are making a difference. Even if you only volunteer once every month or so, you are changing these animals' lives and making life easier for those who work hard every day on their behalf. Not only that, but the education you receive at a sanctuary is something you will spread, and it will change you.

   

   She was so exciting that we cleaned out her coop that she started making a nest as soon as we put down the new bedding. Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary near Woodstock, New York.

6. Nothing strengthens your ideals more than actually working hands on with the animals you love and defend so much. If you find your strength wavering, or if you are on the fence with veganism and animal rights, pop on some (leather free) work boots and get your butt over to the nearest sanctuary. Once you see the horrible things that humans do to animals of all kinds, it's impossible to waver anymore. 

   

   Ducks! At C.J. Acres in Keystone Heights, Florida

7. Visiting an animal sanctuary can make for a fantastic vacation. Many sanctuaries have some form of lodging on site. Some even have a full on vegan bed and breakfast. The money goes to a good cause, and they make for fun and unique trips where you can help animals in need and relax at the same time. My husband and I took our honeymoon at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary and had a wonderful time.

Do you enjoy visiting animal sanctuaries? Which are your favorites?

Orca captivity to be illegal in California?

I'm sure by now that most of you have heard of a new bill being announced in California. The bill would make orca captivity illegal and end SeaWorld's Shamu shows in San Diego.

When I first heard the news, I was really excited, but I've been thinking about it more and I have completely mixed feelings. 

Of course, this bill will never be passed into law. Though the Blackfish Effect is still gaining momentum and recent polls have shown that the majority of the general public is against keeping orcas in captivity, SeaWorld has a lot of financial (and therefore political) power. 

Image from http://advocacy.britannica.com/

However, it is nice just to see this issue pushed through state government. It's a huge step in getting these issues noticed and debated. Another big plus is that Richard Bloom, the assemblyman who is proposing the bill, has outright said that Blackfish was his inspiration. This means that SeaWorld really can't continue to simultaneously say that Blackfish is causing them no problems and run (notable weird) attack ads. 

When I first saw the headlines when I woke up this morning, I was positive that the legislation included all dolphins. It seems weird to me that the bill would target only one species of the many dolphins kept in horrible conditions in California (a quick search online found about 50 non-orca dolphins living in captivity in California). 

While I am obviously for the liberation of all species, I expected that the writers of this bill and the general population would have at least considered the interests of other dolphins. Did Blackfish really turn the anti-cap movement into one just about orcas? If so, that makes me very sad.

The other issue with the bill that I noticed was that it would ban breeding, capture and performances, but the orcas would still be kept "on display." There is no wording in the bill, to my knowledge, that pushes for sea pens and rehabilitation of the orcas. These are solutions that have been widely researched and it was strange to see them left out of the bill.

Despite the issues, this is a great first step, however we absolutely can't see it as a victory in the least. Be prepared for some serious backlash from SeaWorld.

Image from http://obrag.org

What are your thoughts on the issue? Do you think this bill is good news, bad news, or a mixed bag?