Rescue Stories

It’s rare that we get the chance to rescue farm animal families intact—but in the case of the “Hobart Trio,” one farmer’s change of heart will allow this family to stay together for life.

Born at a New York petting zoo, George’s life began on display. But despite all of the eyes on him and his family, few noticed how much George suffered in plain sight.

A day after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor—and subsequently making a headlining acceptance speech in which he spoke to the plight of mother cows and their babies used in animal agriculture—Joaquin Phoenix helped to liberate a cow and her newborn calf from a Los Angeles slaughterhouse and bring them to Farm Sanctuary.

Eleven days. It had been eleven days since strangers mosied into the yard, netted Pete, and whisked her away.

Rita was just a few months old when an accident claimed part of her foot—and very nearly, her life.

Just like their namesake Stevie Wonder/Paul McCartney song “Ebony and Ivory,” this bovine mother and son will now remain “side by side” for life.

With every animal we rescue and care for at Farm Sanctuary, there also comes the difficult time when we have to say goodbye.

At just one-and-a-half years old, Snickerdoodle’s life began falling apart.

This March, five baby birds got their lucky break. Arriving just a day apart, two poults (baby turkeys) and three peeps (baby chickens) escaped cruelty and joined new flocks at Farm Sanctuary.

Most farm animals never get to know their families. In today’s animal agricultural systems, farmers instead profit on keeping them apart.