LOS ANGELES, C.A. – Today, Farm Sanctuary (farmsanctuary.org), the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, and Animal Acres, a California nonprofit, announced an agreement to integrate Animal Acres’ Southern California farm animal shelter, located in Acton, CA, into Farm Sanctuary’s existing national programs, which include farm animal shelters in Watkins Glen, NY, and Orland, CA.

Since its founding in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has rescued more than 10,000 farm animals and facilitated the adoption of thousands of these animals to loving homes. Farm Sanctuary also engages in national outreach, education, and advocacy work to encourage people to treat farm animals with consideration and compassion, and to promote a vegetarian lifestyle.

Animal Acres was founded in 2005 with a mission similar to Farm Sanctuary’s and is presently home to rescued cows, pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, geese, and chickens. In April 2011, Animal Acres’ Board of Directors inquired about Farm Sanctuary’s interest in a potential partnership. In May, Farm Sanctuary’s staff began providing assistance to Animal Acres, performing daily animal care and maintenance activities at Animal Acres’ shelter.

“Following a period of collaboration on the animals’ care, it became clear to both of our organizations that the Acton, CA shelter would be a welcome addition to Farm Sanctuary’s national shelter and education programs,” said Allan Kornberg, Farm Sanctuary’s Executive Director. “Operating only an hour outside of Los Angeles, the staff and volunteers at Animal Acres have provided unique educational resources to Southern California, and we look forward to enhancing these resources in the future,” he noted.

“We are very pleased to join our efforts with Farm Sanctuary,” said Patty Shenker, Animal Acres co-founder and director. “By adding our shelter to Farm Sanctuary’s existing rescue, adoption, and education efforts, we have an even greater opportunity to help people see farm animals as emotional, intelligent individuals and to raise awareness of, and one day end, their extreme suffering.”

Founded in 1986, Farm Sanctuary works to change how our society views and treats farm animals through rescue, education and advocacy. The organization provides lifelong care for animals rescued from abuse at sanctuary locations in New York and California; promotes compassionate vegan living; and advocates legal and policy reforms. To learn more about Farm Sanctuary, visit farmsanctuary.org.