| Animal Place
Animal Place is a nonprofit sanctuary for abused and discarded ‘farm’ animals founded in 1989. Rescued individuals and indigenous wildlife share 60 acres of forest, meadow, pasture, hills and a small lake. Besides rescue work, Animal Place also concentrates on education. It develops educational materials to provide the public, primarily youngsters, with information about why they should view farmed animals as more than just food. Its two comic books, The Internet and Justice for All, illustrate the issues in an entertaining way for young children and for teenagers.
The sanctuary offers activity kits (chickens, cows, pigs) for children. Using these fun games, the children will learn more about these species. Animal Place also has published two children’s books, Animal Place: Where Magical Things Happen and Sausage Patty.
Other educational outreach activities which Animal Place sponsors include:
Residents at Animal Place
Animal Place rescues animals who have no place else to go. Some were abused. Others were impounded by animal control due to neglect or cruelty. Some are from traditional humane societies who were unable to find permanent homes for them. "Downed" animals rescued from auctions and stockyards, and "owner"-relinquished animals also make up many of the animals who will live out peacefully the remaining years of their lives. If you would like to financially "adopt" one of the residents, some of whom are described below, you can start the process online.
Joe is one of several cows at the sanctuary. He was taken to auction right after birth because he was not "profitable." He was severely ill and could not be sold so he was thrown onto a "dead pile" in the corner. A caring person saw this "dead" animal barely breathing, rescued him, and nursed him back to health.
Brenda Grace was one of many "production" pigs born with hernias. The farmer had a deal with a veterinary medical school whereby the students would do the surgery and, if successful, he would buy back the pigs. The two students who were assigned to this pig, however, could not bear the thought of her becoming "food." They were able to convince their instructor to allow them to adopt her instead. In honor of these two students, we named her after them.
Eve is a Moreno sheep who was tied up outside a gas station, destined to be killed and eaten after she was "fattened." As a result of her cruel treatment, she was confiscated by humane authorities and donated to Animal Place to live out her life with others of her kind.
Lucky, Venus and Annabelle live in the "house yard" because they are too small to mix with the "big kids."
Lucky is a pot-bellied pig who was abandoned. He went from one facility to another and no one would adopt him. Finally, Animal Place was contacted and took him in.
Venus is a mixture of pot-bellied pig and some other breed. Her "owner" had abused her and then dumped her at a shelter, unwanted and unloved. She was scared and distrusting. Animal Place was contacted to see if it would take this"‘problem child." Knowing that she might have a difficult time, Animal Place caretakers were determined to give her as much love and freedom as they could to see if she might learn to trust people again. They are happy to report that she has slowly come around and is one of the most lovable individuals they have known. No, she doesn’t completely trust people, but she now allows humans the "privilege" of giving her belly rubs and will "condescend" to take treats from them, talking the whole time.
Besides Joe, Brenda Grace, Lucky, Venus and Eve, Animal Place is home to lots of other pigs and cows, and goats, sheep, ducks, pea fowl and chickens who were abandoned when they were no longer wanted. For example, more than three dozen were used in an avian physiology course at a large western university. Students fed them alcohol to illustrate how the gait of a chicken changes when under the influence. The chickens were going to be killed at the conclusion of this "educational" project, until a concerned student negotiated a release with the professor.
Once an animal finds herself/himself at Animal Place, he/she will most likely remain there permanently. Occasionally, Animal Place may hold an individual until arrangements for another home can be made. Due to shelter and land limitations, Animal Place cannot take every unwanted homeless or abused animal, and therefore, frequently assists people in finding an alternative sanctuary for farmed animals.*
Animal Place
3448 Laguna Creek Trail
Vacaville, CA 95688-9724, U.S.A.
Voice phone: 707-449-4814
Facsimile: 707-449-8775
Email: info@animalplace.org
Web site: http://www.AnimalPlace.org
*Donations or other payments should be sent to P.O. Box 5910, Vacaville, CA 95696-5910. Books, factory farming fact sheets, events, adoptions, newsletters, activity sheets, etc., are all available online.
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