Today's Best Animal Sanctuaries

Sanctuaries

Turns Out, Cows Love Being Mamas. This Mother’s Day, Let’s Celebrate That Fact (and No Longer Eat Them).

Cows are intelligent individuals who possess deep cognitive and emotional lives. And, it turns out, they also really love being mothers.

by Rachel McCrystal

News

Why Travel Giant Expedia Will No Longer Sell Tickets to SeaWorld

Expedia now prohibits ticket sales to attractions that involve exploiting whales and dolphins for profit.

News

North America’s First Sanctuary For Rescued Whales Set to Open in 2023

The Whale Sanctuary Project just opened its visitor and operations center, marking the first step in its goal to build North America’s first seaside sanctuary for whales rescued from captivity.

Travel

7 Best Hotels for Vegans in America

Whether you’re vacationing in New York or Texas, these vegan-friendly hotels should be on your must-stay list.

News

Joaquin Phoenix Shares Emotional Story of Rescuing Cows from a “Factory of Death”

Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix recounts the emotional rescue of Liberty and Indigo and visits the mother and her calf one year later at Farm Sanctuary in California.

News

Vegan Activist Earthling Ed to Open Animal Sanctuary

The Surge Sanctuary—funded by profits from the activist’s vegan restaurant Unity Diner—will be built upon 18 acres of sprawling fields where animals can live out their natural lives without fear of exploitation or slaughter.

News

Joaquin Phoenix, Alec Baldwin, Edie Falco, and More Celebs Pledge to Go Turkey-Free for Thanksgiving

The celebrity activists are joining Farm Sanctuary in urging Americans to take turkeys off their plates this Thanksgiving.

News

Study: Animal Sanctuary Tours Help Visitors Ditch Animal Products

A 1,200-participant study found that visiting a farmed animal sanctuary helped people reduce their consumption of animals, understand the connection between eating animals and their suffering in animal agriculture, and discuss veganism with friends and family.

News

Country Crock and Esther the Wonder Pig Launch Vegan Cupcakes

The loveable pig’s vegan vanilla cupcake is made with Country Crock’s Plant Butter and sales of the limited-edition treat will benefit rescued farm animals at Woodstock Sanctuary and Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary.

News

Animal Sanctuary Rescues Calf from Slaughter, Names Him After Late Civil Rights Legend John Lewis

“Our John Lewis has the legacy of such a powerful name to lift him up,” The Gentle Barn co-founder Ellie Laks said of the newest sanctuary resident.

Sanctuaries

Turns Out, Cows Love Being Mamas. This Mother’s Day, Let’s Celebrate That Fact (and No Longer Eat Them).

Cows are intelligent individuals who possess deep cognitive and emotional lives. And, it turns out, they also really love being mothers.

by Rachel McCrystal

News

82-Year-Old Vegan to Run 100K For Animals in the UK

Englishman Paul Youd is taking on the challenge of running 10 kilometers each day for 10 days to raise funds for England’s Dean Farm Trust animal sanctuary.

News

Judge Grants Carole Baskin Control of Joe Exotic’s Former Zoo

The Big Cat Rescue sanctuary owner will soon take over the 16 acres of land Exotic previously used for his GW Zoo.

COVID

What 8 Animal Sanctuaries Are Doing to Stay Afloat During COVID-19

From limiting volunteer shifts to offering virtual tours, sanctuaries across the country are facing the pandemic challenges head-on.

News

Animal Sanctuary Rescues 1,000 Chickens From Egg Farm Struggling During COVID-19

Animal Place chartered two planes to bring the hens from an Iowa egg farm to its California sanctuary.

News

Joaquin Phoenix Urges Everyone to Adopt a Mother Cow for Mother’s Day

In February, the Oscar-winning actor rescued mother cow Liberty and her baby calf Indigo from slaughter and wants their first Mother’s Day together at Farm Sanctuary to be the best ever.

News

“Ethical” Farm Shutters, Refuses to Let Sanctuaries Rescue 200 Animals

Instead of allowing animal sanctuaries to rescue its animals—which include newborn goats and a pregnant cow—Sprout Creek Farm claims that the animals will be “appropriately and humanely managed” following its closure.

News

New Sanctuary Map Helps Connect Volunteers With Animal Sanctuaries in Need

by Nicole Axworthy

News

You Can Now Tour 10 Animal Sanctuaries in One Day

by Nicole Axworthy

News

You Can Now Have a Zoom Meeting With Rescued Farmed Animals

California-based animal sanctuary Sweet Farm is helping boost morale with its “Goat-2-Meeting” program, which allows schools and companies to invite rescued farmed animals to their Zoom meetings.

News

Pennsylvania Animal Sanctuary Goes Digital to Allow Supporters to Connect With Animals From Home

As people are sheltering at home, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary is providing new ways to connect with its rescued farmed animals through four online programs.

News

New Vegan Show Will Debut on Animal Planet in Early April

New series Saved by the Barn will highlight the lives of rescued farmed animals at Barn Sanctuary in Michigan.

News

Canada Plans to Release Captive Whales to New Home at Nova Scotia Sanctuary

The Whale Sanctuary Project is building a 40-hectare inlet to accommodate marine animals set free by Canada’s recently passed Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act.

News

Joaquin Phoenix Rescues Cow and Her Week-Old Calf from Slaughterhouse

The award-winning actor puts his powerful Oscars speech into action by rescuing mother cow Liberty and her baby Indigo from certain death, allowing them to live out their lives at Farm Sanctuary.

Travel

How Volunteering at an Elephant Sanctuary Changed Me Forever

At Thailand’s Elephant Nature Park, I fed, cleaned, and cuddled with elephants, and they taught me the biggest lesson of my life.

News

Animal “Rescuer” Charged with Felony After 600 Animal Corpses Are Found at “Sanctuary”

Animal-rights advocates take concerted action to bring Corinne DiLorenzo to justice after a mass animal grave was uncovered at her EARTH Animal Sanctuary in Illinois.

News

High School “Future Farmers of America” Send Animals to Sanctuary Instead of Slaughter

Students in California broke with tradition of sending animals to slaughter in the program, instead sending three goats and two sheep to live out their lives in peace at Farm Sanctuary.