Counting down: 35 Moments from 35 Years

Early strides for animals

You're invited! Join us on October 9 for The Power of Sanctuary: Celebrating 35 Years. This free, virtual event is for believers in the possibility of a just and compassionate food system and the need for systemic change. Register now!

In the meantime, we’re continuing to count down to the event with Farm Sanctuary facts!

This week, in #6-10, we reminisce about our early fundraising efforts, celebrate our legal gains for downed cows (with special help from Kim Basinger), and more.

6. Farm Sanctuary won the fight to remove “downed” cows from the slaughter line. Previously, cows too sick or weak to stand were being processed for food. The result was the Downed Animal Protection Act (1992) which: “makes it unlawful for any stockyard owner, market agency, or dealer to market, transfer, or hold nonambulatory livestock that has not been humanely euthanized.” We continue advocating for expansion of this law to cover pigs, sheep, goats, and more.

7. Kim Basinger helped us uplift downed animals—including her adopted calf, Henry—through a televised PSA for Farm Sanctuary.

8. Farm Sanctuary protested an annual Pennsylvania pigeon shoot in the late 1980s. Our New York shelter remains a haven for the descendants of the event’s survivors.

9. Early fundraising was a bit different! We sold veggie hot dogs from our VW van at Grateful Dead concerts.

10. In 2011, we restored that same old van and took to the road for a 25th Anniversary tour of the country. Vegan food—and the animal protection and Sanctuary movement—has come a long way, but our journey goes on!

There is so much more to celebrate. Visit the blog to learn about moments #1-10!

The Power of Sanctuary
Celebrating 35 Years

Saturday, October 9, 2021
4:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. ET

The Sanctuary movement wasn't created by one person or one organization, but by the collective actions of compassionate individuals—by believers like you. You are the Power of Sanctuary.

On October 9, please join us for a virtual celebration—with special guests Board Chair Emily Deschanel, John Lewis, Dominick Thompson, Bob Weir, and others, as we reflect on 35 years of Sanctuary, plus the work involved in creating a more just and compassionate food system.

We’ll be honoring amazing changemakers: Brenda Sanders of Thrive Baltimore, Afro-Vegan Society, Vegan Soulfest, and Greener Kitchen and Maggie Baird of Support + Feed for their commitment to food justice and combating food insecurity. You’ll hear stories of survival, of hard-won victories, and more!

THANK YOU

To those who’ve been with us since the beginning as well as those we’ve just met, we want to thank you. Our work would not be possible without you.

We’re also grateful for our Corporate Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsors

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