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Preventing Disease With Vaccination: An Overview For Animal Sanctuaries

An overview of how vaccines work, the types used, and how to create a vaccination program for your residents.
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Take A Gander! The New Goose Arrival Guide

Everything you need to consider when taking in a new goose!
Since it was established in 2004 by Jenny Brown and Doug Abe, Woodstock Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York has welcomed over 3,000 animals and helped save thousands of others. As of 2024, the sanctuary is home to nearly 400 rescued animals, including cows, pigs, goats, rabbits, chickens, sheep, turkeys, ducks, geese, and guinea fowl. Woodstock’s mission is to end animal use in agriculture, provide sanctuary and lifelong care to rescued farm animals, and educate the public about the harms of animal farming. Rescued animals at Woodstock are respected as individuals and live dignified lives in peace, freedom, and joy.

The sanctuary advocates for animal rights in unison with other social justice movements, collaborating with dozens of local and international organizations, and travelling throughout the USA to rescue farmed animals from neglect, abuse, and death. It has educated thousands of people about the realities of modern animal agriculture through public tours, educational programs, and online content.

During tours, visitors are encouraged to meet the kinds of animals commonly exploited in animal agriculture, learn the rescued residents’ origin and rescue stories, and see how they have thrived at the sanctuary. Woodstock advocates for veganism and the reduction of suffering for all.

Creating A Vaccination Program For Rabbits At Your Animal Sanctuary

A brief look at rabbit vaccination recommendations.
The Igualdad Sanctuary is located on the outskirts of Santiago de Chile, in a commune called El Monte. This non-profit foundation provides shelter for farm animals who have escaped from the meat, dairy, or egg industry. As of 2022, more than 80 chickens, cows, goats, sheep, and pigs live in harmony at the sanctuary.

For more than ten years the sanctuary has rescued, cared for, and protected farm animals who are victims of abuse, cruelty, and abandonment. At the same time, they raise awareness about the complex emotional lives of these animals through storytelling, inspiring people to be more compassionate and kind to animals. While rescue and awareness work is an important part of their mission, Igualdad Sanctuary focuses its efforts on providing a safe space where each of the animals who arrive is protected for life.

A Welcome To Waterfowl: The New Duck Arrival Guide

Everything you need to consider when taking in a new duck!
Kylo nursing from Blossom at Tiny Hooves Sanctuary

A Goat’s-Eye View: How Goats See the World

In this resource we focus on vision—what goats can see, how their vision differs from ours, and what this means for the care we provide

Webinar: Agency-Centered Sanctuary Education: Transformative Practices for Nurturing Empathetic Connections with Farmed Animals

This is the recording of a webinar led by Andie Springirth of the Open Sanctuary Project and Dr. Emily Tronetti of the Institute for Humane Education on how to foster farmed animal agency in sanctuary education.
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Turkey Living Space Cleaning and Maintenance

How to keep a turkey's living space clean!
Older residents like Ash may require extra consideration to keep them happy and healthy. Photo: Isa Leshko, from Allowed To Grow Old

Additional Care Recommendations For Older Turkeys

A few tips to keep older turkeys happy and thriving at your animal sanctuary!
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Ocular Insights: Alpaca And Llama Vision

This resource covers what alpacas and llamas can see, how their vision differs from ours, and what this means for the care we provide.
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Pigs: How We Got Here

The history and current challenges of the domesticated pig.
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Shope Papillomavirus Infographic

Check out this infographic about Shope Papillomavirus (SPV), also referred to as Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus (CRPV).
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A Cow’s Eye View Infographic

Check out this fun infographic covering a few facts about the visual abilities of cow residents.
A close up of a dark, large, beautifully lashed eye of a pretty brown cow.

A Cow’s Eye View

This resource covers what cows can see, how their vision differs from ours, and what this means for the care we provide.
When welcoming new turkey residentPhoto: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

Gobble Greetings: New Turkey Arrival Guide

Everything you need to consider when taking in a new turkey!
Thre words "The Visual Abilities Of Pigs" is written across a bright blue and teal background. A hairy black and white spotted pig is under the words to the right.

The Visual Abilities Of Pig Residents Infographic

Check out this fun infographic covering a few facts about the visual abilities of pig residents!
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Animal Sanctuary Sustainability: Defining and Implementing Plans For Resiliency

How can a sanctuary cultivate organizational sustainability?
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The Open Sanctuary Podcast: Contingency Planning Basics For Your Animal Organization

Our staff discusses contingency planning basics!
Forrest and Friends is a farmed animal sanctuary and pig shelter established by two veterinarians, Sofie and Dimitri, in Belgium in 2017. Dimitri spent his childhood on a farm, but growing up, he saw that the lives of farmed animals and companion animals, such as dogs and cats, were valued completely differently by society. Not accepting this distinction for himself, he eventually became vegan and involved himself in animal rights. After volunteering at animal shelters since childhood and becoming veterinarians, Dimitri and his partner Sofie established the Forrest and Friends sanctuary and shelter, offering homes to animals rescued from the livestock industry or who were neglected or dumped.

As of 2020, Forrest and Friends had approximately 30 animal caretakers committed to over 300 animals residing on their 11-hectare property. Many of the chickens, ducks, geese, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and other species living there are permanent residents of the sanctuary. Forrest and Friends is also recognized as a pig shelter by the Belgium government, and they take in unwanted or neglected pigs and roosters, often former pets, offering them a safe home while seeking out new, caring and responsible homes for them.

Forrest and Friends believes that all animals deserve a life like the animals at the sanctuary and works towards a future where animals are not used for human purposes. Forrest and Friends conducts tours and educational outreach to the general public based on the guiding principle that we can live happily and healthily without harming others.

Excerpts From The Compassionate Care Classroom: Calmly Herding Sheep And Goat Residents

Tips for calmly herding sheep and goats.
The Smallest Flock Sheep Sanctuary is a small sanctuary in Somerset, England dedicated purely to the rescue and happiness of sheep. For more than 20 years, founder Charlotte Reynolds has been running the sanctuary, giving love and affection to each and every sheep she has under her care.

Understanding Flight Zone, Pressure Zone, And Point Of Balance In Sheep And Goats

An overview of flight zone, pressure zone, and point of balance in sheep and goats.
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Excerpts From The Compassionate Care Classroom: Shearing Woolen Sheep And Goat Residents

A brief overview of the importance of shearing and how to accomplish this for small ruminants.
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Additional Care Recommendations For Older Geese

A few tips to keep older geese happy and thriving at your animal sanctuary!
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Additional Care Recommendations For Older Ducks

A few tips to keep older ducks happy and thriving at your animal sanctuary!
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