(Today, we welcome a guest post by Adelle Goodman. Many thanks! — Billie)
Imagine a world where animals live in harmony, devoid of fear, pain, and anxiety. What a great world would it be! Well, such a peaceful world exists in a farm sanctuary.
Whether you are familiar with farm sanctuaries or not, it is often easy to understand the genuine intention of these peaceful places—to keep animals safe from abuse, and let them live a life free from exploitation and danger, a life full of love and respect.
You see, in this modern time, animals are still on the losing side when it comes to living the life that has been given to them. Most animals that found refuge in a farm sanctuary suffered a great deal in cages, in hoards, in circuses, in training for cruel races, in unnecessary human entertainment, and being raised for consumption.
Some wild animals are also found in sanctuaries—their species in danger of extinction due to human cultivation of less meaningful hobbies that came from primitive practices such as hunting, or from modern greed that led to the destruction of the animals’ natural habitat in the wild.
Most of the farm animals cared for in sanctuaries have never known kindness and gentleness, they have never seen the light of the sky, and they have never felt the grass on their feet until they set foot in a safe place that they can trust such as an animal farm sanctuary.
Also, other than encompassing animals with protection, gentleness, compassion, respect, peace, trust, and harmony… one of the most significant contributions of animal sanctuaries is helping bridge the disconnect between humans and animals.
Why are animal sanctuaries important for animals?
The answer may be pretty obvious, but no one can really stress the importance of animal sanctuaries but the animals themselves. Not everyone can understand how hard it is to lose their own homes, their families, and their resources to survive in this world.
Farm sanctuaries are the new homes of defenseless and helpless animals. However, these new homes are even better and stronger because they are made possible with the compassionate hearts, brilliant minds, and caring hands of people striving to make this world a better place for every soul that seeks refuge in their animal sanctuary.
Wild animal sanctuary Vs Farm animal sanctuary
It’s not that these two kinds of animal sanctuaries are competing with each other, but understanding the slight difference between the two is a must.
A wild animal sanctuary works to preserve animal species and strive to prevent the extinction of exotic animals. Also, such sanctuaries rescue wild animals from emergency situations like infant animals whose mothers were poached in the wild.
On the other hand, a farm animal sanctuary rescues animals from abusive situations on farms, slaughterhouses, and hoarding situations, especially the ill and injured animals.
According to the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, there are over a hundred farm sanctuaries, rescue shelters, and rehabilitation centres around the globe that cater to different animal types, needing various volunteers and services, as well as offering internship opportunities.
The fact that animal sanctuaries exist all over the world sends a strong message to all of us that veganism is not mainstream, and there are animals who need to be rescued.
How can you tell if a sanctuary is legitimate or not?
Besides checking that an animal sanctuary is registered, like the Deep Peace Trust being registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Non-for-Profit Commission (ACNC), you can also observe the values and principles of animal sanctuaries that you wish to support.
For example, the Deep Peace Trust farm sanctuary doesn’t allow people to visit or interact with animals. This way, only the sanctuary owners and people who run it are involved with the animals and can ensure that these farm animals feel safe and are living comfortably—practices like this show that the sanctuary has the animals’ best interests at heart.
Why is it important to donate to sanctuaries?
You see, these non-for-profit places are donation-driven. So, they rely on gracious public funds to survive and thrive—feeding animals, helping rescued animals overcome medical issues, pushing the movement of preserving animal species and creating the sanctuary to be as close to the animals’ natural habitat as possible.
Donations ensure that animal sanctuaries continue their noble work for beautiful non-human creatures whose hopes for safety on compassionate human beings. Funds are what keep them going during natural disasters. These hardships often require extra funds for necessities like water and hay, especially in times of severe drought.
Donating to animal sanctuaries is like giving back to what is taken from the animals—their lives, their freedom, their families, and their homes.
Final Thoughts
A farm sanctuary may not totally resolve the global problem of abused animals in the streets, in hoards, farms, zoos, circuses, racetracks, and slaughterhouses, but is nevertheless a part of the solution.
And if people will become more aware of the great work that farm sanctuaries do, the solution will be on a global scale pretty soon.
Animal sanctuaries are the avenues for people who wish to support the noble cause of protecting animals from harm and providing them with a good life that they deserve—whether it’s a monetary donation or giving your precious time and energy to animals in need, every farm sanctuary will greatly appreciate it.
So, you might want to check the nearest wild animal rehabilitation centre, rescue shelter, or farm sanctuary near you and see if you can become a volunteer or a monthly donor. Plus, get the chance to mingle with grateful little souls who wish nothing but to live life in a safe environment, and spread love and affection to anyone kind enough to care. You can also support the movement by eating in Vegan Restaurants.
This blog post is published through the initiative of Bong Bonlai vegan restaurant and the dedication of vegan marketers at Ardor SEO who wish to spread the importance of supporting animal sanctuaries. Check out Bong Bonlais’ Facebook page as well!