Vote for Farm Sanctuary in the VegNews 2010 Veggie Award Polls

Farm Sanctuary (Watkins Glen, New York 14891) has been nominated for Favorite Animal Sanctuary & Favorite Nonprofit Animal Organization in the VegNews 2010 Veggie Award Polls! The polls close in just five days, at midnight on August 31^st.

If you love Farm Sanctuary and support its rescue, education, and advocacy work to make the world a more compassionate place for all beings, please take a moment to vote for the sanctuary in the poll.

About Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary is the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the “food animal” industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found on the Farm Sanctuary web site or by calling 607-583-2225.

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Nevada Humane Society Duck Race & Festival

This Sunday, August 29, 10,000 bright yellow rubber ducks will race to the finish line in the Truckee River, raising money for the homeless pets in our community. The fastest rubber ducks will win exciting prizes, including a 1989 British Racing Green Jaguar, Disney World Getaway, Las Vegas Adventure, a Petapalooza PamperedPet Package, and Dine-Around-Reno Restaurant Sampler. All entries have a chance of winning $1,000,000 sponsored by Walmart. You can adopt ducks online at the Nevada Humane Society web site, at the shelter, or at the event on Sunday.

The Festival, from 11 am to 5 pm, includes fun carnival games and activities, tasty refreshments, and live entertainment, culminating in the Duck Race at 4 pm. Kids can enjoy the bounce house, and clowns Doc-O and Squeeky. Lots of fun duck race merchandise will be available for sale and all proceeds benefit the homeless pets!

Headlining the live entertainment is the Tim Tucker Band. Other on-stage talent includes KidScape Productions, The Note-Ables, “Never Enough Ballroom” Dance, and Starz Gymnastics, Dance and Cheer.

For more information, please visit the Nevada Humane Society web site or call 775-856-2000, ext. 324.

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You Can Help Stop Animal Cruelty

Cruelty to animals takes many forms. Sometimes it involves violence resulting in injury or death. The cruelty the Connecticut Humane Society (Newington, Connecticut 06111) sees most often, however, stems from neglect — animals deprived of basic needs like food, water, medical care, and shelter from the elements.

Regardless of the form it takes, cruelty has the same devastating effect on its animal victims. Pain and suffering are inexcusable, especially when they can be prevented so easily. It takes everyone, working as a community to stop cruelty and neglect.

What can you do?  You can help stop animal cruelty.

If you suspect that cruelty or neglect is taking place, write down the details and report it to your local animal control authorities.  As an integral part of the community, the Connecticut Humane Society stands ready to assist Animal Control with investigations and sheltering animals that need their help. We all want to get involved before it is too late.

Caring for the animals that come to the Connecticut Humane Society having suffered abuse and neglect can be a very costly undertaking. But it is a critical part of who the Connecticut Humane Society is and what they do. Your “Stop Animal Cruelty gift” will help the Connecticut Humane Society continue to rescue and rehabilitate the most vulnerable creatures among us. Will you help today?

Putting a stop to animal cruelty and abuse takes a community – one person at a time.

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Musicians Colbie Caillat & Justin Young Visit Farm Sanctuary

Last Friday was supposed to be a day like any other at the Farm Sanctuary’s New York Shelter. But that all changed when a set of very special guests arrived at the sanctuary after Grammy-Award winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat, guitarist Justin Young, and their fellow band mates decided to take a break from their summer tour with Sheryl Crow to pay the Farm Sanctuary a visit.

Colbie with Larry.

Though this was their first trip to Farm Sanctuary, the sanctuary’s relationship with Colbie and Justin began a little while ago. At a pivotal time in the Ohio ballot initiative campaign, Justin expressed interest in the sanctuary’s work via his Twitter page. They began communicating with him and, in a show of solidarity for abused farm animals, he coordinated free space at their tour’s next stop in Kettering, Ohio for the sanctuary to table and collect signatures. He wore a Farm Sanctuary shirt and spent a lot of time with Farm Sanctuary volunteers, making sure everyone was comfortable and happy. At another concert in Cleveland, Ohio, Justin once again made sure the Farm Sanctuary had space to table. He even gave the Ohio volunteers an onstage shout-out for all their hard work!

Kim Gordon piglet hangs out with the band.

When Colbie, Justin and their band mates realized that their tour would place them close to the Farm Sanctuary’s Watkins Glen location, they decided to undertake a mini-road trip. They arrived in the early afternoon and Susie had the pleasure of taking them around the shelter. They weaved through the different barns, meeting all the rescued cows, sheep, pigs, birds, and goats. The band spent time with rockstar piglet Kim Gordon, who charmed everyone with her adorable antics. At the goat barn, baby goats Zuzu and Otto did tricks for everyone and showed off their boundless energy. By the end of the day, it was very obvious that the band and the sanctuary’s residents had become fast friends.

When the time came to leave, it was hard to say goodbye but the day clearly left an impression on the musicians. That very night, as they played to a crowd of enthusiastic fans in Canandaigua, New York, Colbie talked about their visit to the sanctuary and made sure everyone knew how wonderful the animals who call the shelter home truly are!

Justin and Colbie visit with the pigs.

But their dedication to Farm Sanctuary does not end there. Justin had been planning on walking in the 2010 Santa Monica Walk for Farm Animals, but his tour schedule got in the way. Still determined to take a stand for farm animals around the country and support Farm Sanctuary’s efforts, Justin is planning a benefit concert to support the Walk on September 24 in West Hollywood. (Keep checking the Walk website for details.)

Through their involvement with Farm Sanctuary, Justin and Colbie are raising much-needed awareness for the billions of farm animals who suffer in factory farm facilities around the country each year, and, for this, we can’t thank them enough!

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