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    Home » Healthy Vegan Living » Vegan Living

    The Importance of Visiting Animal Sanctuaries

    Published: Sep 6, 2017 · Modified: Apr 26, 2023 by Dianne · This post may contain affiliate links

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    The Importance of Visiting Animal Sanctuaries

    I took my first visit to an animal sanctuary about 15 years ago. Someone I knew told about Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen and, at the first available opportunity, I made the five-hour drive and spent a weekend there. And what a wonderful weekend it was! I got to pet goats, give pigs belly rubs, and hang out with a bunch of cows.

    The Importance of Visiting Animal Sanctuaries

    Since then, more sanctuaries have opened in my area, and I try to visit one every year. In the past, I’ve gone to Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary and Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Luckily there are now two here in New Jersey that are just about an hour away from me – Skylands Sanctuary & Animal Rescue and Tamerlaine Farm Animal Rescue. I spent a day at Tamerlaine recently, and it felt just as wonderful as that first trip to Farm Sanctuary all those years ago. I absolutely love spending time with animals, and I think it’s something everyone should get a chance to do.

    If you haven’t visited a farm animal sanctuary yet, stop what you’re doing and make plans to do so. No, seriously – I can wait. At a sanctuary, you’ll get to learn so much about the animals and you’ll make such heartwarming connections with critters you might not normally come into contact with. You may hear some heartbreaking stories about a chicken’s abusive past or a cow’s near death, but those stories also come with amazing rescue tales. You’ll also learn that every animal has his or her own personality, just like people.

    The Importance of Visiting Animal Sanctuaries

    5 Reasons to Visit Animal Sanctuaries:

    It’s Educational – I’ve learned so much from my visits to animal sanctuaries! Did you know that male turkeys have “beards?” They all have a tuft of black hair that hangs down from their chests, and they’re called beards. Female turkeys don’t usually have them, but female turkeys who aren’t raised males can sometimes develop them. So fascinating!

    The Importance of Visiting Animal Sanctuaries

    You Get to Make Connections with the Animals – I’ve always loved animals, and I’ve seen cows and horses in fields, but I had never gotten too up close and personal with them. I knew that they were all similar – that they all need love and care – but it wasn’t until my first trip to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, that this really clicked with me. I was visiting with some cows in a field, and one started grooming another, just as my cats groom each other. In the goat barn, one little guy named Simon followed me around like a puppy, hoping for scritches. (Don’t worry – he got them!) It’s one thing to read about these kinds of things in books, but it’s another to experience them yourself.

    The Importance of Visiting Animal Sanctuaries

    The Animals Get to Meet You – Just like cats and dogs like to be around people (well, I guess with cats that can debatable), chickens, turkeys, goats, cows, and pigs like having human company as well. It’s pretty amazing how quickly they learn to adjust and trust people, even when they’ve been in abusive situations. Pigs adore belly rubs, chickens love to be pet under their wings, and goats like to have their necks scratched.

    The Sanctuaries Need Your Support – Taking care of animals isn’t cheap, and most sanctuaries rely on donations for their day-to-day operations. The cost of the sanctuary tour, the profit from merchandise they sell, and the donations we give are extremely important for their survival.

    The Importance of Visiting Animal Sanctuaries

    It’s Good for the Soul – I really can’t describe the feeling you get when you enter a field and bunch of chickens come over to great you, excited to make a new friend, or when I goat follows you around because he wants to hang out with you. It really is nourishing for the soul. With all of the craziness that goes on in the world, there is something truly magical about spending time with innocent animals who want nothing from you, expect for maybe a few belly rubs and a hug.

    Do you have a sanctuary you love to visit?

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    About Dianne

    Dianne Wenz is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Vegan Lifestyle Coach, Plant-Based Diet Nutrition Specialist, and Plant-Based Chef, as well as the author of Truly Healthy Vegan Cookbook.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sam

      September 06, 2017 at 6:04 pm

      Thanks Dianne I've actually made contact with a couple of sanctuaries near me after reading this. Been meaning to for a while but this gave me the push I needed. Great post.

    2. Diane

      September 07, 2017 at 9:22 am

      We are currently vacationing in Seneca Lake. We just visited Farm Sanctuary on Sunday. I got my first opportunity to visit last year and I loved it. I also like to see how donations are used and the sanctuary visit also inspires to be more invested with its activities throughout the year

    3. Dianne

      September 07, 2017 at 5:36 pm

      I love Farm Sanctuary, and that area is so nice this time of year!

    4. Dianne

      September 07, 2017 at 5:36 pm

      I'm glad I inspired you, Sam! I hope you enjoy the sanctuary visits!

    5. jacquie

      September 08, 2017 at 9:00 pm

      I would love to be able to help out at an animal sanctuary since as you mentioned they do need volunteer help. however, I don't know any that are close enough to me to do so. Is there a good way to locate animal sanctuaries that might be close? thanks.

    6. Dianne

      September 11, 2017 at 2:26 pm

      I would suggest doing some googling to see what's in your area.

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    Hi! I'm Dianne Wenz, a Board-Certified Health Vegan Health and Lifestyle Coach. I empower my clients to build new habits so they can reach their healthy living goals. I love to show others how easy it is to live a vegan lifestyle as well as how to cook deliciously easy plant-based meals. Contact me today to learn more and to schedule a complimentary breakthrough session!

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