Where do celebrities gather with cows, pigs, and chickens? Animal Acres, of course!
The American Dog reports
Located just 45 minutes from Hollywood, Animal Acres is the newest Los Angeles "must see" destination for animal lovers. The 26-acre, hacienda-style sanctuary is home to hundreds of rescued cows, pigs, chickens, turkey, goats, sheep, and other country critters who have been rescued from cruelty and neglect. Visitors are encouraged to get up close and personal with the sanctuary residents and talk to a turkey, kiss a cow, or give a pig a belly rub (a traditional "must do" activity at the sanctuary), with the hope that once you get to know a farm animal, you won't want to eat one!
Animal Acres was formed in 2005 by Farm Sanctuary cofounder Lorri Houston, who is considered the pioneer of the farm animal sanctuary movement. She opened the nation's first shelter for farm animals in 1986, and she has helped motivate, train, and inspire dozens of individuals to open farm animal shelters (now numbered at over 25). Animal Acres is her newest sanctuary project, and in less than five years, the sanctuary has already received national news coverage; Animal Acres was featured on the popular television series "30 Days" and gained the support of dozens of Hollywood's famous friends of farm animals, including Ellen DeGeneres, Daryl Hannah, Alicia Silverstone, and Bill Maher. "I'm pleased to be a supporter of Animal Acres," Maher says. "This special place is giving city slickers an opportunity to get to know farm animals"”and it's hard to eat a pig after you've given one a belly rub."
Sadly, billions of animals suffer from birth to death, simply because they had the misfortune to be born a "food animal." Most animals used for food production are raised on factory farms, intensive confinement systems where the animals are forced to live in cages or crates so small they cannot walk, and can barely turn around. During transport, animals can be legally shipped up to 36 hours without food, water, or rest. At the slaughterhouse, animals are often slaughtered while still fully conscious"”under state and federal laws, 90 percent of animals killed for food do not have to been stunned prior to slaughter.
Lorri became a vegetarian, and later, at age 16, gave up consuming and wearing animal products to become a vegan. As she explains, "I've always loved all animals, and started rescuing injured birds and stray dogs when I was 5 years old. As a teenager, I finally realized that if I love animals, I shouldn't be eating them, and I haven't eaten an animal since." Lorri is convinced that everyone who cares about animals will eventually adopt a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, once they have the facts in hand, and have an opportunity to see farm animals as living, sentient beings instead of meat, dairy, or egg products. Lorri credits the farm animal sanctuary movement with opening people's hearts and minds to the suffering of cows, pigs, and chickens"”and she may just be right. After all, when was the last time you gave a pig a belly rub, and then ate a hot dog?
Animal Acres Needs You
ANIMAL ACRES is supported entirely by its dedicated members. If you believe Los Angeles needs a farm animal sanctuary, Animal Acres needs YOU! You can help in several ways...
"¢ Become an ANIMAL ACRES MEMBER. Members contributing $25 or more per year receive a free tour every Sunday, so you can kiss a cow as often as you'd like! Members also receive discounts to area restaurants and cruelty-free shops"”and the great feeling that comes with knowing you are making L.A.'s farmed animal sanctuary possible.
"¢ Join the ANIMAL ACRES VOLUNTEER TEAM. Animal Acres depends on a dedicated team of volunteers to care for the sanctuary animals, conduct humane education tours, host sanctuary special events, and many other farm chores!
"¢ Attend ANIMAL ACRES EVENTS, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Animal Acres hosts a variety of educational and special events to educate and enlighten"”from star-studded galas to Thanksgiving FOR the turkeys!
Upcoming events include:
Compassionate Cuisine Celebration - October 9 Decadent Desserts Cooking Class - November 7 Turkey Trot Walkathon - November 8 Thanksgiving FOR the Turkeys - November 21
For more information: Animal Acres 5200 Escondido Canyon Rd Acton, CA 93510 (661) 269-5404 www.animalacres.org
