Why Farm Animal Rescues Matter

Farm animals can need new homes for many reasons. An owner may become ill, lose access to land, experience financial hardship or simply become unable to provide appropriate care. Animals may also be abandoned, seized, injured or displaced.

Rescues, sanctuaries and responsible rehoming networks can provide another pathway for some of these animals.

Rescue can mean different things

Some organizations specialize in emergency intake and rehabilitation. Others focus on adoption and rehoming. Sanctuaries may provide lifetime care for animals that are unlikely to be adopted.

These are different models and each has different costs, facilities and responsibilities.

Farm animals can be difficult to rehome

Finding a new home for livestock is often more complicated than rehoming a household pet.

Animals may require:

• appropriate acreage and fencing
• shelter and winter facilities
• species-appropriate feed
• veterinary care
• hoof or farrier care
• livestock handling experience
• transportation
• companionship from compatible animals

Capacity matters

A rescue cannot help animals sustainably if it continually accepts more animals than its land, finances and caregivers can support.

Saying no to an intake can sometimes be part of responsible animal care.

Rescues can also educate

Responsible organizations can help people understand livestock care, ownership costs, animal behaviour and the long-term commitment involved in keeping farm animals.

Respect the animal

PureFarmFresh supports informed discussion about livestock agriculture while recognizing that animals deserve appropriate care throughout their lives.

Supporting agriculture and supporting responsible animal rescue are not opposing ideas.