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This Little Piggy (And His Friends) Came Home

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By ANDREA SACHS The Washington Post

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 20, 2008

Moo had a little crush on me, and I could all but return his affections.

He possessed saucer-size eyes, a sturdy build and a sweet disposition. But what really tugged at my heart was his story of survival. The super-friendly brown-haired bull, who had trailed me through the pasture like a lovelorn teen, had been found tied to a car during his calfhood. He was saved by one animal shelter, then recently relocated to another, Farm Sanctuary near Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Moo is not alone - here, at the country's largest farm animal-rescue facility, or with his grim history. The safe haven takes in hundreds of farm animals, who, if they could talk, would tell similar stories. There's Morgan, a snow-white rooster discovered in a New York City pet store dyed like an Easter egg; Mayfly, an experiment in a school hatching project; and Winnie, a 500-pound pig who escaped a backyard barbecue (featuring her) in Connecticut.

"The biggest thing we want to impress upon people is that animals have their own lives and personalities," said Liz Pichaud, 23, the tour guide who led our group around the property. "They are living as they were intended to live."
Farm Sanctuary is more sanctuary than farm. In 1986, Californian Gene Baur and his then-wife founded the grass-roots operation to expose the dark side of factory farming. Funded in part by selling veggie hot dogs at Grateful Dead shows, the group made its first save in a Pennsylvania stockyard: Hilda the sheep.

The organization now runs a 300-acre property in central California and the 175-acre spread in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

The New York facility holds in-depth tours May through October, but those who want more animal face time can overnight at the on-site bed-and-breakfast.

Unlike those on working farms, sanctuary animals are on permanent holiday, a retirement with full benefits. Sanctuaries around the country vary between caring for a specific species and taking in anything with zero to four legs. Jungle Friends in Gainesville, for example, specializes in monkeys, while Rikki's Refuge in Orange, Va., resembles Dr. Dolittle's waiting room.
Farm Sanctuary focuses mainly on barnyard animals such as goats, pigs, cows, ducks and chickens. The refuge houses about 750 creatures, in addition to 30 cats.

"Animal sanctuaries are a place where abused or ill animals can live out the rest of their lives," said Denise Sproul, executive director of the Animal Rescue Association of America. "Sanctuaries deal with the animals that maybe no one wants to see."

Despite its sumptuous setting and priceless views of lake and land, the Watkins Glen property is hardly glamorous. The three red overnight cabins each contain a pair of bouncy beds that sleep two apiece, framed photos of animals and a wicker lounge set. No TV, phone or iPod docking station. The bathrooms are in a separate building.

The overnight accommodations, breakfast room-library, small exhibit hall and gift shop crouch on the edge of the property. The real scene takes place on the undulating farmland that nearly nudges the horizon and inside the archetypal red barns, one per species. Most of the animals are kept inside spacious barns and fields, though on rare occasions the turkeys are let out to socialize.

"They're like ambassadors of their species," said Adam Weitzenfeld, 23., an intern from Chicago who was spending three months volunteering here. "Where else can you see a factory farm animal that isn't on your plate?"

IF YOU GO

GETTING THERE: Farm Sanctuary is just west of Watkins Glen, in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. By plane, fly into Rochester (90 miles from Watkins Glen) or Syracuse (100 miles).

STAYING THERE: The property's B&B has three cabins (each sleeps four), costing $75 per person per night, plus $10 for each additional guest. Rate includes a tour and vegan breakfast. For accommodations in Watkins Glen, check with the Schuyler County Lodging and Tourism Association (www.watkinsglenlodging .com) or the Schuyler County Chamber of Commerce (1-800-607-4552, www.schuylerny .com). Farm Sanctuary also lists suggestions on its Web site.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

•The sanctuary holds $3 public tours on various days and hours from May 1 to Oct. 31. Guests are also encouraged to volunteer and help with the animals.

•The property abuts the Sugar Hill Recreation Area, which includes a state forest, numerous hiking trails, a fire tower and a portion of the Six Nations Recreation Trail System; (607) 776-2165, www.dec .ny.gov/lands/37446.html.

•Watkins Glen State Park boasts 19 waterfalls and a steep trail that goes beside and behind the falls; (607) 535-4511, www.nysparks .state.ny.us/parks/info .asp?parkId=105.

•Stop and sip the grapes at any of 36 wineries along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail; www.senecalakewine.com/jc.

•Cruise around Seneca Lake by kayak, sailboat or Capt. Bill's vintage Stroller IV; (607) 535-4541.

•Catch the races at Watkins Glen International Speedway; 1-866-461-7223; www.theglen

.com.

INFORMATION: (607) 583- 2225, www.farmsanctuary.org.

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