If you’ve ever had the great privilege of meeting a turkey, then you know these sweet, intelligent birds deserve to be the LIFE of any Thanksgiving gathering. Yet sadly, more than 46 million turkeys will have their beaks and toes painfully amputated this year so that they can be packed by the thousands into dark, filthy warehouses on factory farms. That’s why Farm Sanctuary is proud to announce our coast-to-coast Celebrations FOR the Turkeys!

Highlights of the Celebrations include:

* NYC Celebration – Hip-hop mogul and Def Jam Founder RUSSELL SIMMONS will host a sumptuous vegan gourmet brunch at New York City’s landmark Tavern on the Green, featuring a special reading by JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER (Everything Is Illuminated) from his red-hot new book “Eating Animals.”

* Glen, NY Celebration – In addition to a vegan feast and the wildly popular “Feeding of the Turkeys” ceremony, guests will enjoy special presentations from distinguished animal rights philosopher TOM REGAN, recently named “One of Fifty Visionaries Who are Changing Your Life” by Utne Reader magazine, and Farm Sanctuary Executive Director DR. ALLAN KORNBERG.

* Orland, CA Celebration – Actress/advocate DANIELA SEA from “The L Word” will host a compassionate Thanksgiving celebration replete with a candlelit gourmet vegan dinner, a “Feeding of the Turkeys” ceremony and a performance by punk rock pioneer JONATHAN RICHMAN.

Folks travel from far and wide to attend these festive, compassionate Thanksgiving celebrations. I hope you can help us spread the word! Please scroll down for calendar listings for all three events, depending on where you live.

As always, thanks so much for your support!

For the turkeys,

Meredith

Compassionate Celebration FOR the Turkeys Hosted by Russell Simmons at New York City’s Landmark Tavern on the Green

Guests Invited to Celebrate a Cruelty-Free, Gourmet Vegan Thanksgiving Brunch with Farm Sanctuary, Russell Simmons and Jonathan Safran Foer

NEW YORK, NY – October 30, 2009 – Join Farm Sanctuary, special host hip-hop mogul and founder of Def Jam RUSSELL SIMMONS and JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER, author of "Everything is Illuminated" and "Eating Animals," for a compassionate Thanksgiving celebration replete with sumptuous holiday fare, entertainment and a silent auction to benefit the sanctuary’s rescued animals. Guests will enjoy an intimate, family-style vegan Thanksgiving brunch in the enchanting “Crystal Room” at New York City’s landmark Tavern on the Green in Central Park, featuring a decadent cruelty-free menu designed by the critically-acclaimed chefs at renowned vegan restaurant Candle 79, in a first-ever all-vegan collaboration with the chefs at Tavern on the Green.

A special reading by Jonathan Safran Foer from his new book “Eating Animals; inspirational presentations by Farm Sanctuary’s President and Co-founder Gene Baur, Executive Director Dr. Allan Kornberg and National Shelter Director Susie Coston; a festive reception featuring spiced cider, hot cocoa, holiday nog and a holiday dessert bar from the area’s favorite vegan pastry chefs; as well as a silent auction to benefit the animals and provide for all your holiday shopping needs round out what is sure to become the celebration of the year for the compassionate-minded set.

WHAT: Celebration FOR the Turkeys

WHEN: Sunday, November 22, 2009: Noon – 5 p.m.

WHERE: Tavern on the Green, Central Park at West 67th Street

COST: $150 per person

ATTIRE:  Festive holiday

RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made online at adoptaturkey.org or by calling 607-583-2225 ext. 221. Space is limited, so reserve now. The deadline is November 13. We regret that we may be unable to accommodate reservations received after the deadline. Confirmation and directions will be sent to all registrants.

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 at farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.

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Farm Sanctuary’s NY Celebration FOR the Turkeys

Guests Invited to Celebrate a Compassionate Thanksgiving at Watkins Glen, N.Y., Shelter

 

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – October 27, 2009 – Join us for a compassionate Thanksgiving celebration replete with holiday fare, entertainment and a silent auction to benefit the sanctuary’s rescued animals. In addition to a vegan feast, guests will enjoy special presentations from distinguished animal rights philosopher Tom Regan and Farm Sanctuary Executive Director Dr. Allan Kornberg. The event will be held at Logan Ridge Estates in Hector, a Finger Lakes venue overlooking scenic Seneca Lake, and catered by Manndible Café, a local and sustainable eatery based in Ithaca.

After the meal and presentations, festivities will travel to our Watkins Glen sanctuary, where guests can spend time with some of our friendly farm animal residents and, during our “Feeding of the Turkeys” ceremony, help us treat delighted turkeys to a feast of squash, pumpkin pie and cranberries. This is a joyful event for humans and turkeys alike.

WHEN: Saturday, November 21, 2009; 10:30 a.m. guest registration

WHERE: Logan Ridge Estates, 3800 Ball Diamond Road, Hector, N.Y., Farm Sanctuary, 3136 Aikens Road, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

NOTE:  The “Feeding of the Turkeys” ceremony will take place at 3 p.m., and the shelter will be open from 3 – 5 p.m.  The ceremony and shelter will be open to both the public and Celebration FOR the Turkeys attendees. Cost for the public is $3 for adults and $1 for children under 12. There is no cost for Celebration FOR the Turkeys guests.

COST: $35 per person

RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made online at adoptaturkey.org or by calling 607-583-2225 ext. 221. Space is limited, so reserve now. The deadline is November 13. We regret that we may be unable to accommodate reservations received after the deadline. Confirmation and directions will be sent to all registrants.

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Farm Sanctuary’s CA Celebration FOR the Turkeys

Guests Invited to Celebrate a Compassionate Thanksgiving at Orland, Calif., Shelter with Musician Jonathan Richman and “The L Word’s” Daniela Sea

ORLAND, Calif. – October 27, 2009 – Join us for a compassionate Thanksgiving celebration replete with holiday fare, entertainment and a silent auction to benefit the sanctuary’s rescued animals. Guests will enjoy a candlelit gourmet vegan dinner; a performance by musician Jonathan Richman; and special presentations from actress and animal advocate Daniela Sea, Farm Sanctuary California Shelter Director Leanne Cronquist, cookbook author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, and Farm Sanctuary President and Co-Founder Gene Baur.

Guests can also spend time with some of our friendly farm animal residents and, during our popular “Feeding of the Turkeys” ceremony, help us treat delighted turkeys to a feast of squash, pumpkin pie and cranberries. This is a joyful event for humans and turkeys alike. 

WHEN: Saturday, November 21, 2009; 12:30 p.m. guest registration

WHERE: Farm Sanctuary, 19080 Newville Rd., Orland, CA

COST: $75 per person

NOTE:  There will be complimentary Thanksgiving themed tours on Sunday, November 22.  Tours will be every hour on the hour from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., departing from the People Barn.

RESERVATIONS: Reservations can be made online at adoptaturkey.org or by calling 607-583-2225 ext. 221. Space is limited, so reserve now. The deadline is November 13. We regret that we may be unable to accommodate reservations received after the deadline. Confirmation and directions will be sent to all registrants.

Larry,

As you can imagine, we see a lot of sadness here at Farm Sanctuary. Rescuing animals whose bodies and spirits have been broken by the horrific abuses of factory farming can shake a person to their core. Industrial animal agriculture isn’t pretty, kind or civilized, and the ravages it takes on sensitive, intelligent beings— who are treated like unfeeling commodities— is severe and devastating.

Because too often I am contacting you with sad news, nothing brings me greater joy than to be able to share with you some of the happiness we also see here at the farm. You may recall the heart-wrenching story of a lamb we rescued last month named Angelo. Angelo touched people far and wide when they heard the story of the little lamb who was born inside a dark, crowded truck on the way to a Bronx slaughterhouse, where his mother, the center of his universe, was led to slaughter just moments after giving birth.

I am so pleased to let you know that Angelo’s story, unlike so many others just like him, has a happy ending. Please enjoy this video of little Angelo “Out and About” at our shelter in Watkins Glen, NY— and I hope you will share his story with your readers. Please feel free to reprint his story and embed the video— just make sure to credit Farm Sanctuary!

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/rescue/rescues/2009/angelo.html

Pasted below is the original press release that made headlines and pulled heartstrings just one month ago. And look at our sweet boy now!

All the best,
Meredith

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:

Meredith Turner, Farm Sanctuary, 646-369-6212, mturner@farmsanctuary.org

Lamb Born in Transport Truck on Way to Bronx Slaughterhouse Finds Refuge at Farm Sanctuary as Mother Goes to Slaughter

Watkins Glen, NY – September 22, 2009 – A lamb born on a transport truck on the way to a Bronx slaughterhouse was rescued yesterday by Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, and brought to their shelter in Watkins Glen, NY. The minutes old lamb was discovered by a Good Samaritan who was shopping at an Italian market just a few doors down from the slaughterhouse when the truck arrived. Wanting to get a closer look at the sheep as they were unloaded, the woman walked over to the truck and was shocked to discover a newborn lamb among the herd, as well as a less fortunate lamb who had been trampled to death during transport.

When she brought the lamb to the truck driver’s attention, he grabbed him and handed him to her, explaining that one of the sheep must have given birth on the truck. When asked by the concerned citizen if it would be possible to reunite the struggling newborn with his mother, the driver told her there was no way to identify the lamb’s mother, as there were more than one hundred sheep on the truck. Refusing to leave the abandoned lamb alone to starve or be trampled to death by the flock, the woman convinced the slaughterhouse manager to relinquish him to her. As the lamb’s mother went to slaughter, she took the newborn home to her Yonkers residence, where he spent the first five days of his life growing very attached to the woman’s elderly mother— who he reportedly followed around the house like a puppy.

“We are so thankful we were able to rescue this sweet lamb, who was born under circumstances no animal should ever have to endure,” said Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary’s national shelter director. “Having witnessed the deep and loving bond between mother sheep and their lambs at our sanctuary, we know first-hand how traumatic this experience must have been for both mother and baby. Unfortunately, such tragedies are an all too common result of a profit-driven industry that rips babies away from their mothers and packs sensitive, intelligent animals onto trucks so densely they cannot move, causing many to die before they even reach the slaughterhouse. This lamb may have been born under horrific circumstances, but he will live at our shelter as an ambassador, educating thousands of visitors from all over the country about the plight of animals whose first and only taste of life is the inside of a sweltering transport truck or a dark, filthy factory farm.”

The lamb is the latest to join the more than 200 farm animals rescued from New York City over the last several years and brought to Farm Sanctuary, most likely after escaping from one of the city’s numerous live markets. Just before Labor Day, a severely ill baby goat named Evan was rescued near the Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx and brought to Farm Sanctuary, where he joined Isadora and Duncan, two baby goats rescued just a little over a month before in the same area. Last year, a 25-pound pygmy goat named Goodwin, one of Farm Sanctuary’s beloved residents, was discovered by New York City police near 141st Street and St. Ann’s Avenue in the Bronx— just a few blocks from where another Farm Sanctuary resident, Lucky Lady— a seven-month-old lamb who escaped slaughter and made international headlines— was found in June 2007. Other famous New York City escapees who now live at Farm Sanctuary include Maxine, a cow found running through the streets of Queens in 2007; Joey, a goat found wandering through Brooklyn in 2007; and Queenie, a cow who escaped a slaughterhouse in Queens in 2000.

If you would like to receive an image of the newborn lamb or speak with Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary’s national shelter director, please contact Meredith Turner at mturner@farmsanctuary.org or 646-369-6212.

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 at farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.