Well. I just spent an hour editing photos from our tour of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. There are a lot of them, so I think I’ll do this in a couple of posts.
I cannot tell you how meaningful and inspiring yesterday was for me. I’m still thinking about it. So is Don. Believe me, I’m going vegan. It make take a while, but that’s where I’m headed. If you had been with us and heard the stories about factory farming and the routine abuse of animals in the dairy and meat industries – I think you would be considering it, too. My aim in these posts is not to lecture. You know I don’t eat animals and haven’t for many, many years. But the dairy industry and what happens there on a daily basis is new information for me. Yes, I’d heard stories, but yesterday opened my eyes in way they hadn’t been before. I’ll leave you this link to the Catskill Animal Sanctuary to learn more.
We arrived early so we walked around the parking area, which is surrounded by birds and sheep and goats and pigs. Heaven.
As we waited for our tour guide, Lesley, we wandered around taking pictures. We were immediately greeted by Delores the goat. Delores turned out to be funny, quirky, mischievous, and non-stop curious. (Don’t tell anyone, but she was my favorite.) She came up to me, let me pet her, gave me a little head butt and we were friends.
There she is, peeking out from under the truck.
On the move.
There she is again. That girl gets around.
She climbed into this jeep and had a great time exploring and, yes, chewing.
She found something she wanted to play with and was having a great time.
I turned away for a short time to watch and pet Sister Mary Frances, a pig.
Sister Mary Frances is a hoot. She wandered close to the road, so a staff member slowly herded her back down and Mary Frances was vocally complaining all the way. Apparently, she’s very dramatic. We got to pet her and she’s a darling.
Then I turned back and saw this:
Delores had jumped in a truck that was delivering feed. This particular feed was not what she was hoping for.
Our tour guide was Lesley and she was wonderful. Along the way, she shared stories of some of the rescues. She also shared information about the way animals are treated on factory farms. Some of that I will share with you. Some of it I won’t.
There were chickens and roosters everywhere.
I got to stroke the feathers of this beauty.
This guy was very mellow. He was in this position when we arrived and when we left.
Beautiful.
That’s Oreo, the cat. There are a few other cats around, though the Sanctuary doesn’t rescue dogs and cats. It rescues farm animals. But sometimes a cat comes along with a rescue of farm animals.
Nubian goats – they were very gentle and loved being petted. Delores on the right.
All of the goats being herded back after straying onto the hill in the background. Right after this photo was taken, they started running and we were too entranced and delighted to take a picture!
I have lots more.
It’s important to know that rescues come out of all sorts of situations; factory farming, animal hoarding, abuse, abandonment, and the imminent danger of being slaughtered. The Sanctuary is huge. We only saw a small part of it. Pliers and Ashley are currently off-site, being taken care of until they get acclimated and are ready to be moved onto the site. We hope to see them soon.
Becoming members of The Catskill Animal Sanctuary might just be the best thing we’ve done in a long time.
More tomorrow.
Happy Saturday.
I love seeing the animals. You are opening my eyes to the animal abuse in factory farming and got me thinking vegan! It may not be quick but I think I’ll get myself more educated and work on a change. Thanks for always sharing your heart!
Thanks for being there, dear Linda! Love you.
When my boys were young we went to Catskill game farm and had a great time. Is this the same place?
No, the Catskill Game Farm was, in essence, a petting zoo. When they went out of business about 8 – 10 years ago, they auctioned off their animals. This is what happens when a facility is not prepared to take care of the animals for life. So you have animals who have only known one home suddenly up for auction. Some of those animals were bought at auction and donated to the Animal Sanctuary, thank goodness. You’ll meet two of them in tomorrow’s post.
Delores is sweet! (Maybe she could visit you one day and mow your grass.) My daughter became a vegetarian at age twelve and became a vegan about five years ago. I have bouts of severe anemia, so I do eat red meat once or twice a week. (Prescription iron pills are a last resort for me as they have side effects of their own.) I live in cattle country, so I source my meat locally rather than buying it from a chain supermarket.
I love that your daughter decided to go vegan, Barbara. It’s time for me to make that final move from vegetarianism to veganism.
It’s not for me, but her choice has had a positive effect on my weekly grocery shop. The only baking allowed home is the occasional mini treat for the dollhouse!
Luckily, I love to bake but have really stopped doing it because I wanted to lose weight and cut out excess sugar. But I would like to know how to make my grandmother’s biscuits without eggs and butter and milk! I’m sure there’s a way!
Claudia, I hear that there’s a way to use flax seeds to substitute for eggs. Butter and milk are more easily substituted. You’ll have to experiment with small batches until you get the taste and texture you like.
I bought a cookbook when I was there, so I’m going to start doing my research.
Claudia, check out the web site mywholefoodlife.com. There’s plenty of easy, vegan recipes. Also, if you’re interested, there’s a private FB group called My Whole Food Life Recipes run by the same woman (Melissa Kerr King). There’s a ton of information that comes through that group. Not everyone is vegan or even vegetarian, but there is a lot of vegan recipes and ideas that get posted and talked about in that group.
I’ll check it out, Melanie. Thank you!
Shoot me your Grandmother’s biscuit recipe, Claudia, and I’d be glad to work it out for you. I spent many years doing just that at Veggie Life magazine. (I can also check my archives for existing biscuit recipes. I have used ground flax seed as an egg replacer many times and it works really well.)
I’ll send it to you in the next couple of days, Shanna. Thank you!
I am so happy you went and met all the animals. It is great to visit, contribute $$$ as I am sure they need it badly. It is a positive move in the right direction especially after all the stress we have been under.
I kept thinking how much Little Z would love it!
Thank you for answering my question. Good to know there are places that still help all animals.
xo
Not enough of these rescue facilities exist but thankfully this one does. I applaud your involvement.
Who knew a goat had so much personality? Fun, because I really don’t know a thing about them.
Hope you have an enjoyable Saturday afternoon!
You know, every animal has a distinct personality. I think most of us are just plain unaware of that. I saw such personalities yesterday!
Human beings have much to answer for….. horrific animal abuse is one and really can’t say more without going into detail that would be inappropriate for this uplifting post. A special day offering hope for one and all there as well as those who visit……
Dianne
Exactly why I didn’t go into too much detail, Dianne. I’ll talk about a few facts tomorrow, but I’m also going to leave some links so readers can educate themselves if they’re interested.
My daughters have a special place in their hearts for goats, as they were Goat Rangers at the local zoo for 5-6 years each. They helped to take care of the goats at the zoo and interacted with the public to educate people on how to treat goats and all animals respectfully. Even though I couldn’t tell the goats apart, they knew every name and personality.
I’ve fallen in love with them, I must say!
I would love to work with an animal sanctuary. I love animals; they all have such unique personalities, especially goats. Delores looks like she’d keep you on your toes. Just bought and started to read the book “How Not to Die”. I’ve been vegetarian for about 7-1/2 years but went vegan several years ago for all the moral reasons one can think of when it comes to the way animals are treated and the way food is processed in this day and age. Government agencies and big corporations are twisting the truth and telling all kinds of lies when it comes to what’s healthy and truly good for us. I question and research everything.
Good for you, Tammy. Yes, of course the government doesn’t want us to know what really goes on in facilities – because big business always seems to win out. I’m starting to read more about being vegan. I already hardly ever have eggs or butter.It’s the hidden eggs and butter and cheese that I have to work on!
I want to volunteer there but I have work commitments through the spring, so it will have to be sometime after that.
That’s the problem with buying packaged items … they are filled with hidden ingredients that are animal or dairy based. I don’t buy anything with a long ingredient list. Food should be simple. And not include anything we can’t pronounce.
Wise advice, Tammy, which I will take to heart. Thank you! xo
When I was first going vegan 4 years ago. I heard Colleen Patrick Goudreau speak. She is “the joyful vegan”. You might enjoy hearing some of her podcasts etc. She is also live once a week or so on facebook. Cindy
Thank you for that information, Cindy. I love hearing from readers who are vegan or have kids who are vegan. I so appreciate your advice!
What a great post, and what excellent photos! I know I’m going to love hearing more about the CAS. One of my brothers has 9 acres with chickens, turkeys and goats [also a dog and an indoor cat] and it is INDEED a hoot to visit there. We call him Mr Green Jeans because even though he’s actually a skilled machinist, he does THINK he’s a farmer. And I guess he really is, basically. But the goats ARE the most fun of all. Just one story – about 12 years ago we were having our family’s annual October clam bake at his place. A chilly, gray Saturday – perfect for a clambake. It was about an hour past dinnertime and all the adults were in the barn sitting around enjoying hot coffee & my SIL’s warm apple crisp. From outside I hear my niece & nephew, then about 11 and 8 years old respectively, yelling “Aunt Janet!! Aunt Janet!!” So I shout back: “What’s going on? What do you need?” And what comes back is a sentence I never in my life ever expected to hear. “Aunt Janet, there’s a goat on your car!!” The kids had been goofing near the goats’ fenced area and Mary, the six-month old baby goat, had jumped up onto the hood of my car, apparently enjoying a look around. What a character she was! And all my brother’s goats have been the same, full of personality. So I guess that pretty much goes with the breed, as they say. Looking forward to hearing much more about the animals at CAS. 🐐
#ThisIsNotNormal
What a great story, Janet! I know they love, love to climb and your car was probably very tempting!
Love the pictures and I LOVE goats!!! And pigs…. they have such personalities! As you said, all animals have distinct personalities. Those of us who live with dogs and cats certainly experience that from the first day we meet them.
Hope you are having a good Saturday…. (I wasn’t going to mention this, but I have been SO upset since yesterday……… when HE CALLED TAIWAN. Seriously. Called. Taiwan.) ok, I will now go quietly.
I know! He has absolutely no idea of the responsibilities of the Presidency and the complex relations that are part of it. I cannot believe it.
Pigs are coming tomorrow, Chris!
Thank you for sharing your photos of all these beautiful animals with us. As you know, I’m an animal lover, too. I know about factory farming and it greatly disturbs me. But, here’s what I struggle with: I used to eat mostly vegetarian, consuming a lot of legumes. I wondered why I was always “sick”. Long story short, I was diagnosed with IBS. I had to go on a low FODMAP diet – no beans, lentils, etc (as well as a host of other foods). Within one week, I felt 100% better. I have slowly tried incorporating legumes back into my diet, and let’s put it this way: they don’t like me too much. ;-) And I don’t eat any soy products (tofu, edamame, etc) since they’re highly GMO and hormone disruptors. So, that doesn’t leave me with much of a choice of other protein items to eat except for eggs (of which I’m not a big fan) and nuts. So, I do the best I can do right now with animal protein, choosing organic and grass fed whenever possible. And I still eat vegetarian meals when possible, especially with different soups and salads.
You have to eat what works for you, Melanie. I have some problems with beans, as well. So I have to limit how often I eat them. Having done a fair amount of research (and I have to do much more) there is protein in almost everything, and certainly lots of plant-based protein. Having been a vegetarian for years, that’s always the first question people ask me, but I’ve never suffered from lack of protein and I (currently) don’t eat a lot of eggs or cheese.
I love seeing rescue and sanctuary people…they are so kind and caring to take care of the other animals of our world…Looking forward to part two Claudia!
They are. Everyone we met there was so lovely and kind and gentle.
Loved the tour, Claudia! Boy, that Delores really gets around…so cute.
My husband has been a vegetarian for about 45 years, we raised our children (now adults) vegetarian. Daughter now eats fish/seafood occasionally, son is a chef and eats everything! I eat meat rarely, and always feel guilty as hell when I do.
I look forward to tomorrows installment!
I think that’s the way Don is – occasionally – actually, rarely – eats meat and then he feels guilty. I have a feeling that he’s cutting it out completely. He hasn’t had any in a long time!
Hi Claudia! Thank you so much for visiting and sharing your memories! We are so happy that you are moving towards a vegan lifestyle, you are going to LOVE it! :) We hope to see you soon!
Thank you so much, Meredith! We loved our tour and you can be sure we’ll be back as often as we can be.