Animal Acres is a farmed animal sanctuary and compassionate living center located just 45 minutes from Los Angeles directed by Farm Sanctuary co-founder Lorri Bauston.
About Animal Acres
Animal Acres works to promote compassionate living through its farmed animal rescue & refuge efforts, public education & outreach, and advocacy projects to prevent cruelty to farmed animals.
Over 150 rescued farmed animals call Animal Acres Home Sweet Home! Animal Acres is a volunteer-based organization and they are funded entirely by dedicated animal advocates.
Animal Acres was founded by Lorri Bauston, who is considered the pioneer of the farmed animal sanctuary movement. In 1986, Lorri co-founded Farm Sanctuary, which opened the country’s first shelter for farmed animals. For 18 years, she directed the group’s shelter and fundraising efforts.
Through her farm animal sanctuary efforts, Lorri has directly saved thousands of animals from the cruelties of factory farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses, and brought national attention to the plight of animals used for food production. Lorri’s work has been featured in hundreds of newspaper, television and radio news stories, including guest appearances on CBS This Morning, Animal Planet, and PrimeTime Live.
The sanctuary is a refuge for animals, and a sanctuary for the soul. Farmed animal sanctuaries are a place where cows, pigs, and chickens reach out and touch the human heart. The animal ambassadors gently teach people to extend compassion to ALL beings through one-on-one interaction. For many people, it is the first time they have ever looked into the eyes of pig or chicken, and it can profoundly affect the way people view and treat farmed animals.
Animal Acres is home to over 150 chickens, turkeys, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and other country critters. All of the animals residing there were destined for the dinner plate, or raised in cruel conditions for their by-products, like eggs or milk. Here, hens who had spent their entire lives in small wire cages to produce eggs, are now stretching their wings and taking sun baths under blue skies. Turkeys who had suffered painful mutilations such as detoeing and debeaking (chopping off the tips of their beaks and toes) on overcrowded factory farms, have learned that humans can be gentle and loving too. And cows and pigs who had been beaten, shocked and kicked through livestock auction rings, now run to greet us for a chin scratch or belly rub.
Some of the animals are rescued during Animal Acres undercover cruelty investigations. Others arrive from humane enforcement agencies. All are refugees from slaughter, and will now be provided safe haven for the remainder of their natural lives. No longer considered a commodity and forced to produce meat, milk and eggs, our farmed animal friends now have only one job — to teach people that farmed animals are sentient beings who feel pain or comfort, or joy or sorrow just like a dog, cat, or you and I.
Volunteers Make Farm Life easier
Animal Acres is a volunteer-based organization and they depend on dedicated advocates to make our rescue, education and advocacy efforts possible. There is a variety of volunteer programs that they offer…pick the one that works best for you…and become an active advocate for farmed animals today!
Caregivers
Our Caregiver Team program offers individuals an opportunity to directly care for the sanctuary animals, and learn about farmed animal care, health needs, and emergency aid. Currently, we offer two types of caregiver positions:
1. Caregiver Coordinator Responsibilities include animal health care, feeding & watering, barn cleaning, volunteer supervision, and shelter project coordination (ordering & restocking supplies, etc). Minimum requirement is one eight-hour shift per week (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
2. Caregiver
Responsibilities include assisting with animal health care and barn cleanings. Minimum requirement is one four-hour shift per week between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Caregivers must be 18 years or older and commit to volunteering at the sanctuary one day per week.
LIVE-IN INTERNSHIP
This special volunteer program offers individuals an opportunity to live and work on the sanctuary. Interns provide daily care for the sanctuary animals, assist with public tours and special events, and become actively involved in what it takes to run an effective nonprofit organization and sanctuary.
Internships are open to all individuals age 18 and over. Interns volunteer for a 32-hour week of assigned tasks (cleaning barns, shelter maintenance, administrative jobs, conducting tours), and receive 8 hours per week training in a special project of their choice (investigations, animal health care, fundraising, etc.).
Interns are required to sign up for a one-month internship, and are provided dormitory-style housing on the sanctuary premises. Upon acceptance into the program, all interns are required to pay a $150 deposit that is refundable upon the completion of your internship. The internship program is limited to two interns per month — so please contact us via the email address below in advance to guarantee your internship commitment.
PLEASE PRINT OUT AND FAX COMPLETED APPLICATION TO: 661-269-0194 OR MAIL TO: ANIMAL ACRES, 5200 ESCONDIDO CANYON ROAD, ACTON, CA 93510
FARM CHORE DAYS
Join them for a Farm Chore Day! Chore days are held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Volunteers are asked to arrive as early as possible to help with special barn cleaning projects, painting, gardening & grounds maintenance, and other projects. The work is mainly outdoors — wear farm clothes (rubber boots if you have them are helpful) and a hat and sunscreen as needed. Volunteers are welcome to bring a packed vegan lunch and have a picnic in our beautiful courtyard with our turkey friends!
If you are not able to volunteer on Saturdays, but would like to come and help with daily animal care and barn cleanings, please call or email us to set up a volunteer day for you. Volunteers helping with daily animal care need to arrive by 11:00 a.m. and commit to a minimum of three hours.
Animal Acres also needs CARPENTERS, PLUMBERS, and ELECTRICIANS to help complete several shelter building projects and maintain the sanctuary facilities. If you can help with any of these needed special services, please call or email us to set up your sanctuary project.
Special Events
Walk for Country Critters Sunday, August 6
Help raise needed funding for our sanctuary and educate people about compassionate living choices as we walk down the Venice Beach boardwalk. Your participation will help us open our doors to many more suffering farmed animals, and open peoples' hearts and minds. Please email us to let us know you will be a walkathon participant or call our Outreach Program Coordinator at 661-269-5404 ext. 302. Click here for more information on the walk and to download your walkathon packet and other materials.
Animal Acres Gala Saturday, September 9
Celebrate 20 years of rescuing farm animals with Animal Acres founder Lorri Bauston, who started the first shelter in the country for farmed animals in 1986. A gala evening with celebrity guests, gourmet vegan dinner, auction for animals and entertainment. Proceeds benefit their Emergency Rescue Fund. Please click below to purchase your Gala tickets.
Farmed Animal Sanctuary Forum October 14 & 15
A weekend seminar to give advocates the information and resources they need to start, operate and develop farmed animal sanctuaries. The forum includes presentations on sanctuary administrative and fundraising operations, outreach programs, and training on farmed animal care, proper restraint techniques and daily shelter operations. Please click here to register to guarantee your reservation.
Compassionate Thanksgiving Celebration Saturday, November 18
Celebrate with fellow veg pilgrims and our honored feathered friends as we gather together to encourage people to feed a turkey, rather than eat a turkey. Spend an afternoon meeting the sanctuary critters and enjoying a veg meal with special guest presentation. Please the link below to register to guarantee your reservation.
Contact Information
Animal Acres
5200 Escondido Canyon Road
Acton, CA 93510
661-269-5404
Email: info@animalacres.org
Web Links
Register for all special events by clicking here: https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/AnimalAcres/EventRegistration.html
Animal Acres Website: http://www.animalacres.org/home.html
Walkathon Information & Registration: mailto:outreach@animalacres.org
Animal Acres In the News: http://www.animalacres.org/news.html