Adrian

Rescue Story: Adrian, an ex-”meat” bird, was literally waiting in a crowded crate covered in a blood-manure mixture on the kill floor as each of these flockmates had their throats cut at local poultry slaughterhouse. In a random twist of fate, Adrian and seven other of chickens were granted a stay of execution. Within an hour, he was on sanctuary soil–a free bird!

Dante

Dante’s Rescue Story: Narrowly escaped the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion

Relationship Status: “Going steady” with Brooklyn the Red Star Hen for the last six months

Personality: Dante is a confident little man. He guards and graces the front pasture with the seriousness and regard of a solider. Beneath his feathered armor, Dante is a gentleman who is devoted to the love of his life, Brooklyn.

Likes: Walking on the sanctuary perimeter fenceline, eating Laverne the Hen’s daily soup and strolling around the sanctuary with his girlfriend in the evening

Dislikes: Maxwell the Rooster and visiting owls

Kitty’s Story: Loves Donuts

Donald in the background watching over the newly rescued hens

Donald’s Story: Victim of a school hatching project

Donald the rooster was a product of a first grade hatching project in Napa, Calif. As he hatched from the shell, his right leg was severely deformed. When Donald arrived at Harvest Home, his lower limbs were a sight to see. One of his legs was splayed at a 90 degree angle, while the other leg was supported with curled toes. This young rooster’s situation looked grim. His daily routine was a struggle. Before long, Donald underwent leg surgery. Today, he proudly walks the pastures of Harvest Home.

Harvest Home offers educational presentations on chicken lifecycles and chicken care, as alternatives to school hatching projects

Since the arrival of the special-needs hens from A & L Poultry, an abandoned egg farm in Stanislaus County, one individual has expressed a sincere concern for the feathered girls’ well-being. His name is Donald.

When they first arrived, each morning, Donald watched with great interest on the opposing side of the girls’ fence-line when the hens came outside for fresh air and plenty of nutrition. He stood quietly and patiently as each girl arrived from their indoor night-time accommodations. Donald carefully circled the exercise pen as a watchful guardian over the sanctuary’s newest arrivals.

It was not long ago that Donald faced his own life-threatening challenges. When he arrived at Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary, Donald’s lower limbs were a painful sight to see. One of his legs was splayed at a 90-degree angle, while the other leg was supported with curled toes. This four-month-old rooster’s situation looked grim. His daily routine was a struggle. A struggle to reach food and water. A struggle to stay clean. A struggle to move without thrashing around. Thankfully, Donald was the perfect candidate for leg surgery. Post-op, he gained the miraculous ability to walk.

As a strong, able-bodied bird, Donald now is taking on a new yet natural task. Each day, he stands with a proud posture around the hens. Donald is the great protector.

In a rescue setting, it’s often seen that humans are the main providers of care and comfort for animals in need. However, animals themselves can be the ultimate caregivers for newly-rescued individuals. The presence of fellow members of their species has a calming, therapeutic impact on animals who have experienced great trauma and neglect. Donald knows that because he triumphed over his own physical struggles. Today, he carries on a tradition of compassion for those who need it the most at Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary.

Natalie

Natalie’s Story: The last hen rescued from the manure pits at the abandoned factory farm in Turlock

Saved from the brink of death, Natalie the Ex-Battery Hen is enjoying the peaceful landscape of Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary. In fact, she is delighted by jumping out of her exercise pen and running inside to perch on a clock radio at the end of the day. She is unstoppable!

As you may remember, Natalie is the last hen to be saved from the intense two-day rescue at the now infamous A & L Poultry, the abandoned egg farm in California’s Stanislaus County. She was found languishing in a liquefied manure pit at the egg farm. Initially, rescuers weren’t allowed to access the manure pits on Friday evening to save her. After a desperate plea, Nat Smith and Kelle Kacmarcik, volunteer vet techs, convinced a state veterinarian to capture Natalie before she drowned in the manure pool.

Laverne’s Story: Backyard chicken mauled by raccoon

Do farmed animals deserve veterinary care in times of trauma and illness?

In March 2012, Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary welcomed Laverne the Hen to our rescue and rehabilitation facility in Stockton. Laverne was nearly mauled to death by a raccoon in a backyard coop in the San Francisco Bay Area. During the attack, her beak, tongue and comb were ripped off. Sadly, Laverne did not see a veterinarian for her severe injuries until she arrived at our sanctuary.

We hope our film short of Laverne builds a stronger case for increasing our care and concern for all animals in need. Please watch and share Laverne’s story online.

Cassidy

Cassidy’s Story: Saved from the manure pits of an abandoned factory farm in Turlock

Rescued from A & L Poultry, Cassidy the Hen spends her days dustbathing, gobbling down cracked corn and watching her boyfriend (Donald the Rooster) at Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary.

Brandi

Brandi’s Story: Saved from the manure pits of an abandoned factory farm in Turlock

Brandi, a starving hen recently rescued from the manure pits at the abandoned A&L Poultry egg factory farm, visited a group of kindergarten students at Cassell Elementary School in San Jose in April 2012. The students learned about the importance of caring for companions animals and the stages of life for a chicken.

Recently, the Cassell kindergarten class was planning an egg hatching project. The teacher posted a Craigslist ad about the project. We contacted the teacher to share information about the animal welfare and public health concerns surrounding classroom egg hatching projects. As an alternative to the egg project, we offered to visit the class to educate her young students about life cycles through an interactive, no-cost presentation. The teacher accepted the sanctuary’s offer for humane education outreach. Moreover, the teacher abandoned her plans to organize a classroom hatching project.

To bolster compassion and kindness for animals, Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary provides free educational presentations to local youth and community groups on the topics of humane care and animal welfare. Learn more about our educational presentations!

Kelsey

Kelsey’s Story: Saved from the manure pits of an abandoned factory farm in Turlock

The content expression on Kelsey’s face is an affirmative inspiration to push forward in our work to save the lives of animals abused systematically on factory farms.

If we can save the life of Kelsey the Ex-Battery Hen, we can move mountains for the billions of animals suffering on factory farms worldwide through advocacy and action.

Kelsey was one of the starving hens pulled from the manure pits at A&L Poultry in February 2012. She now lives a life of bliss at Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary in California.

Sponsor Kelsey, and give her all the best things in life – fresh bedding, fresh food, freedom, and vet care.