Catskill Animal Sanctuary

Ann Arnold Convicted

Kathy Stevens — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:29:28 +0000

On May 1st in Greenfield, NY, Judge Michael Ginley convicted Ann Arnold of 19 counts of failing to care for her animals and one count of criminal nuisance, all misdemeanors. Fourteen horses involved in this case arrived at CAS last fall and have all fully recovered from symptoms of prolonged neglect, including starvation, hoof and skin conditions. “Even a person unfamiliar with horses would recognize from photos introduced at trial that the animals were ‘skin and bone’ and ‘critically undernourished’,” said Judge Ginley. A sentencing date has not been set, but prosecutors plan to ask the judge to bar Arnold from owning horses in the future as part of her sentence.

There are still approximately 16 horses on Arnold’s property. The SPCA of Upstate NY and CAS are working to find homes for all the horses involved in this case. If you are interested in welcoming one of these horses into your home with adequate land, fencing, and care available, please email our Adoption Coordinator robyn@casanctuary.org.

Timothy the day he was rescued.

Timothy recovering at CAS.

Cases such as this add thousands of dollars each month to Catskill Animal Sanctuary’s operating budget. To ensure that we continue to step forward when the need is urgent give today!

City Slickers Clean Up 32

Michelle Alvarez — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:54:20 +0000

As Outreach Director, I rarely get to do farm chores, even though they are one of my most cherished ways to spend time at the sanctuary — second only to playing in the dirt with the animals! Most of my day involves networking, recruiting new supporters, and planning special events.

So, when Founder Kathy Stevens asked if I could round up some friends in New York City and other volunteers to work at the new farm, I was thrilled! I find farm chores — whether it’s tearing down old fences, scooping poop, digging drainage ditches, or painting a barn – to be extremely satisfying and fulfilling. At the end of a long day, I can step back and see exactly how I’ve helped the animals. The benefits are tangible and concrete.

This past Saturday, a crew of 15 energetic folks spent the day clearing pasture at our new haven. Excavators have spent the last few months making their way through acres of, dense forest entangled in vines – and we spent the day going where big machinery can’t fit to gather dead trees, gnarled vines, and brush.

It’s amazing to see the transformation of the new property on Route 32 over just the past few months. I feel privileged to witness the evolution of the place, honored to use my hands to help it take shape, and excited to start welcoming the new residents!

The CAS gang is so grateful to the gals from New York City, the guys from Veritas, Sunil and Amy, and Kathy’s brother Ned. Thank you for your hard work and dedication – and for helping CAS get closer to opening the doors on this new haven!

More pictures here. Help us get CAS at 32 ready for animals! Donate here.

Discovering Baby Simon

Kathy Keefe — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:07:20 +0000

I love my job, I’m lucky that way. Especially in the early morning: I always enjoy my quiet time before anyone else gets in. The barn is dark and quiet and I can whisper good morning, listening to the soft (and not so soft) greetings in return.

This past Tuesday turned out to be a particularly special morning. CAS had recently taken in a pregnant mare in less than wonderful shape. We knew she was due soon, so we were bringing her into the barn at night and turning her out during the day. It was looking like it was time to start a night time vigil to wait for the birth. While we were excited, we were also concerned because of the mare’s advanced age, her condition, and the fact that she’d lost a foal the previous year.

All this was going through my mind as I came down the driveway, making plans for the day. As I pulled up to the barn, I saw Lumpy, one of our free-range sheep, outside the barn doors.

“Now that’s odd,” I said to myself. Lumpy is never outside the barn before I get there. I walked into the kitchen, where Lucy the cat demanded breakfast. I gave the cats a quick meal, and walked into the barn to check on Lady Jane, our mama-to-be. As I walked towards her stall, she was looking at me with what I can only describe as relief.

“Good morning,” I said as I approached, peering into the stall.

Oh my! Against her pale grey side, I saw the dark foal. He took a shaky step toward me, and I saw the star on his forehead. I stood for a moment, taking in the scene and quite literally feeling my chest swell with joy. I opened the stall door slowly, talking softly to Lady Jane, and walked toward them, first running my hands down Jane’s neck and then reaching out to the foal.

Jane was calm as the baby took a step to me and gently sucked on my fingers. I stroked his neck and felt his silky coat, already clean and dry. I looked the pair of them over quickly–both seemed fine, but I knew I needed more light to really check them out. I ran to the kitchen to grab a flashlight and to call “Stevens,” our founder. I was actually bouncing up and down as I waited for her to pick up.

“We have a baby!” was all I said, and then held the phone away from my ear as she screamed in joy–once, then twice, then again.

“Give her a warm bran mash,” she suggested, and said she’d be here soon.

As Lady Jane chowed down, I checked the pair more carefully and saw no obvious problems.

Only a few hours old, the little boy looked at me with dark, trusting eyes. So beautiful! All legs and knees with a dark silky coat. He nursed with gusto, then flopped down for a nap.

I stroked Lady Jane’s face and neck and promised her I would not let anyone hurt her or her baby. I thought about how lucky he was to be born at CAS, where he will be loved and cared for, and where humans who believe that all of us are entitled to joy will ensure that his future will be filled with joy…not pain, not subjugation, not servitude. I could have stood there all day but I had a farm to feed.

Twelve hours later, the vet had checked mom and baby out and declared them healthy. I pulled out of the driveway to head home. And I thought as I turned the corner: I love my job. I’m lucky that way.

Simon, Our First Foal!

Leah Craig Chumbley — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:38:11 +0000

Simon was born in the early morning hours on April 17, 2012 – the exact birth date that the vet projected! His mother, beautiful Lady Jane, was surrendered to CAS only a month prior to his arrival from a home that could no longer care for her and her friend Shawnee. We were happy to offer the care and nutrition that she needed in the final critical month of her pregnancy.

Then last Tuesday morning as our Farm Manager, Kathy Keefe, checked in on each animal in the main barn, she discovered a little dark brown figure curled up next to his pure white mother. Simon was here and both mom and baby were healthy! Kathy watched on as the newborn tried out his wobbly legs, nursed from his mother, and slept in the hay.

This is the first foal to be born at CAS and we couldn’t be more excited! What a joy it is to see this little one soak in the sun and take (many) naps next to his momma. Simon will be Lady Jane’s last foal. She is an old mare who still needs weight and strength as a result of chronic neglect. She’s receiving lots of warm mashes, while little Simon is enjoying plenty of what nature provides. We’ll care well for both of them, and hope you’ll watch him grow as we post videos and updates to our Facebook and Twitter pages. Welcome to the world, little man!

See more pictures of Simon here.

It’s Tour Season – Come Visit!

Kathy Stevens — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:11:01 +0000

It’s that wonderful time of year again at Catskill Animal Sanctuary: our doors are open, and we hope you’ll visit!

I’m not the only one who loves visiting season. Casey the horse loves it, Rambo the sheep loves it (more butt scratches for him), and evidently, our new friend Deidre the turkey loves it. This past weekend, she considered climbing in a little boy’s lap, followed along as we led groups down the long barn aisle, and greeted each new guest with a slow blink of her eyes, a dropping of her wings, or a lovely “coo”…all signs for turkey bliss.

Since you last visited, we’ve welcomed new chickens, cows, turkeys, rabbits, and horses, all of whom are blossoming as they discover what it feels like to have regular, nutritious meals, warm, spacious shelter, and the touch of a kind hand. Meet them, and share the love on Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 2pm.

Guest Blog by CAS Volunteer

Kathy Keefe — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:27:53 +0000

Dirty work never felt so good

By Dianne L. Patterson

My first morning as a volunteer at CAS was everything I hoped it would be! After cleaning animals’ stalls and delivering fresh water and bedding, I left feeling humbled by how approachable the animals were—surprising given what many experienced at the hands of humans.

A bit eager, I arrived too early for my morning shift, so I got to enjoy hands-on time with the animals. I learned that residents of the main barn are special needs folks–new to the sanctuary, or sick or old or blind. Knowing this made my time with these animals feel all the more special.

Since I have never met an animal I didn’t want to pet, I set about determining those who would welcome my advances. I presented my hand for the obligatory sniffing and spoke softly to the barn dwellers. Before I knew it, I had found a young steer who loved head scratches. Several stalls down I visited a horse who snacks on people she doesn’t know. In the next stall, I found two young goats. I spoke softly to them but forced myself to hold back on petting them as I’d been told they were timid. I would later play a supporting role in corralling them as it was time for graduation to life in the pasture with the other goats!

The most vocal barn residents were the free range turkeys and the piglets. I looked in on the piglets to see what the fuss was about only to see four sweet black faces looking up at me from behind the stall door and squealing wildly to be let out. They had to wait a bit before being released for the day, and their patience had worn thin.

I also met three sheep. My heart ached for the oldest—Aries—as I watched him rise and take slow, stiff steps, easing his arthritic body into the day. As the day wore on, though, my heartache turned to admiration as I watched him follow the volunteers from one end of the barn to the other. He got pats on the head, ear scratches and words of affection from everyone who walked by. I couldn’t resist him! I was drawn to his fortitude and his beautiful gold eyes. I began calling him Mr. Endurance because, instead of lying down in pain and watching life go on around him, he was an active part of that life. Each time Aries approached me for attention (or a treat, perhaps?) I was increasingly convinced that he stays active and engaged because he doesn’t want to miss a minute of the joyful life he lives at CAS.

Once the barn animals had been fed and led to pasture or released to roam freely, it was time to clean the stalls. While it was satisfying to “scoop poop” and provide a clean space for these deserving animals, my true reward came from being able to interact with them. When our work was done, I headed home, tired and smiling.

Lessons Learned about volunteering at CAS

Keep the BenGay handy. Parts of my body ached that I didn’t even know I had—just as I’d been warned they would.
Bring a change of shoes, and put your work boots IN THE TRUNK!
Dirty work never felt so good. Aside from the satisfaction of providing clean digs for the animals, I felt humbled by the trust the animals have in their caregivers—a testament to the haven they have come to know.

This guest blog was written by a CAS volunteer. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering at CAS please click here. Please note that since this blog was written, Aries has passed.

Happy Ending for the Twins

Leah Craig Chumbley — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:23:13 +0000

You might remember that last August we took in four female sheep (two sets of twins)! The girls, Brigid, Mira, Marina, and Kybele, grew up on a heritage-breed meat farm in Germantown, NY. They were some of the first sheep that the farmers grew and they used the two sets of twins to give birth to many more. When the four girls got too old for breeding, the farmers couldn’t bear to send them to slaughter, but at the same time were unwilling to provide the special care these elderly sheep needed; so they called us.

We gladly welcomed the girls to a place that knows exactly how to pamper elderly animals! Though very shy at first, Brigid, Mira, Marina, and Kybele warmed up to CAS staff and, we are happy to report, were adopted in April. Their adopters, Jeff and Lisa, love love love farm animals. They even had hills made on their property to keep their goats entertained!

We recently heard from Lisa who said that the four girls are adjusting well to their new home. She and Jeff are so happy to have them! We just love happy endings.

Ag-Gag Bill Works to Silence Whistleblowers

Kathy Stevens — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:23:55 +0000

Harold, a rabbit, was found unconscious in a Tupperware container left in the sun. Rambo was one of 17 animals locked in a tiny stall and fed moldy bagels; a decomposing carcass of a cow was in the middle of that stall. Noah was locked in a rat-infested stall, too weak to stand.

Horrific as their suffering was, it paled next to what animals grown and processed for food endure in large-scale CAFOs: confined animal feeding facilities—the massive factories that dot the landscape in many parts of the country and grow virtually all of our meat, eggs, and dairy.

And now we have Iowa’s new “Ag-Gag” law, which criminalizes lying on a job application to gain access to an animal production facility – making it even more difficult for whistleblowers to expose the truth behind factory farming. The crime is punishable with up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $1,500. A second conviction carries harsher penalties. Iowa A-list politicians and lobbyists pushed the law through in a matter of hours. Iowa is our nation’s leading pork and egg producer.

Jobs at factory farms are jobs of necessity—jobs taken to feed one’s family. These employees are not skipping to work each day. They don’t wake up saying, “Wow…I can’t wait to see those traumatized, depressed pigs, or “Wooo-weee….gotta go pick up all the birds that have died from heart attacks in those filthy warehouses.” These jobs are taken by folks who need to feed their families. How many of them will risk their jobs to turn in animal abusers?

The system, of course, is inherently abusive. Gestation crates are abusive. Battery cages are abusive. Feed lots are abusive. Veal crates and poultry warehouses are abusive. Even the best-run factory farm is still a factory, designed using the factory model: the most units produced for the least cost. And as we’ve learned from scores of undercover videos, egregious violations of the minimal standards to which agribusiness is held occur all the time. The only time an abuser on a factory farm has ever been convicted of cruelty to animals has been as a result of undercover video, according to Bruce Friedrich, Farm Sanctuary’s Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives.

Ag-Gag bills to penalize those who secretly record video of livestock are being considered in Florida, New York, Utah, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska. They’re a sobering setback for the animals, of course, as well as for food safety. Remember the salmonella outbreak two years ago—the one in which half a billion Iowa eggs were recalled?

Please consider letting your voice be heard on this issue:

Tell your state Senator(s) that you oppose these bills by calling, emailing, or writing them.
Support organizations that lobby on behalf of animals
Spread the news about these Ag-Gags bills to those you know and encourage them to speak out against these bills.

Oh yeah: here’s one other thing the rabbit, sheep, and horse I mentioned have in common: we allow them to be videotaped, along with all our other critters, our facilities, and our staff. If, as Kay Johnson-Smith, president of Animal Agriculture Alliance, proclaimed on CNN, it were “the industry’s livelihood to care for their animals,” they too would invite our scrutiny.

Bob & Midnight from the South Bronx

Leah Craig Chumbley — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:26:40 +0000

We got a call last Tuesday from a school teacher in the South Bronx (NYC). She had spotted two chickens hanging out around the school – walking around the playground, pecking at trash, and even crossing the street! She was afraid that they would get hit by a car, or worse, so she called CAS to help.

A quarantine stall was prepared for the chickens and we gave the teacher the ‘thumbs up’ to bring the two to refuge at CAS. She was so thrilled to hear the good news – now all she had to do was catch the duo…easier said than done. But South Bronx high schoolers, JJ and Angelica, had also noticed the tiny chickens and were eager to help catch them. Once they were loaded up, JJ and Angelica decided to tag along on the trip north to CAS – they wanted to see what kind of place was saving two chickens from the Bronx!

They arrived at dusk on Thursday evening. Our Farm Manager, Kathy Keefe, got the chickens settled in their stall with food, water, and bedding and then gave the rescuers a quick tour of CAS. JJ and Angelica were in awe – they had never seen a place like CAS before. Before they left, Keefe asked the students what they would like to name the two newest additions to the CAS family; the decided on Bob for the rooster and Midnight for the tiny black hen.

Welcome Bob and Midnight to a place of love.

Three’s Company

Kathy Stevens — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:19:00 +0000

Some sanctuaries place animals of a species in a pasture and let them work out their issues…or not. Not CAS. We go to lengths that many would consider ridiculous to ensure the happiness of all.

Take Jenny. Jenny, a thoroughbred mare, is food aggressive, and since best pal Bella was adopted, Jenny’s been alone. Who’ll be her friends? we asked. Not the young, newly-gelded stallions. Not Noah and his pasture mates, one of whom is creaky 30-something Crystal. Certainly not the blind crew. Hmmm….what about Fritz and Chili’s pasture?

We’re delighted to report that Fritz and Chili, two geldings, are smitten, and that Jenny is on her best behavior! Mixed-gender herds don’t always work–the dominant boy often pushes the rest away in order to “claim” the girls, but not this time. At feeding time or any other time of day, the three are never far from each other, and the often high-strung Chili is much more relaxed now with two best friends!

These three rideable horses would love to be part of your family! Fill out an adoption application today!