Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Sears.
Hi Melanie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Farley’s Farm Sanctuary, founded in February 2022, is a rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary for domesticated animals whose mission is to educate, advocate, and provide lifelong care to our residents. Farley’s Farm is named after Farley, our beloved rescued black lab who made her transition in October, 2024, at almost 17 years of age. We honor the diversity of life on Earth through sharing the sanctuary space with a variety of species of animals including chickens, ducks, turkeys, cows, rabbits, cats, dogs, rats, reptiles, and a variety of fishes. We aim to educate our community as a whole about systemic issues which result in animal exploitation and suffering, as well as offer opportunities for folks to interact with the animals.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have grown slowly and sustainable only due to the support of our community who has believed in Farley’s Farm before there was really much to see! Of course it is challenging to lose so many sweet little loves but it is the nature of the work and completely worth it in knowing we are giving them the chance to express their natural behaviors alongside their same species, as well as offering the opportunity to be loved. Overall, this experience has been incredible and it is truly beautiful to witness the animals bringing out the best in all of us, as well as inspiring community cooperation to care for them all!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Farley’s Farm we prioritize listening to the animals and truly have built our sanctuary around their ability to express their natural behaviors. Many of the animals we care for have false care narratives attached to their identities shared and believed widely that just have proven not to be true, through the sanctuary. For example, it is incredible how many folks have assumed that our rescued cows, Frida and Glinda, will need to be milked at some point in their lives. Frida and Glinda will never ‘make milk’ (they are sterile, which is the reason they were released from the factory farm, so are unable to anyways) but primarily because at the sanctuary, they will never be forcibly impregnated and have babies. The standard practice among the dairy industry is to keep cows pregnant and then to take the calves away at birth which allows humans to take the milk. There is also a strong narrative that it is normal to keep chickens in our area, but the truth is that they really are not built for the the extreme cold (their wild ancestors are native to tropical jungles) , as displayed by our hen Thelma who lost her legs to frost bite after being dumped outdoors prior to her rescue. We provide insulated shelters and access to heat for the chickens in the winter. I could go on and on!
What matters most to you?
The wellbeing of the animals and their ability to act as stewards for all of those we will never have the physical resources to help!
Pricing:
- Donations through Venmo : @FarleysFarmSanctuary
- Zelle: farleysfarmsanctuary@gmail.com
- PayPal: farleysfarmsanctuary@gmail.com
- Our website! Www.farleysfarmsanctuary@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.farleysfarmsanctuary@gmail.com
- Instagram: @farleysfarmsanctuary
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farleysfarmsanctuary
