Amazing experience at Farm Sanctuary! Yaneli was a fantastic tour guide--very knowledgeable and passionate. I learned so much about how animals are treated in the industry and it was eye-opening. The animals were incredibly friendly, and being able to interact with them made it even more special. You can tell they're now living a safe and happy life. Highly recommend visiting Farm Santuary, it's a meaningful and unforgettable experience! read more

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I liked the tour and all the animals. It's rare that there is somewhere to see farm animals up close. They also rescued an abandon rooster that was on my property and now living a happy life, which was very nice. read more

Please don't listen to Hannah S. My takeaway was the complete opposite and I highly recommend Farm Sanctuary. If you're expecting some kind of petting zoo for your own amusement where you never really learn about the animals and their stories then this probably isn't for you and you're missing the point entirely. Come here if you truly care about the animals and their well being. It's about educating people and advancing animal welfare which is a noble mission and I have nothing but the utmost respect for everyone that works here and puts the animals first. They clearly care about what's best for them and it shows in how these animals interact with humans. A lot of them were super friendly and curious. These are intelligent and sentient creatures. Yes, it can be hard to hear their stories and all the trauma and pain these farm animals have gone through, but if you really love animals and care about them then you'd understand how important their overall mission is. What they do truly matters. You need to come with an open heart and mind. Reality sucks and the truth hurts, I get it. Facts don't care about your feelings and these animals have been through a lot. But ultimately it's about the animals, not us. I understand we're all on our own journey and it can be hard to accept maybe we shouldn't be eating animal products and that our personal choices do have consequences. That's not a "biased political opinion", just a fact. We can all make better choices. Eating plant based is one way we can help. If you think that's preachy, insensitive and inappropriate then this place is not for you and you don't really care about the animals as much as you like to think you do. Maybe you should really reflect on why that triggers you and why we treat some animals better than others and whether that is right. The animals are living proof there is a more humane way and they're so inspiring. I'm happy to know they're living their best life here and not being exploited by the animal agriculture industry. Keep up the great work guys! read more

Farm Sanctuary - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

In today's world, many animal organizations are primarily focused on making money. These organizations don't actually care about the welfare of animals. Their intentions are mainly surrounded around what monetary benefit the animals will bring to their organization. With social media and on-going trends, many animal "sanctuaries", theme parks and zoos (to name a few: Gentle Barn, Seaworld, Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and Aquarium of the Pacific ) promote animal welfare, but they don't actually do anything except objectify helpless animals for their own benefit. While some organizations will argue that they serve an educational purpose, their argument does not justify the imprisonment of the individual animals. These organizations may also argue that spending time with the animals inspires people to protect them, but their idea of protecting the animals consists of taking them out of the wild to confine them in cages and pens for human entertainment. Farm Sanctuary is the exact opposite of everything that I stated above. This farm has been on my bucket list for 2 years, and today, I had the pleasure of visiting and understanding their cause and purpose. Before I made my visit, I did extensive research to make sure I wasn't promoting a so-called organization (I.e. Gentle Barn) which wheels in clientele and social media influencers by offering numerous photo opportunities and selfies with helpless animals. What I concluded is that this organization and their staff truly love and care for all animals. They take care of them as best as humanly possible. They are remarkable people. Aaron (our guide) was wonderful in explaining the organization's mission as well as each animal's past history. We were allowed to engage and care for the residents on-site with the exception of a few. This was partly due to their timid nature from past experiences at factory farms. Completely understandable. This sanctuary is truly for those who care about animal welfare and want to educate themselves on what animals really endure. Unlike other so-called sanctuaries and zoos, Farm Sanctuary doesn't confine, breed, buy, sell and/or trade animals for their own gain. They rescue, rehabilitate and provide love and comfort to each individual animal. I highly recommend this farm to all animal lovers. It's not a overhyped theme park, zoo, and/or social media trend. It's also nothing fancy, AND, that's exactly why I loved it so much! A big shoutout to all of the amazing staff for everything you do. You give me hope! read more

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Amazing variety of animals and staff that teach us a little about the animals. Good accessibility and parking.

What a wonderful place for the animals to live the rest of their lives. The staff is so welcoming and friendly. They answer all questions and dont rish through the tour. Very knowledgeable and they teach you alot. This is something adults can enjoy with their kids. Great way to spend some time on a nice Saturday... Dont bring food because the animals can smell it but you can bring water. read more

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This review is super long, so if you don't want to read all of it:Bottom line is this was terrible. I would never suggest it to anyone. Yaneli shame on you, I really hope that you grow up, maybe get some sensitivity training and learn to be a kinder person, not only to animals, but to humans too. I had been looking forward to this tour for six years, following their Instagram and email updates. Life finally allowed me to take some good time off, and go out of town for my birthday, which I made very clear the only thing I cared about doing for my birthday was going to this farm sanctuary. Unfortunately, my experience was nothing like what I had expected, I would never recommend this tour to anyone. From the first interaction with our tour guide Yaneli, I instantly felt unwelcome due to her unfriendly nature. She showed no interest in our excitement (my friend, and I )and joy about the tour(and at the time we were literally the only two people going on the tour,eventually two other guys showed up and then at the very end of the tour two other ladies showed up, but for awhile it was just me and my pal). Our guide, Yeneli, made it clear from the start that she was a vegan, and she extended the tour by expressing her self proclaimed biased opinions. Yaneli was rude and degrading, making the entire experience embarrassing and uncomfortable for both my friend and myself;I am beyond disappointed. The tour went over by 15-20 minutes because the guide was too busy talking about how she feels negatively about "people on the other side of the fence of things" meaning-not vegans. The guide Yaneli wrongly assumed who ate meat and who didn't, (I was the only vegetarian, the two other guys ate meat and so does my friend, the two ladies that showed up late I have no idea what was going on with them. They were literally there for like 20 minutes,)and she shamed meat-eaters, making it very uncomfortable, even for those who don't eat meat. She suggested that talking to meat-eaters was a waste of time, as they either don't care, don't understand, or have a lack values. She also made a comparison between converting meat-eaters to veganism and converting Trump supporters, which was unprofessional, inappropriate, and bizarre. She acted as if meat-eaters were careless about animals and the earth, which was uncomfortable, even for someone who does not eat meat. Her lack of joy, and the strange structure of the tour quickly replaced our initial excitement with shame. On my birthday, I was lectured for almost two hours by a bossy, self-proclaimed "biased vegan," when all I wanted was to see rescued animals thriving. The experience was so sad that even the animals seemed unhappy. Only one cow, one sheep, and one pig seemed in good spirits. At one point, another guest pointed out that a chicken appeared to have died or was suffering from heat exhaustion, but Yeneli dismissed it and continued with her talk. I thought the tour would focus on the positive aspects, such as showcasing thriving animals and the sanctuary's achievements. Instead, it was entirely negative, emphasizing the suffering and hardships of the animals. For example, they discussed how cows don't normally get to be with their babies and they only managed to achieve this through a slaughterhouse owner with a soft spot for "new mothers". Rather than celebrating the positive, everything was turned negative and dark. After the tour, I felt a sense of shame for not being completely vegan and regretted bringing my meat-eating friend, who is a wonderful person and animal lover. This experience was completely misleading and needs to have a detailed trigger warning on the website, indicating what visitors are getting into. Even as a vegetarian, I found it terrible and was moved to tears. The website is where the misleading begins, portraying the tour as a happy, positive experience when, in reality, it is an educational tour pushing veganism and shaming those who are not vegan or who are perceived as having poor values. It needs to clearly state that this is an educational tour containing triggering situations and graphic descriptions of animal abuse. While their work is important, there is a great need for changes in their website descriptions and major training for employees and volunteers on sensitivity and appropriate sharing. After wanting to visit for six years, I will never return and will never recommend it to anyone. There are many other sanctuaries to support without being degraded or having to be vegan to be considered a person of good values or an animal lover. read more

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My friend took me here as a birthday adventure and we had so much fun. It's wonderful to see happy, well cared for animals, hanging out and being cute and relaxed, particularly after seeing so many videos of how poorly they are treated in industry. The volunteers and employees here do a great job, and their merch is adorable. This is an LA gem for any animal lover, or human in general. read more

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Been there they have one of the largest dairy cows I've ever seen that thing is so big it's over 8 feet tall and it's friendly. It's out in the middle of nowhere right off the freeway at red rover mine and the 14 Great Pl. to go and hang out and check it out. read more

I have been going to this farm for many years now and I love it. From what I have experienced this farm puts the animals first. I love how the animals are respected and it is not a petting zoo for children. It has changed a lot from my first visit back then you would be able to feed the animals and spend alone time with them but I am sure someone ruined that for the rest of us. Overall this sanctuary is a great place to visit all the beautiful animals. read more

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Farm Sanctuary is an awesome place! Although not as big as their former location in northern California (or presumably their place in NY), it's still a treat to be there. We went for the Celebration of the Turkeys this year and it was a wonderful experience and an honor to meet founder Gene Baur and others. We loved being able to spend time with the rescued animals and get to know some of them. I loved giving a belly rub to a pig, standing tall with a cow, and hugging a sheep. Each was a special feeling that created special memories! read more

I scheduled a private tour at Farm Sanctuary to surprise my husband for his birthday, and it was the best decision ever!! We had such an amazing time with the animals and learning about them. Our tour guide Aaron (or Erin, not sure which spelling) was wonderful and gave us a great tour. They offer group tours on the weekends also but I highly recommend a private one to spend some one on one time with the animals. You can tell everyone who works there truly loves and cares for all the animals & it's just wonderful to see. Go visit them now!! read more

Farm Sanctuary - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

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This place is absolutely wonderful and I can't wait to go back! The love and care they are giving to their animals is admirable and their compassion palpable. For only $10 (yes, that's right, only $10!) per person, they give you a tour through the property, which includes interaction with the various farm animals they care for. You will also learn a bit about the benefits of veganism but they are not overbearing about it in any way, they simple mention it a few times in such a way that makes you think and, perhaps, may even cause you to consider a vegan diet but you definitely will not feel pressured or attacked in any way. You are able and encouraged to take as many pictures as you would like and there is also a small gift shop with items such a vegan cookbooks, stuffed animals, mugs and glasses, etc. and I found that the items were decently priced. Also, every staff member I interacted with was genuinely friendly and helpful. I will definitely be returning to Farm Sanctuary! Such a lovely place! read more

After recently visiting Farm Sanctuary, I felt like I was on the happiest place on earth. Being among rescued animals, each one having their own unique story. It was a wonderful experience being able to touch and feel these kind and beautiful creatures. Before the tour started, our guide Breezy, had us watch an informative video on the negative effects on factory farming but on the positive side, there were also happy stories of some of their animals that had been rescued. Our small walk through, took us to meet most of their animal family like the goats, pigs, cows and sheep. Being able to see them roam, be free and just to enjoy the sunshine, it made for some breath taking moments. Not only did Breezy do a wonderful job talking about the background of each group of animals but she knew each and every animal's names and their unique personalities. Wow! Animal lovers would love it. Children would love it. Please support this amazing charity! read more

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Please visit this place. This was a great experience. If you love animals, this is a good place to go. It's very inexpensive and you get to spend time with the animals. It only cost $10 per adult. thats a steal compared to other sanctuaries. We arrived around 1 which is one of their four times where they show you a short video about their back story and how animals get treated around the world for consumption. Then we were taking to see the animals. We started with the pigs. Let me just say that i have never seen pigs so big in person and never have I rubbed their bellies before! They absolutely love belly rubs as much as dogs do. They take their sleeping seriously as they were all asleep during that time. Since they aren't used for eating they grow up to large sizes. The pig whose belly I got to rub was named Jumper. If you want to know where she got that name from you'd have to take a visit and learn her back story. Next we headed over to visit the goats and sheep area. We were immediately greeted by a goat. They are so friendly! Inside the barn were the sheep who also love a good petting. There was also a llama named Yoda who takes it upon himself to protect the herd of sheep and goats from coyotes that are near by! Lastly, we were taken to see the donkeys and cows. There is a massive cow named Bruno that is by far the most soft and gentle giant I ever met. He is about 2000 pounds. Their donkey Honky Tonk def loves attention. He actually greeted us when we got out or car since parking is by the donkey section of the sanctuary. Unfortunately we didn't get to meet the chickens and turkeys since there is a disease going around and they sent their birds to a more safe area but will be brought back soon. They also had horses. It's a very informative tour and a good way to connect with animals. After the tour they allow you to hang out in their court yard. Over all I'd suggest this little gem and I can only appreciate the hard work that they do in saving animals. We need more people like you guys. Thank you! read more

Wonderful place! If you love farm animals this place is fantastic. It's not huge but very well organized and clean. Animals looks very relaxed and happy. I was happy that they allow to touch animals as you can see the animals enjoy that a lot. The turnkey even fall asleep from the little Pat on the back. The volunteers were very friendly as well. If you want to bring kids It would be so interesting for them. The price is also very reasonable. The guide was informative. We had a great time! read more

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I was looking for something to do on the weekend and came across the farm sanctuary. I noticed it had some farm animals, for which you can go and meet if you take the tour. There was a lot of information provided by our tour guide, on how these animals became part of the sanctuary. It was always pretty neat to be up close with the cows, pigs, horses, sheep and goats. I had a great time, so did my bf. read more

Review 333 is dedicated to my new friends at Animal Acres, namely Honkey Tonk the donkey http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/fFpg4hgc8EEjhZ7OEDzfRg?select=gSXuLRpia-xxf6QNORgJ2A, who won my heart when he pressed his head against me and leaned on me just like my dog does. And of course the cute geese couple, Valentino and his wife Valentina, who followed him around nagging at him like any good wife would do. =D Located just a little more than half an hour north of Hollywood, this is a great place for children and adults alike, giving humans an opportunity to make a connection with some of the creatures we share this planet with. There are cattle, horses, donkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, geese, ducks, and chickens. The turkeys strut their stuff, showing off the beautiful hues of blues on their faces, while a rooster crows, and a duck says something other than "Aflac". The kids I saw here absolutely loved interacting with the animals, but it does something special for the adults too! They offer tours through out the day on Sunday and the staff does a wonderful job of presenting the facts and information in a very non-judgmental way, allowing you to simply enjoy the animals if you'd like, or to get detailed information about the rescue of the individual animals and the cruelty they have faced. Animal Acres rescues animals that have been mistreated, abused, or just left to die by the cruel factory farm and slaughterhouse industries. To put it simply, these poor animals exist because people eat meat. Luckily, Animal Acres provides them with a place they can live as happily as possible. Unfortunately, Animal Acres can only save a miniscule percent of the many downed and dying animals out there because unlike the meat industry, they don't have the income to take over the country. But with the generosity of kind hearted people, they can keep rescuing animals and adopting them out to loving homes. Over 90% of their funding needed for rescue, education, and advocacy efforts is provided by Animal Acres members. Sunday tours are $5, but it only takes $25 to become a member, which includes free tours and discounts at local businesses (http://www.animalacres.org/you-can-help/bizfriends/2011). You can even adopt a farmed animal for as little as $10 a month. My hope for the people who visit Animal Acres is to see how much all animals have in common; humans included. I couldn't help but compare a pig grumbling at another to my own dogs, or the way certain animals acted to certain people I know (hard headed goats butting heads, know anyone like that?). If you would never image eating, skinning, or milking a dog or cat, why would you want it done to any other animal? You may not support racism or sexism, but do you support speciesism http://animalrights.about.com/od/animalrights101/a/BasicTenets.htm ? In the amount of time it took you to read this review, it is likely that these animals were killed in support of the meat, dairy and egg industries (from http://www.beautomated.com/counter): 80 buffalos, 4 camels, 957 cattle, 158,444 chickens, 8,501 ducks, 1,278 goats, 15 horses, 4,370 pigs, 1,794 sheep, and 2,018 turkeys. Education and compassion are wonderful gifts, and Animal Acres does a great job at providing them to those who are open to learning. read more

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We took our two kids. Both under three. Driving up we didn't know what to expect because the surrounding farms look a little dim. However, it was clear, had good signage, and was easy to find. It was clean and had a mini parking lot. We went on an early Saturday morning. Required guided tour for $10 per adult It was nice and educational, however, I'm glad my kids couldn't fully comprehend. Tour was educational but not as hands on as I would like. Don't expect a petting zoo and don't expect feeding opportunities. I get that animals are moody too but this was very bland. All the animals were not in the mood! This is a rescue organization, and they make that very clear. read more

We visited Farm Sanctuary with friends on a weekend and there were only a few other groups of people touring. I never heard of the place before but glad to have a chance to visit. They are a small farm out in Acton that promotes vegan life and tries to educate the public on the realities of eating animals. The tour takes you around the sanctuary and lets you interact and touch the animals. You are instructed how that animal is treated in the harvesting of food and can ask questions of the informative volunteer who leads the tour. We got to see the pigs, cow, horse, goats, llama, chickens, and a turkey. The animals are beautiful and happy. It was a nice visit although afterwards, my friend (who is the only vegan in the group) mentioned how heavy handed the message was and it was unnecessary to give graphic details to the guests, especially children. I felt that the tour was generally fine and I asked a lot of questions, I wasn't worried that my kids would be scared to hear some of the things especially because they were there to pet the animals and weren't listening to what was being said anyway. I recommend a visit if you would like to get up close and personal with some farm animals. read more

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This review is an appreciation post for all that you guys do! It's been years since I've been back but I still remember that time when the donkey came running into my family the time we got introduced to him. Lol It was so sweet. The most amazing and humbling experience I've ever had and grateful to have had shared it with all of you! read more

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This was such a touching and life changing experience. I went vegan last September but this was something that I hadn't done yet; Actually meeting these animals face to face. I have never been so happy to give my money to someone before. We started with an introduction video that is, while hard to watch, very informative. The tour guide clearly knew what she was talking about and made sure to inform us on how to stay safe and also keep the animals safe. First, saw the cows (and Honky Tonk, the donkey). This included Bruno who was one of the highlights of the tour. He is a kisser! I had never been licked by a cow before, and now I can say I have! But be warned, it feels like sandpaper, haha. Then we saw the hens and roosters. I think this was actually the hardest part of the tour for me. It was very hard seeing the animals that had been raised to grow unnaturally large. I connected with one that I felt deep in my heart and I feel like changed me for life. We then got to see the goats, lambs and pigs. The goats are just too funny. How many people can say they've given a pig a belly rub? This is really just a fantastic place and I love that they promote a vegan diet but in the kindest way possible. They don't want to bash anyone or make them feel uncomfortable. They are just educating people and the best way to do that is to show people what their "food" looks like before it gets to their plates. Next time I'm down in LA I will be returning here to visit all the wonderful animal friends I made. Thank you Farm Sanctuary for all that you do. read more

Farm Sanctuary - life changing experience - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

This place is an amazing experience! Take your kids here instead of the zoo. Totally worth the drive from L.A. The tour was wonderful and we got to hug and kiss cows, omg there was even a baby calf there. We rubbed a pig's belly and there were sheep, goats and more. I will never eat a burger again. I promised the cows. My skin looks better, I look younger, I've lost weight and my spirit is lighter since going vegan. They won't pressure you at all, though, I was already almost there. For the animals, for the Earth, for my health, plant based is a higher vibe life. They're doing great work here. Opened my heart even more. Love!!! A million stars. read more

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I've been here a few times. I think the best was for the Celebration of the Turkeys. Vegan Thanksgiving and we got to watch them feed the turkeys instead of feeding us the turkeys. Brilliant! Farm Sanctuary was founded by Gene Baur (who recently came out with an awesome book!!) and has three locations. This is the only one I've been to, but the other two are on my bucket list. All the animals here were saved from slaughter houses or other horrible situations. Here they receive love and give education. What a wonderful mix. The farm seems like it will be small when you arrive, but it's actually a good size. If you're coming from LA the fastest way to get here is the highway, but the best way to get here is to come through Angeles National Forest, so pretty. The goats get a whole hill to enjoy, the chickens get to share the yard when lots of humans aren't around, pigs get some nice muddy spots, etc. I highly recommend any vegan or vegan-leaning person to come to FS, and bring your meat eating friends! Our society has done such a good job of detaching us from the farm it's easy to forget that these animals are living being. FS really does a wonderful job of explaining the turmoils of these animals' lives "grown" for food without blaming you (meat eaters) directly, it's more about encouraging. I'm not going to get too preachy, might have already. Oh well. Anyway, go to one of their events! Take a tour! Just go. This place is amazing and can be life changing. read more

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What a remarkable place!! Nestled in the canyons Northeast of LA lies this place of magic where animals rescued from desperate circumstances come to live out their lives. From factory farmed chickens and pigs to Turkeys that gave a new meaning to Thanksgiving this sanctuary houses several animals all living together and enjoying a second chance at life. I was lucky enough to attend a twilight tour, visit these sweet souls, listen to Moby speak on the benefits of Veganism to these animals, our bodies and our planet all while enjoy a glass of organic Mendocino Pinot Noir and some yummies vegan cheeses. All the volunteers here are exceptional people giving their time and money to helping these animals. Everyone was full of knowledge on the background of each animal and how they ended up at Farm Sanctuary. What Moby said is so true. We all live your lives driving around in our metal coffins going about our days sometimes never coming face to face with the effects of our greed. Looking a chicken in the eye who has to wear wraps around her feet and can barely walk at only a few months old because she was bred to be fat and overweight in just a few days is a stark reminder of just how selfish and cruel humans can be. The fact that so many of the animals experienced unspeakable horrors before winding up at this sanctuary and still manage to show love and affection to us humans brought me to tears. Thank you to the founders of Farm Sanctuary, the staff and all the volunteers for showing what true compassion looks like! read more

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I had such a magical experience at farm sanctuary! My tour guide breezy combined with the sweet, beautiful, gentle animals made my day so perfect. I'm already a vegan but this place is such an important reminder as to why we need to practice compassion on a daily basis. The animals are all very well cared for and loving towards people and the ones that are more hesitant are pointed out by the tour guide. I loved being able to nuzzle up to sheep and give nose rubs to cows. honky Tonk the donkey was the absolute highlight of my day. I highly recommend visiting farm sanctuary to everyone of all ages. read more

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Not sure why The Gentle Barn nearby gets all the attention, when Farm Sanctuary was just as incredible and worthy; in fact, more educational. I attended the Sanctuary's Valentine's Day event and had a beautiful experience wandering the spacious grounds and spending quality time with rescued cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, and turkeys. You can visit the Sanctuary during public visit hours on Saturdays and Sundays, or attend one of their wonderful events listed on their website. The drive to Acton was lovely and only 45 minutes from Hollywood. Parking was free and plenty. The experience is very personal, emotional, and unforgettable. Meeting these intelligent, gentle and beautiful animals is truly life changing and eye opening. I am so grateful that safe and loving places life Farm Sanctuary exist, where animals are loved and treated the way they deserve to be. I am also thankful that the Sanctuary educates visitors about the horrors of factory farming and slaughter, and encourages a cruelty free and compassionate diet. It's so easy! Volunteers and staff shared each animals rescue story and information about their behaviors. Getting a tour on non event days is much more informative. Truly heaven on earth for animal lovers, vegans, vegetarians and anyone considering a more compassionate lifestyle. read more

Farm Sanctuary - Valentine's Day event with this sweet baby. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

Visited Animal Acres for the 11am tour one Sunday and am so grateful for such an amazing experience. The facilities are very nice and the grounds are lovely but what really makes Animal Acres so memorable are the rescued animals. Goats of all sizes will walk up and take a gentle nibble of your shirt. Turkeys will sit in quiet dignity and allow you to pet their feathers. Pigs will flop onto their sides and happily accept belly rubs. Brontosaurus-sized cows will slowly meander by (seriously, I had no clue cows could be that enormous) and even an emu might let you get close enough to admire it's feathers. You can't help but be touched by the sweet, unique personalities of every animal, especially considering the cruelty they've all experienced. The high-energy, very informative tour guide gave interesting bits of history for most of the animals and explained the purpose of Animal Acres very well. Taking into consideration the children in the group, her talks weren't graphic but I do appreciate that she did explain the realities of factory farming and what other less fortunate farm animals experience on a daily basis. The gift shop had plenty of books and literature on veganism (no preachiness at all so omnivores don't need to become defensive) as well as t-shirts and other items (and opportunities to sponsor an animal or become a sanctuary member). If you bring a vegan picnic lunch with you, you're welcome to sit and eat in the very pretty, relaxing courtyard once the tour is complete (it would be insensitive to eat a chicken salad sandwich in front of a rescued chicken, yes?). At the risk of sounding totally sappy, visiting Animal Acres was one of the most moving experiences I've had in a long time- being nuzzled by sheep who survived horrific conditions yet are still trusting and dearly affectionate can't help but break your heart wide open (in a good way). I'd recommend the tour (and becoming members) to anyone and everyone. These folks do great work and definitely deserve as much support as possible. read more

Farm Sanctuary - Chickens napping in the sun at Animal Acres. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

I wish this animal sanctuary was closer to LA... just kidding. Animal Acres is a safe haven for would-be-slaughtered livestock, rescued from nearby slaughterhouses. (most of these animals escaped, or were saved by individuals) It's a serene, clean area 45 minutes northeast of Hollywood, surrounded by canyons that you knew used to be under the sea, millions of years ago. I came here for their annual Thanksgiving event--Feed the Turkeys, plus a Vegan Thanksgiving feast. I don't mean to go all mushy and cuddly-duddly, but seeing these animals so free and playful, in their simple, natural states of being, made me realize how weird it is that they are also being served on plates somewhere. I think everyone in my family was affected. It's one thing to read about animals in a book, it's a completely different feeling to be with them. I am glad I dropped by Animal Acres; I will make time to return during another one of their events.... it's truly a fresh breath of air amidst all the busy hustle-bustle of the typical LA/Hollywood fare. read more

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What a great day to visit with the animals! My favorite part was visiting with the horses. I lingered away from the group and found myself semi alone with one of the horses. She came up and let me touch her face. I swear, by the way she was looking at me, she understood every word I said to her. And it felt even more special when a woman came up with her child and tried to pet her and she backed away. When the mother and child left, the beautiful horse came back to me! Apparently, she was rescued from a rodeo group that usually ends up killing the animal. I would highly recommend coming here and spending some time with these beautiful creatures. OH, and the goat that LOVED to be petted! I would highly recommend visiting. read more

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I got the awesome Christmas present from my aunt of adopting Regina the sheep. I went on the tour and saw everyone. Then I went to see Regina. I love how there is such a good home here. On the tour, they also teach about how individual the residents are. The photo is my visit with Regina (feeding time). read more

Farm Sanctuary - Regina and her some of friends enjoying the food. - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

We went here for the first time today after a strong recommendation from a vegan friend. They were having a special Valentine's Day tour, and it was very popular--lots of people. The sanctuary is beautiful, soothing and large. They only take as many animals as they can properly care for. I felt the animals had plenty of room, as their pens are good size, but they are also able to roam the surrounding hills. We were able to visit five pigs, five cows, and numerous goats, chickens, turkeys, horses, a llama, and sheep. It was so touching to see how sweet and content these animals were. They each have their own personalities. Some like the guest attention, some don't, and some seem neutral. All are beautiful. All animals deserve to live this way, with companionship and love, and without pain and violence. The only negative about this place is the way some guests act (and on our visit it was, thankfully, a very, very small minority). For instance, some fool was trying to get a picture of himself doing a handstand in front of one of the cows. He almost kicked the cow because he was only a foot away. Other people kept putting their phones right into the animals' faces to take pictures. I got plenty of great photos using the zoom on my camera; there was no need to get right in the animals' faces. Most guests were very respectful and obviously enjoyed being with the animals as much as we did, though. The volunteers were also adequately staffed to kind of keep an eye on things, and I felt the animals' welfare came first. The volunteers were also very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. I would highly, highly recommend a visit to Farm Sanctuary. read more

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Just volunteered here today. What a great place. The staff and regular volunteers were so friendly and nice! Daniele, Steve, Rachel, Cabel (forgot the spelling of the gentleman's name) they were all very nice and informative. All the animals were rescued and brought here from avoiding the slaughter houses and poor living conditions/neglect. Saw many animals, goats, chickens, sheeps, pigs, donkeys, cducks, turkeys, horses, bull. I was able to give back by helping keep the farm clean, while also having a very cool pot luck (workers party). I think they do it twice a month. Everything is vegan. I was the ONLY non vegan there, however I wasn't judged and everybody was friendly and we all got along well. Definitely recommend this place to TOUR or even help and volunteer. I'll be back to help out. Nice being able to give back. They also have a Facebook page, if you want to check them out. Any questions just ask. I'll probably be going again, so if anybody interested in it and lives in OC area, hit me up. Better to car pool there. Like 1 1/2 hr drive from Anaheim, where im located. read more

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I loved it! I am a vegetarian and I have been wanting to go to Farm Sanctuary as soon as I heard that it existed! They rescue animals that were originally intended to be part of the horrible factory farm industries I was in a bad mood on the way up there because my mom was driving and we left late. No one else in the car seemed to care about going. When we got there the tour had already started and we had missed seeing the pigs. My bad mood vanished when I saw an old acquaintance working there! Her name is Breezy and she is an amazing person. She got us in on the tour! Our first stop was the cows. They were giant! I can't believe factory farms feel they need to give these animals growth additives. They are naturally big animals. I went over and got to pet Pinto and he was a very nice animal. However this rude man that I like to call "everything wrong with being vegan" ran up to the cow and scared it because he was being so fast and overly aggressive to pet the animal. I then pet Bruno who was a very nice dark brown bull. He was so soft and gentle and he seemed to love getting attention from everyone. We then moved on to the chickens and the turkeys. They were so sweet. One of the turkey hens came right up to everyone and was saying hello in her very nice gobble voice. Our guide was very nice. I have forgotten her name but she had short curly hair. She knew a lot of information about all the animals and was very knowledgeable about the horrors of factory farming. She was a bit quiet but the people on the tour were also really loud. On the way to the goats I had to deal with "Everything wrong with being vegan." He and his friends were walking next to my family and he was saying "I bet all these people are hearing these facts and then they are going to go get a steak right after" what I heard was "I am a pretentious idiot that makes people feel bad for not being exactly like me and the only thing going in my life is that I am a vegan." I hate people like that because they make no one want to join their cause and I would like people to work towards being vegetarian or a vegan. The less meat in the diet the better. Anyway we went to the goats next. The "everything wrong with being vegan" guy pet them even though the guide said that the goats and sheep were in quarantine and they did not want anything to spread. I corrected him but as soon as I walked away I know he started petting the animals again. I care about animals and will do anything to protect them. After the goats the tour was finished and we gave money to the donation bin, took pictures in the wooden cut outs, and went to the gift shop. They also have a shopping cart full of vegan items to show you what you could buy at the store. They sell all kinds of cook books and good reading in the store. After the gift shop I ran back into my friend and we caught up and talked about all kinds of things. She even showed me the pigs that I missed in the beginning. She lured them out with banana peels and fed them while telling me their amazing stories. I really liked meeting the pigs and seeing how huge they were! They were so sweet and nice and they loved those bananas. Overall it was a wonderful and emotional experience. I loved the animals and the stories. I was so happy to catch up with my friend and see the farm. I recommend bringing anyone you know that loves animals and to plant the seeds in their heads about how important it is to stop factory farming. read more

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The Farm Sanctuary is a wonderful organization that helps animals that are left for slaughter or abused. Tours are given to the public on weekends. They're $10/person and it is about an hour long. During the tour, you'll hear some of the stories of the animals and information on factory farming, while being able to pet and visit some of the animals. Pictures of and with the animals are also encouraged! I really liked how everyone I encountered was super friendly and helpful. You can tell that the wellbeing of the animals are their number 1 priority. They approach each animal and see how they're doing and if they want to be around people, during the tour. If the animal isn't up for it, we move on. But there were plenty of animals to pet and love on! So if you're thinking about visiting, definitely do it! read more

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Such an amazing and informative experience ! Staff was very friendly and we were able to meet and pet the animals read more

Farm Sanctuary - Cutie - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

Seriously, every tour and event I have been on is wonderful. These animals are rescued and given second chances. The animals are clearly well-cared for and extremely happy and free! The volunteers tell you the facts about animal agriculture and it may be hard for some to swallow, but they aren't judgmental or rude. They're honest and some of these animals used to be in the animal agriculture business, so it shouldn't be a surprised that they are against this. Also, unlike other sanctuaries, they don't take in loads of people all day everyday. They actually put the animals first and do all they can to make sure they do not experience any stress. It's also a good experience! read more

Farm Sanctuary - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

Love taking the family here to visit the rescued animals and give them some love. My kids love hearing about where the animals came from and are happy they have new happy and loved lives. We are bummed they haven't been able to visit the turkeys and the chickens due to the avian flu going around... hopefully soon. They do push a lot of veganism... we've taken the tour many times and it is obviously very scripted. I would say if you are not vegetarian/vegan you will probably leave feeling a bit guilty. Most people we have come across do live a cruelty free life or are working towards that kind of lifestyle. I have come with people who eat meat and they do live more aware of their choices. It's a great outing with the family, not too far outside of Los Angeles. The tour is about an hour and there is a small gift shop. There are also vegan treats laid out for guests to enjoy. There is only 1 bathroom (literally) for everyone to use. It is clean but there does tend to be a bit of a line (something to think about with younger children). We love coming here and will continue to visit and show these babies some love. read more

Lots of fun! Went today for the Valentine's Day event, my first time visiting, and it was an awesome experience. We got to meet some cows, pigs, goats, sheep, and horses, and there was a really sweet presentation on the special relationships the animals have with each other. I loved hearing the stories of how the animals were rescued, and how they bonded with one another at the sanctuary. There was also some goodies (cookies, mini cupcakes and donuts, etc) passed out, and everyone received a gift bag with some candies and a valentine. A great way to spend Valentine's Day, and a great bargain at $15 a person. All the volunteers/staffers working were extremely friendly and helpful. A very laid-back and welcoming place, and NOT preachy whatsoever. Some reviews seem to have an issue with them addressing the meat and dairy industry -- it's a charity that rescues farm animals. What did you expect? They simply present information about where our food comes from. I'm a vegetarian, but my boyfriend eats meat, and he even commented on how non-preachy it was. They really seem to focus on letting people cultivate relationships with the animals you meet, and specifically state that you can help animals by just *trying* to decrease the amount of animal products you consume. They don't aggressively or rudely push veganism on anyone, and that's coming from a non-vegan. read more

Farm Sanctuary - Meeting Bruno the steer, with Paolo in the background. They were so gentle and calm and sweet! - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

What is there not to love about a place where they rescue poor farm animals and rehab and give them a safe loving home for the rest of their lives? They do tours on weekends but gotta call them to see if they are offering tours just due to weather and etc. $10 donation for the tours. All animals here have names and a story of how they came to the farm sanctuary. It's a great place to bring your kids, fellow vegetarians/vegans, and especially meat eating friends. Parking is free on a dirt lot. Sometimes it can get windy and dusty and stir up allergies so be prepared. You can also be a member of the place and give any donations to support this great organization :) read more

Farm Sanctuary - Animal Shelters Near Me - Acton, California

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