The Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 to combat the abuses of industrialized farming, and to encourage a new awareness and understanding of farm animals. Involved in rescue, education and advocacy efforts, the Farm Sanctuary has campaigned tirelessly to prevent animal cruelty, and encourage legal reforms for animal rights.

The Farm Sanctuary prefers that you be a vegetarian in order to adopt a critter - or be able to explain why you're not - because they don't want their rescues ending up on your dinner table. But you don't have to be vegan in order to visit. The Sanctuary is located on 175 acres in upstate New York (with an outpost in California), in the Finger Lakes region. The public is encouraged to come and see the resident sheep, goats, cows, pigs, ducks and geese.

The Sanctuary is open to the public from May 1 to October 31, but you can visit online all year around, so please click on www.farmsanctuary.org and give generously.