Running an animal welfare shelter and rescuing dogs, cats, and other animals is just part of the solution to saving animals. According to the folks at Animal Place, a California-based farm sanctuary, one component is missing. They are trying to change that with their Food For Thought program.
“Food For Thought asks animal care and rescue organizations to extend the same level of compassion when planning their events as they do when finding permanent loving homes for animals they save,” says Kim Sturla, executive director of Animal Place. “An ethical organization doesn’t serve who they shelter. Animal Place hopes all animal advocates can support this effort to help shelters in our communities protect all animals at all times.”
Animal Place is rewarding animal nonprofits that shelter dogs, cats, and other animals with a grant if they serve vegan meals at all of their functions. This includes animal welfare agencies like municipal shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, and rescue organizations around the U.S. who adopt animal-friendly menu policies for official events.
“Shelters frequently take in farmed animals like rabbits, chickens, goats, and sheep, yet are finding it increasingly uncomfortable to serve similar animals at events,” says Sturla. “Animal Place, one of the oldest and largest farmed animal sanctuaries in the country, is awarding a total of $25,000 in grants to animal organizations that institute a vegan policy through its Food For Thought program.”
Numerous animal welfare nonprofits have adopted animal-friendly menu policies, like Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York, St. Martin’s Animal Rescue in Oregon, Second Chance Animal Center in Vermont, Hearts United for Animals in Nebraska, and many others throughout the country.
Jackson Galaxy, known for his role as cat advocate on Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell, endorses the Food For Thought program. Galaxy and others who endorse the Food For Thought program offer some advice for organizations about serving compassionate fare at their functions.
Animal Place conducted a survey of organizations such as rescue groups, humane societies, animal shelters, and SPCAs in California, and found that 85 percent of respondents found it was unethical for organizations that rescue animals to sell or serve animal products at sponsored events.
Source: Animal Place, Food For Thought Campaign
