From our executive director Kim Sturla
An Important Announcement Regarding our Rescue and Adoption Program
It is with mixed feelings that I announce a temporary closure of our Rescue Ranch program, as we raise much-needed funds and seek property to continue our large-scale rescue and adoption program.
You are a vital part of this transition; the chickens need your support moving forward.
Whether you have adopted, volunteered, helped with de-clumping or health checks, promoted us on social media, or donated to help liberated hens…I want your help to make our next steps a success. Not want…need. There are hens languishing in cages now whom all of us want to save, and I know we will with your aid.
In 1989 I started Animal Place on 60 acres in Vacaville, California. In 2010, we expanded to our 600-acre Grass Valley, California location. The move allowed us to turn our original Vacaville site into Rescue Ranch, an adoption and rescue center
Our dream was to liberate hens from egg farms.
After our move, we began fulfilling that dream and started rescuing hens directly from California egg farms. With you by our side, we have saved more than 26,000 hens’ lives through this campaign. It is the only rescue program of its kind in the country.
At Rescue Ranch, we nurse the hens back to health, give them medical treatments, help them regain their strength, and then place them in forever homes through our adoption program.
Unfortunately, zoning issues prevent us from continuing at our current location, and we are selling the Vacaville property. Though we are sad to have to sell this beautiful space, we have high hopes for the future.
Hen rescues are on hold until we move, but this is not the end of Rescue Ranch. (Note: Our main sanctuary in Grass Valley, where our 500 permanent residents live, is safe!)
We are actively searching for new property where we can continue this one-of-a-kind, large-scale rescue and adoption program. We want to remain in the greater Bay Area, so we can reach the most people, be accessible to the public, and be an efficient home base for traveling to and from egg farms. We also see an opportunity to establish an “urban sanctuary” open for tours, events, and other educational programs.
How you can help:
Donate: Though we are still searching for a new property, we already know it will cost a significant amount to purchase and build a peaceful sanctuary for our rescue hens. Chip in with a tax-deductible donation now and be one of the first to support our revitalized Rescue Ranch program!
Promote: We understand that not everyone can give financially, but many of you wonderful supporters have emails, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will keep you updated and hope that you will spread the word about this life-saving fundraising campaign.
Last but not least, I am eternally grateful to the staff and volunteers who have helped run Rescue Ranch over the years. Without them, none of it would have been possible. Special gratitude to Jan Galeazzi, Darren Roth, Blake Caraska, Marji Beach, and Kelcie Leach.
Please know that our entire staff is 100 percent committed to continuing this one-of-a-kind program. We just need to find the perfect new home for it.
Best wishes,
Kim Sturla
Executive Director
P.S. There is a long road ahead and we will make sure to keep you updated. Our most genuine thanks for all of your support as we find a new sanctuary for our rescue hens.
