I'm currently reading this book, and although I'm only halfway through want to recommend it.
Gene Baur is the co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary, one of the leading rescue organizations for farm animals. He has spent a couple of decades involved in the rescue, rehabilitation, and protection of farm animals that have been abused by the industrial animal agri-system. Farm Sanctuary runs a 200-acre farm in Watkins Glen, New York, and a 300-acre similar facility in Orland, California. Baur has also been heavily involved in successful legal and legislative attempts to bring about change in the animal agri-systems that lead to the abuse of farm animals.
Besides providing a history of Farm Sanctuary's involvement in farm-animal rescue, Baur provides a complete picture of the industrial farm-animal industry -- not a pretty sight. Countless examples of the industry's abuses are chronicled. Having read a lot of this kind of information before, I wasn't shocked. But most people will be. The average meat-consuming person has no idea about how the meat they eat was raised and the abuses suffered by the animals. And adding the word "organic" to the formula is not a panacea. Huge industrial dairies that have earned the "organic" label have done so by eliminating certain antibiotic and hormone supplements (which is good), but still employ many of the same industrial techniques as non-organic dairies. (I'll never forget a conversation I had once with a woman who considered herself well-informed about "food" who had no idea that female dairy cows live their entire lives pregnant in order to keep them lactating. As soon as they deliver one calf they are artificially inseminated again in order to keep the milk flowing. She is typical of many who are shocked to learn the truth -- but often not shocked enough to stop supporting the system.)
(Pictured is part of the Watkins Glen, New York, Farm Sanctuary facility)
Perhaps the best part of Baur's book is the profiles he provides of many of the animals at the Farm Sanctuary facilities. They all have names and are treated as individuals. And when given the freedom to do so, express personalities every bit as unique as humans. It's amazing to read the stories of their "creatureliness" -- how they express themselves with the same range of emotions as we do. Reading these accounts supports more and more the biblical teaching that it is the image of God in man that separates him from the animals (Genesis 1:26-27) -- and it makes a huge difference. We are obviously different from "beasts" and that difference should not be ignored. But the ways in which we are similar -- feelings, emotions, bonding, personality -- are to be celebrated and protected.
The book is new in 2008. I was unfamiliar with Gene Baur and Farm Sanctuary before reading the book. If others have more background with him and his work I'd love to hear from you. (Strangely, I could only find the Kindle edition of the book at Amazon. Not sure why the hard copy doesn't come up in a search.)
Gene Baur is the co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary, one of the leading rescue organizations for farm animals. He has spent a couple of decades involved in the rescue, rehabilitation, and protection of farm animals that have been abused by the industrial animal agri-system. Farm Sanctuary runs a 200-acre farm in Watkins Glen, New York, and a 300-acre similar facility in Orland, California. Baur has also been heavily involved in successful legal and legislative attempts to bring about change in the animal agri-systems that lead to the abuse of farm animals.
Besides providing a history of Farm Sanctuary's involvement in farm-animal rescue, Baur provides a complete picture of the industrial farm-animal industry -- not a pretty sight. Countless examples of the industry's abuses are chronicled. Having read a lot of this kind of information before, I wasn't shocked. But most people will be. The average meat-consuming person has no idea about how the meat they eat was raised and the abuses suffered by the animals. And adding the word "organic" to the formula is not a panacea. Huge industrial dairies that have earned the "organic" label have done so by eliminating certain antibiotic and hormone supplements (which is good), but still employ many of the same industrial techniques as non-organic dairies. (I'll never forget a conversation I had once with a woman who considered herself well-informed about "food" who had no idea that female dairy cows live their entire lives pregnant in order to keep them lactating. As soon as they deliver one calf they are artificially inseminated again in order to keep the milk flowing. She is typical of many who are shocked to learn the truth -- but often not shocked enough to stop supporting the system.)
(Pictured is part of the Watkins Glen, New York, Farm Sanctuary facility)Perhaps the best part of Baur's book is the profiles he provides of many of the animals at the Farm Sanctuary facilities. They all have names and are treated as individuals. And when given the freedom to do so, express personalities every bit as unique as humans. It's amazing to read the stories of their "creatureliness" -- how they express themselves with the same range of emotions as we do. Reading these accounts supports more and more the biblical teaching that it is the image of God in man that separates him from the animals (Genesis 1:26-27) -- and it makes a huge difference. We are obviously different from "beasts" and that difference should not be ignored. But the ways in which we are similar -- feelings, emotions, bonding, personality -- are to be celebrated and protected.
The book is new in 2008. I was unfamiliar with Gene Baur and Farm Sanctuary before reading the book. If others have more background with him and his work I'd love to hear from you. (Strangely, I could only find the Kindle edition of the book at Amazon. Not sure why the hard copy doesn't come up in a search.)
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I've hung out with Gene a couple of times and he is a great guy. I'm closer with his ex-wife Laurie and her husband Frank, they run Animal Acres in Akton CA. It is exactly the same except over here. I've spent many dinners at there house with the animals.
ReplyDeleteI'll look for this book. Gene has always been very geniune and super nice.
I'd love to read this book. Maybe you could pass it on?? I hadn't really thought about the pregnant animals issue before the other day. I was talking with a friend who just got some lactating goats for her house/farm. She was telling me about how they have to get the goat pregnant, then they take the babies away and bottle feed them so they can take the mom's milk. We thought this was ironic especially since the woman I was talking to is a La Leche Legue leader. Interesting. Thanks for sharing. It does seem like more and more people are becoming aware of the horrible treatment of animals. I look forward to reading this one as well. Jen
ReplyDeleteStephen: I recall you mentioning the Animal Acres place -- didn't realize it was Gene Baur's ex who ran it. Glad to hear the good report about Baur. The tone of the book matches your description of him -- solid, sincere, truly committed.
ReplyDeleteJen: I'll be happy to pass on the book. You might even check the local library since it's a fairly new release. Amazing that a La Leche League leader is all about bonding between mother and child via breastfeeding, but not so for goats. Some of the stories of mothers being separated from babies in the Farm Sanctuary book are heartbreaking.