Get up. Survey the day. Begin work. Raking, cleaning, food preparing, feeding, medical tending, rehabilitating. Socialising, grooming, bathing, securing. Fencing, repairing, building. Answering the phone, tending to emergencies, animal collection, animal adoption. Tending to visitors, donors, sponsors. Day's end......try to tend to your personal life.

Never would we say that we do not enjoy the above. We sign up for it each and every day willingly, lovingly and without want of pity or attention. In amongst all of the activity and necessities there lies only one constant, and one importance; animals.

We long for a day where no rescue sanctuaries are needed. It is what we strive for. We are the very advocates of animal welfare, animal rights and the cessation of animal abuse, exploitation and, ultimately, killing. Why do people think we have these animals? Yes, we love them but do they think we like to hoard groups of animals together for our own self-gratification? Do people think that we group farm animals, wildlife & domestic animals in one area for ego and self-importance? Let us tell you, if anyone who runs a rescue sanctuary wanted to have their ego stroked or made to feel important there are hundreds of easier ways to achieve that goal! We want nothing from this but the best for as many animals as we can help. And as for riches? A genuine sanctuary runs from week to week, day to day and, more often than not, requires the financial input of the owners on top of achieved fundraising or donations.

We move onto the vegan movement. Don't get us wrong, we love the vegan movement. We are vegan, it is what we support, promote, advocate and educate. But damn, we're sorry, there are pockets within the movement that are nothing short of misguided, savage and detrimental to the entire goal. Yes, this is not unique to the vegan movement. There is a saying that "every movement has it's zealots". How true this is and we're sure you would be aware of such in many. Religion, politics, influencers, the list goes on. But when it's personal you tend to notice it more. When it comes from the very people that should be standing side by side with you, supporting you, encouraging you, it smacks with venom when you hear it. One such topic recently came to our attention that is floating around the vegan "pages". Apparently, there are some out there that believe, and promote, sanctuaries to be animal exploiters. Yes, you read that right. Apparently, because a rescue sanctuary will allow visitors onto its premises, they are exploiting animals and are nothing more than glorified "petting zoos". When we first heard of this we simply scoffed, turned the other cheek, and proclaimed, silently, that you will always get them. But no, this is some special sort of ignorance and betrayal.

Clearly, absolutely clearly, this sort of comment is made by only one type of person. That of the incredibly ignorant and ill-informed, the naive and those with absolutely no rationale, reason, cognition or idea of how and why sanctuaries operate and are required. Firstly, let's take the average petting zoo. A "travelling sideshow" that thrives on the cute baby animal, shunted from event to event for adults and kids to pick up, handle and pass around amongst maximum noise and patronage. They are in it for the money, to make a living off of the back of the young and dispose of them like trash, once they become immune to handling by crowds. In fact, many of these discarded animals end up in rescue sanctuaries or worse.

Now, let's take the average genuine sanctuary. They intake animals discarded, abused, lost, dumped, orphaned and unwanted, no matter of their species or situation. They care not if they are babies, adults or even elderly. They care not if the animal is fit and healthy, sick or injured, full of life or dying. They do not parade them from event to event, the animals do not leave the sanctuary aside for vet visits. They do not discard them when the animals have fulfilled their needs, rather they offer and promise lifelong sanctity or the finding of a beautiful home. Sanctuaries definitely do not seek to profit from their animals, indeed they run at a considerable loss. There is no money in caring for animals because what you raise or what you have is put directly into the care of the residents.

Rescue sanctuaries will open their gates to visitors for two reasons. Yes, there is no reason to deny, visitors sometimes equal donations. But what do you think a non-profit enterprise and charity runs on?? Goodwill?? Fundraising and donations are the heartbeat to a sanctuary. It is what pays the bills, what secures veterinary work, animal care maintenance, food, shelter, water, the list is bloody endless. We speak not only for ourselves in this, but also for many good genuine sanctuaries, that we allow visitors to educate!! Most of the population has never experienced these animals, let alone their true nature. Most have never seen a farmed animal up close, seen what they offer as INDIVIDUALS. Absolutely, most eat them! Many see these animals as food, rather than living, breathing, sentient beings. They do not understand and they come from the very place that many of us have come from....yes, even you zealot vegans. Until they are allowed to meet these animals as individuals rather than "things" they will never change. They will never learn of these animals, who they are, what they do, how they feel. They will continue to tread the same evil path of paying for these animals to be killed. That is why visitors are permitted into sanctuaries. To meet the animal, not the thing, and realise that they are not for us to kill.

We take umbrage at very little but get mighty pissed off by the accusation that we are nothing more than a petting zoo. Making it worse is this type of comment is made by the unknowledgeable, uneducated and uninformed within a movement that is supposed to act as one. We ask, what have you done for the hundreds of animals that are with us or passed through our care? How have you helped them? Where would these animals be if not for a sanctuary? We can tell you where; either on a meat hook or in a ditch on a property with a slit throat. What may sound harsh is reality.

So, we continue with our daily tasks of aiding the animals, and whatever that requires on each given day. We thank all and everyone who supports us and all genuine sanctuaries like us. We thank all other sanctuaries, keep fighting the good fight despite of negative barrage. It means little to nothing and what we do as a collective is positive to the life of animals. It may surprise the dictators but that is all that matters to us.

To those who heap unqualified hate. Grow up, open your eyes, gain some experience and do something positive.

Darren, Hayley & the Furever Farm Team.