Pictured: Olivia Alcorta, Katie Mae Cohen, June a coming 3 year old that was rescued from Virginia in December 2021, Betty a 3 year old quarter horse percheron cross rescued in November 2021 from Texas, Laura Ireland, Delcianna Winders, Laura Fox, Morgan Zielinski, Logan Volpe, and Grayson Harbury
Vermont Law & Graduate School’s Farmed Animal Advocacy Clinic (FAAC) students learn how to be effective animal advocates by working on projects addressing the problems surrounding farmed animals today. Exposure to the farmed animals’ plight and the cascading harms of the industrialized animal agriculture industry can take a heavy toll on students. Visiting with animals can help provide a counterbalance that reenergizes and aids them in their animal advocacy journey.
On May 5th, these students and other members of the Animal Law and Policy Institute strapped on their mud boots and ventured out of the classroom and onto the farm, more specifically Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary based out of Waterbury, Vermont. Olivia Alcorta, operator of Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary, and her two employees work tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate, and provide sanctuary to horses coming from inhumane situations across the United States, while bringing awareness of the export and inhumane slaughter of horses.
The moment you step onto the farm property you are welcomed by a sense of calm, surrounded by the glorious green mountains and animals that are welcoming the start of a new life. While at the farm students were able to interact with horses of all sizes and ages, goats, cows, mules, donkeys, ducks, dogs, and even a pig.
Pictured: Ben & Jerry, two mini steers that were rescued from an Oklahoma kill pen in February 2021.
Olivia and her team graciously showed us around telling us the rescue story of each animal we came across and, although the stories were difficult at times, the atmosphere remained peaceful, even humorous. Blanche a rescue goat, named for the Golden Girls sitcom, dressed in a colorful sombrero and bandana in spirt of Cinco De Mayo was our tour guide around the barn, making sure we knew where the food was kept.
Pictured: Blanche, a goat that was surrendered in spring 2021 with her 2 sisters, Rose and Dororthy, by a breeder since their blonde color is undesirable in the show goat world.
Olivia shared with us her personal experience rescuing her first horse she named Abe just shy of three years ago. Abe was meant to be a one-time rescue but once he arrived on the property, his gentle and loving personality started a larger movement. Since then, over sixty horses have come through Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary. Some have become permanent residents while others have moved on to carefully vetted homes, to be loved by other individuals.
Pictured: Delcianna Winders and Grayson Harbury with Abe
The stories told, memories made, and facts learned that day are too plentiful to share in this one blog post, but it is organizations like Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary that help us be inspired each day to wake up and be animal advocates. Field trips like this help FAAC create the next generation of animal protection lawyers and activists.
Pictured: Morgan Zielinski with June
For more information about Storeybrook Farm Sanctuary go to their website https://www.storeybrookfarmsanctuary.com/ or look them up on social media.