What happens after the rescue? While the rescue itself can be very challenging, the real work begins afterward. Ninety-nine percent of the animals saved from intensive farming aren’t just sick, they are critically ill. Their survival depends on many factors, including whether the right veterinarians are available at the right moment.

Once they make it through that first fragile phase, the real work truly begins. How do we give this animal the best possible care for the rest of their life? How do we recognize and respond to their changing needs over the years? Their needs shift constantly, and it is our responsibility to notice those changes in time and adapt our care accordingly.

I will address the challenges of caring for farmed animals in a world where they are still widely perceived as objects – even by some of the veterinarians who treat them. I will also discuss how legislation designed for agricultural production often works against sanctuaries, and why it is essential that sanctuaries be recognized as sanctuaries, not as farmers.