As the 16-year-old founder of the Little Red Barn Micro sanctuary, I am continually amazed and inspired to see the profound effect the residents of our sanctuary have on visitors.  With the support of my family, I began our vegan sanctuary with the purpose of teaching empathy and compassion towards farm animals through personal interaction with the residents, most of whom were destined for imminent slaughter.

What began as a Grade 8 science fair research project to determine whether children could be taught empathy and compassion towards animals and the environment, led to the realization that city populations are so far removed from farm animals, most individuals have a complete disconnect with animal products they consume. They do not see animals as sentient beings, nor do they acknowledge the animal welfare issues, environmental impacts and the potential for future pandemics surrounding current industrial factory farming.  With these issues in mind, I completed my research Does Knowledge Increase Empathy and Compassion towards Animals and the Environment. This published research revealed children do have the ability to be compassionate towards animals, and will act empathetically if provided with the knowledge to do so. But I felt a piece of the puzzle was missing.  Compassion is something we are born hard wired with, but empathy is something that takes practice.  Children need to have a place where they could meet farm animals and see them as individuals, learn about their needs, feelings and relationships.  Consequently, I began to save animals destined for slaughter who could be ambassadors, bridging the disconnect including pigs, 3000 battery hens, dairy cows, horses, lambs, goats and free-range hens. Since founding the Little Red Barn Micro Sanctuary, March, 2020, we have welcomed hundreds of families to visit the sanctuary residents, teaching they are “someone, not something”, about their lives in factory farms and how each is an individual with relationships, feelings and most of all family.  The results have been overwhelmingly positive and have led to my current research Do Sanctuary Farm Animal Interactions affect Dietary Choices and Beliefs. This research is confirming the importance of farm animal interactions as a means to change people’s beliefs and diets.  

The positive support we have received from visitors, supporters and volunteers has been overwhelming but not every day is bright and positive.  There is a lot of sadness, and grief involved as well.  Knowing that you couldn’t save “everyone” is a haunting reality of farm rescue and I have seen it over and over at auctions, in the factory barns and even in day to day operations. Also, by taking in some of the most compromised residents, means that we must also face the harsh reality that some will live out their days here for only a short while before being crossing the Rainbow Bridge with dignity and humanity.  It takes an emotional toll.  Sometimes it is overwhelming the injustice that animals face in the world.  Some people have questioned, why do you bother-you can’t change the world or save everyone.  But I am always reminded by the story of the Starfish, and making a difference in the lives of individuals. By being involved in frontline animal rescue, sanctuary partnerships, animal welfare committees, building relationships with farmers, vigils, bearing witness, education, and compassionate empathy research, the importance of youth activism is instrumental in creating hope for a better world for animals, people and the environment.