Welfare Science

Sanctuary Models Farm Animals Evidence

Evidence review of farm animal sanctuary models as welfare interventions and their contribution to advocacy, education, and individual animal care.

Key Facts

Farm animal sanctuaries in the UK and internationally provide lifetime care for rescued farmed animals
Sanctuary animals become ambassadors for their species, influencing visitor attitudes
Evidence suggests sanctuary visits increase plant-based dietary intentions
Sanctuary operations are expensive and can house relatively few animals compared to farm populations
Some sanctuaries engage in systematic welfare research on individual animal needs

Welfare Considerations

Farm animal sanctuaries serve multiple welfare functions: providing refuge for individual rescued animals, demonstrating that farmed species have rich inner lives, educating visitors, and sometimes conducting welfare research. While individual sanctuary care cannot address the scale of farm animal welfare problems, the educational and advocacy functions can create welfare impact far beyond the animals in care.

What You Can Do

Visit a farm animal sanctuary to encounter individual farmed animals as individuals
Support sanctuaries that combine animal care with education and welfare advocacy
Donate to sanctuaries that publish research on individual farmed animal welfare needs