We regularly hear from people looking for new homes for farmed animals. Sometimes they’re moving. Sometimes they’ve inherited animals from a family member who can no longer care for them. And sometimes they simply no longer want the animals since they have stopped producing milk or eggs.
Whatever the circumstances, these animals still need food, shelter, companionship, and care. Like dogs and cats, they deserve homes where they’ll be valued and protected throughout their lives.
Finding that home can take some effort, especially because many animal sanctuaries are already operating at full capacity. Happily, a sanctuary isn’t the only option. Here are some practical ways to find a safe, lasting home for the animals in your care.
Start by creating a social media post
A practical—and often highly effective—first step is to create a social media post for the animals. Include:
The animals. Include their species, ages, sexes, and a brief description of their personalities, along with clear and cute photos.
Important needs. Mention any significant health or care needs and whether bonded animals must stay together.
The home. Specify that you’re seeking a safe, lifelong companion home, with no breeding or slaughter.
Timing and contact. When do they need a home, and how should interested people reach you?
Location. What city or region are the animals in? Can you provide transport?
Next, share the post with your community
After you create the post, publish and share it! Share it with your friends, anyone you know who is an animal lover, is retired, or lives on a large property, farmed-animal adoption groups, species-specific rescue groups, and your veterinarian. You can ask them if they’re able to adopt the animals or, at least, to help share it or suggest suitable contacts.
You can also request placement assistance through Farm Sanctuary’s Farm Animal Adoption Network, which connects animals needing companion homes with potential adopters. Some sanctuaries offer courtesy listings even when they can’t take animals themselves.
Get to know anyone who responds
Before agreeing to a placement, have a conversation with the adopter. Ask about the adopter’s:
Intentions. Why do they want these animals? Will they keep them when they’re older or need more care?
Setup. What shelter, fencing, space, and protection from predators will they provide?
Experience. Have they cared for this species? What would they need to learn?
Resources. Who will provide daily care? How will they pay for routine and unexpected expenses?
Veterinary plans. Have they identified a veterinarian who treats this species?
Backup plan. What happens if they move, become ill, or can no longer provide care?
You should also ask to see where the animals will live, ideally through an in-person visit. If that isn’t practical, request a live video walkthrough. Veterinary references can also help you understand an adopter’s history of care.
Be cautious if someone refuses reasonable questions or pressures you to hand over the animals immediately. Apply the same care when evaluating an organization that calls itself a rescue or sanctuary.
Plan the handover
Once you’ve found an adopter you feel good about, it can be really helpful to put your expectations in a written agreement, including what should happen if the adopter can no longer provide care. If you’re able to, you can also share veterinary records and care instructions, and arrange a check-in after the move. While they’re not guarantees, written agreements and follow-up help ensure that you’re on the same page with the adopter and that the animals won’t be put in this situation in the future.
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Thank you for taking the time to find a safe, loving home for the animals in your care. As the saying goes, “Saving one animal won’t change the world, but for that one animal, their world will be changed forever.”
