I wanted to capture the individual personalities of various animals while they were in their daily surroundings rather than moving them to a studio.
This is an ongoing project which now includes many non-profit organizations devoted to rescuing farm animals in the worst of circumstances and giving them a home. Ten percent of sales of my photographs are donated to those organizations to assist them in their work.
Coconut the sheep, rescued & living at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge in North Carolina
Coconut was rescued from a farm in upstate New York that was operatingas a backyard butcher facility. When the owner was shut down for extreme animal abuse, Farm Sanctuary and other rescue groups saved close to 200 farm animals who were starving, sick and terrified. Coconut and the rest of her flock came to Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge in North Carolina in the winter of 2015, where they continue to heal from years of cruelty. A few weeks after their rescue it was discovered that some of the sheep were pregnant.
In March of 2016, Coconut gave birth to a baby girl named Clover and the bond between mother and daughter is strong to this day. Coconut is easy to identify because one of her eyes is mostly blind due to an untreated pinkeye infection during that horrible time. Now that Coconut is home at the Refuge all of her needs, physical and emotional, will be tended to for the rest of her life
Lenore Braford, founder of Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge in North Carolina
Ogar, now living at Farm Sanctuary in New York
Rescued from a hoarder
Susie Coston, former shelter director at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York
Grady at JP Farm Animal Sanctuary
Grady is a Scottish Highland cow living at JP Farm Animal Sanctuary in Connecticut. He’s known for his magnificent long blonde hair and sweet personality, even though he suffers from hip dysplasia
Dave Hoerauf, co-founder of Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary in Maryland.
Shannon, a La Mancha goat, rescued by Farm Sanctuary
In answer to the most common question: her ears are fine; the tiny ears are a trait of her breed.
Lynn Printy, co-founder with her husband Oscar of JP Farm Animal Sanctuary in Connecticut
Alexander, now living at Farm Sanctuary in New York
One of three newborn calves found collapsed at a stockyard and left for dead. Rescued by Farm Sanctuary director Susie Coston
Eddie, now living at Indraloka Sanctuary in Pennsylvania
Eddie jumped out of a truck headed for the slaughterhouse and was rescued from the interstate by a motorist and then brought to Indraloka.
Zuzu the goat and his friend Tatiana at Farm Sanctuary.
Janice Wolf, founder of Rocky Ridge Refuge in Arkansas, with Tiffany Nicole the Emu
Brad at Rocky Ridge Refuge, Arkansas
Brad is a Meishan pig who lives at Rocky Ridge Refuge in Arkansas along with a Noah's Ark of other rescued animals including a zebra and capybaras.
Beanie Tofu and Dolphin at JP Farm Animal Sanctuary in Connecticut
These peaceful ladies were rescued from a college ag program where their fate was not going to be a happy one. Now they life a life of affection and peace.
Britt Janssen grooming Tallulah, a rescued Highland cow, at JP Farm Animal Sanctuary in Connecticut
Tallulah in the Barn, JP Farm Animal Sanctuary
Tallulah is a Scottish Highland cow living at JP Farm Animal Sanctuary in Connecticut. She’s come a long way from her sad days on a production farm where her baby calf was taken from her. Now she is safe loves being brushed and cuddled.
Indra Lahiri, founder of Indraloka in Pennsylvania
Grady, JP Farm Animal Sanctuary
Blessing of a rescued pig by visiting Tibetan monks, Indraloka Sanctuary in Pennsylvania
Eddie Traffic at Indraloka
Just before Christmas 2013 a pig with an ear tag bearing #303 jumped from a truck heading to a slaughterhouse and ended up on a New Jersey freeway. A whole series of kind people worked to get him to Indraloka Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, where he is now named Eddie Traffic.
A volunteer at Indraloka in Pennsylvania
Rescued cows at Farm Sanctuary in New York
Pedro in Profile
Pedro is a miniature donkey I've photographed many times. He ended up in a private sanctuary not far from me after a tragedy in his family left him without a home.
Cheesecake the Capybara at Rocky Ridge Refuge
Cheesecake is the most famous resident of Rocky Ridge in Arkansas, having been featured in media around the world. He loves playing babysitter to other rescued residents including an endless stream of foster dogs saved by founder Janice Wolf.
Liz and her baby Cashew at Farm Sanctuary
Liz and her calf Cashew were rescued by Farm Sanctuary in New York. Liz was a dairy cow at a small dairy which closed, leaving the cows destined for slaughter.
Crouton the Tortoise and Cow Friend at Rocky Ridge
Bella at Little Longears Minature Donkey Rescue, Maryland
Moscato at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, North Carolina
Pedro the Donkey and Horses
Spirit and Rafiq at Becky's Hope Horse Rescue, Texas
Josie-Mae and Willow at Farm Sanctuary, New York
Josie-Mae and her mother Willow were relinquished to Farm Sanctuary by the owner of a goat dairy. Josie-Mae was badly injured and the wounds were not treated, leading to part of her right leg falling off. She also had damage to her other leg. The dairy owner couldn't afford medical treatment for her but agreed to relinquish her and her mother to rescuers. Extensive therapy and a prosthetic now have Josie-Mae running around and enjoying life at the Sanctuary with her mother and other goats.
Theo at Little Longears Miniature Donkey Rescue, Maryland
Bonnie and Clyde at Little Longears Miniature Donkey Rescue, Maryland
Sarge, Marshall, and Trooper at Little Longears, Maryland