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FOR RELEASE: September-October, 2003 Nation-Wide Walk-A-Thon for Farm
Animal Rights More than 1,000 concerned citizens in over 30 cities and 20 states across the nation will participate in the annual Walk for Farm Animals-a national campaign to raise public awareness about farm animal welfare, and to raise funding for farm animal rescue and protection efforts. The event is sponsored by Farm Sanctuary, the nation's first and largest farm animal rescue and protection organization, which operates two national shelters for nearly 1,500 farm animals in New York and California. Walks are scheduled throughout the months of September and October, and will be held in Los Angeles, California; New York City, New York; Austin, Texas; Tampa, Florida; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Atlanta, Georgia; Portland, Oregon; Phoenix, Arizona, and dozens of other cities. For Walk information and 2003 Walk locations, visit www.walkforfarmanimals.org. Renowned artist Peter Max has created original artwork for the 2003 Walk for Farm Animals event, using his fame and talent to help farm animals in need. The design features "Cinci Freedom," the cow who captured the nation's attention when she jumped a six-foot fence to escape a Cincinnati, Ohio slaughterhouse last year. Thanks to the generosity and kindness of Mr. Max, Freedom is now grazing green pastures and loving her newfound freedom and friends at Farm Sanctuary's shelter for farm animals in Watkins Glen, NY. The Max artwork features Cinci Freedom receiving a big kiss from her new best friend, a fellow sanctuary cow. Around the country, activists will be joining together to walk the streets and send a strong message to drivers and passers-by, raising awareness about the suffering of cows, pigs, chickens and other farm animals on modern factory farms. Wearing the Peter Max "kissing cow" shirts, carrying message signs such as "Stop Factory Farming" and "Farm Animals Have Feelings Too" and hosting a table with educational literature for those interested in learning more, activists in the Walk for Farm Animals event will take a positive and fun approach to a very serious issue. According to Farm Sanctuary's Executive Director, Lorri Bauston, "Farm animals are intelligent, affectionate, sensitive and incredibly social animals, just as dogs, cats, and humans are. The general public is largely unaware of the suffering endured by farm animals on today's factory farms. When Americans do learn about how farm animals are raised and treated, they are in favor of banning cruel farming practices and for passing laws that protect farm animals from cruelty and neglect." With over 100,000 active members across the country, including celebrities such as Mary Tyler Moore, Kim Basinger, Noah Wyle, Alicia Silverstone, and others, Farm Sanctuary works to end farm animal suffering through legislative and legal actions, cruelty investigations, humane education, public awareness projects, and direct rescue and shelter efforts. www.walkforfarmanimals.org
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