Visiting Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary in Erie, Colorado affirmed my commitment to keeping animals off my plate.
On October 18, I was among the many animal advocates who gathered at Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary in Erie, Colorado for Fall Fest 2025: a celebration of autumn, animals, and our shared mission to make the world a better place for farmed animals and all living beings.
Spreading Awareness
World Animal Protection joined the collection of animal-focused vendors, from plant-based food trucks to mission-driven animal groups to sellers of animal-friendly products and apparel. At our tent, we spoke with local supporters about our partnership with Luvin Arms, the lifesaving work that we do for both farmed and wild animals, and why it’s so crucial to support true animal sanctuaries like Luvin Arms. Local community members had the chance to enter and win one of three raffle prizes: swag bags filled to the brim with World Animal Protection merch!
Despite a midday dust storm that rolled through (a first for me!), around 700 people stopped by—proving that the public truly is interested in seeing rescued farmed animals happy and healthy.
A Chicken, a Pig, and a Turkey Walk Into a Sanctuary
By far, my favorite part of the day was the tour of Luvin Arms’ beautiful grounds and meeting all the unique animals who call Luvin Arms home.
Luvin Arms’ mission lies in the concept of “ahimsa”, an ancient principle in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions that advocates for nonviolence toward all living beings. I can say with certainty that ahimsa was present in each acre of Luvin Arms, from how deeply and intimately connected Luvin Arms team members are to every single animal, to the abundant evidence of how well these animals are cared for—think routine mealtimes, enrichment activities, individualized medical care, and of course, every animal has a name that represents their unique personality!
I’ve been following a vegan diet for 10 years now, but having lived all of those years in New York City, I confess that until my trip to Luvin Arms I hadn’t spent much time interacting with farmed animals. This experience exceeded my expectations!
I cuddled up with Gus, a turkey rescued from a farm that breeds turkeys for Thanksgiving, and who was previously pardoned in Colorado’s first-ever turkey pardoning ceremony. Gus was so tame, affectionate, and absolutely loved belly scratches!
I fed Jared the sheep—rescued from a sheep farm in California—and his sheep peers animal crackers, one of their favorite snacks.
I watched Lizzie and Felix, pigs rescued from a fate of slaughter, cuddle up together and tuck each other in for bed.
I participated in a silly game that Diego the rooster loves to play, where he crawls in your lap and launches into the air.
I even scratched the inside of Dali the donkey’s ears—his favorite spot!
Holy Cow: A Rescue Story
The most touching animal story of the day was that of new Luvin Arms residents Miraa and Krishna, a mother and six-month-old baby cow rescued from a breeder raising cows to be killed for beef. Before coming to Luvin Arms, Miraa and Krishna had been planned to be separated. Krishna was born with dwarfism and was slated to be killed as a baby, as the industry deemed him of no value. Fortunately, the wife of a local rancher took pity on the mother and baby duo and delivered them to Luvin Arms to live the rest of their lives in peace together.
The love between this mother and her baby was palpable in the air, and it was easy to sense how understandably protective Miraa is over her son.
Now, Luvin Arms has discovered that Miraa is pregnant again—as soon as Miraa gave birth to Krishna, she was impregnated again almost immediately, a practice all too common in factory farming—and is due in March of 2026. Because Miraa was impregnated by the same bull, there is a possibility that her second baby will also have dwarfism. Thankfully, what’s guaranteed is that Miraa and her offspring will be well taken care of at Luvin Arms.
Animals Deserve to Live, Too
Spending my weekend with these animals in their beautiful home reinforced how important it is that we recognize that farmed animals are sentient and sensitive beings. Each animal I met—whether it was a goat, duck, turkey, cow, pig, sheep, or chicken—has their own special, individual personality and goofy quirks, just like us. Keeping animals off our plates and in environments where they can thrive and live peacefully is the least we can do for them, for our fellow humans, and for the health of our planet.
Learn more about how you can support our partnership with Luvin Arms and reduce your meat consumption to help build a better world.