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Tuesday 11am - 4am Thursday 10am - 4pm

Animal Place

Vegan California sanctuary home to nearly 250 rescued farmed animals. Sanctuary * Education * Advocacy

Founded in 1989, Animal Place fills a much-needed niche of farm animal rescue, sanctuary, education, and adoption. Animal Place is one of the largest and oldest animal sanctuaries in the nation. We operate a 600-acre sanctuary in Grass Valley, California, and a 60-acre animal shelter in Vacaville, California. Animal Place extends compassion to all life with a special emphasis on farmed animals. Th

is is executed by providing permanent sanctuary, education, legislation, and appropriate placement of needy animals. Commenting Policy:

Our page is for supporters of Animal Place. We love engaging discussions and the sharing of opinions–we encourage you to do just that! However, we reserve the right to remove comments or posts that contain the following:

- mocking of rescued animals (e.g. "bacon!" "looks tasty")
- promotion of violence towards humans or nonhumans
- spam
- personal attacks
- off-topic
- encouraging or promoting illegal activities

Anyone leaving an inflammatory, callous comment encouraging the consumption of any of the rescued animals at Animal Place will be permanently banned. If you have questions, email [email protected]

Thank you!

01/14/2025

Happy (early) 11th birthday to the big-headed, big-brained bovine Panda Bob.

When neighbors saw P. Bob's mom struggle to give birth, they called animal control. Authorities came out to the property and confiscated the cow. Malnourished and neglected, she was near death.

But she wanted to make sure her calf was safe. It was only after she saw a veterinarian bottle-feeding P. Bob that she took her last breath.

We so wish she had survived to raise Panda Bob, but we are honored that we can continue to give him the wonderful life all cows deserve.

P. Bob has slowed down a lot, from his days as a rambunctious, rowdy younger. But he still loves to ram his head into you for attention. He loves a good grooming session and is always willing to reciprocate. We love you, Panda Bob!

01/12/2025

There are many amazing groups working the fires down in Southern California. We really want to highlight for their work, legally going behind the lines evacuating and rescuing animals.

Consider sending a donation to their venmo or zelle
Venmo: (no underscore)
Zelle: 310-808-5943

These get donations to them directly and without delay.

01/11/2025

Did you know the U.S. has a law to protect livestock during transport? The 28-Hour Law, passed in 1873, mandates that animals being transported across state lines can’t be confined in vehicles for more than 28 hours without a break. This means they’re supposed to be unloaded, given food, water, and allowed to rest. This law aims to prevent the immense suffering animals face from prolonged confinement on trucks. But here’s the issue: chickens and other birds aren’t included in this law.

Despite making up over 95% of farmed animals in the U.S. and being the most transported, chickens are completely excluded. This means they can be transported for days without a break, food, or water, enduring extreme temperatures, overcrowded conditions, and high stress levels. These journeys are often grueling, leading to injury, illness, and even death for many chickens along the way.

Take Action: Every animal deserves compassion, respect, and freedom from suffering. We see firsthand the intelligence and unique personalities of animals who have been rescued from the food and farming industries. By choosing not to eat or use animals, you’re taking a powerful stand against cruelty and supporting a kinder, more compassionate world for all beings.

Go vegan, and help create a future where no animal has to endure confinement or harm for human use.

01/08/2025

🦅Wildlife rehabbers, please take precautions

We recently saw a photo of a (experienced, qualified) rehabber handling a bald eagle. The bird happened to be infected with H5N1 and had to be euthanized. We want to encourage anyone who is responsible for handling potentially ill waterfowl, seabirds, and raptors to take precautions when catching them in the wild.

✅ Wear appropriate personal protective equipment when catching wild waterfowl, seabirds, and raptors. At minimum, wear gloves (which we know raptor capture requires), an N95 mask, and - if possible - eye protection.
✅ Disinfect shoes/boots, gloves/hands and change clothes before handling other birds. If you use gloves to capture, ensure they do not touch other wild animals until you know the bird captured is not sick with H5N1/avian influenza.

At this point, assume any waterfowl, seabird, or raptor you are tasked to handle is positive until proven otherwise. It is absolutely true that other, more common, conditions present similarly. Rodenticide poisoning in raptors and botulism in waterfowl can cause similar symptoms as avian influenza.

As a first responder to sick and injured wild animals, you are at a greater risk of exposure to diseases like H5N1 than the average person. We want you safe too!

We believe most rehab centers are already taking precautions, both in catching birds and, importantly, at their physical sites. Some have stopped intaking certain types of birds; others have dedicated quarantine buildings or rooms for them. If you don't already have a biosecurity protocol, contact a qualified rehab center that does or your local department of natural resources for advice.

01/07/2025

Looking for a unique and unforgettable experience? Book a private tour at Animal Place and meet our incredible residents, like Coco, Vincent, Churro, and Miles! 🧡

Get up close and personal with our goats, hear their rescue stories, and see firsthand the difference sanctuary life makes. It's a perfect way to connect with animals and support compassion! 💛

📅 Email us at [email protected] to inquire about booking your private tour today and make memories you’ll never forget!

01/07/2025

Sadly, a Louisiana patient infected with H5N1 (avian influenza) has passed away. This marks the first death in the United States from this strain of avian influenza. We send compassionate thoughts to this individual's family as they grieve.

Here are some things you should know:
🔺The patient did have underlying health conditions, which may have worsened the severity of the H5N1 infection.
🔺 The patient became infected after handling sick, dying, and dead domestic birds on their property. Much of the flock died from avian influenza and the rest were killed by authorities. The domestic birds likely became infected by wild birds sharing the property.
🔺 During the course of infection, the virus mutated slightly. This mutation may cause more severe illness. The mutation has the potential to make transmission between humans easier. To date, human to human transmission has NOT occurred.
🔺 The risk level for the majority of people remains low. The risk level remains low to moderate for individuals who handle or work with birds (wild and domestic) or cows. Your risk level increases the more likely you are to be exposed to infected animals. If you have backyard birds and they become sick, always handle them with personal protective equipment.

We have monitored this outbreak since 2022. There is a fine line between educating you, our supporters, and causing unnecessary fear. Our hope is continued education and awareness. The way we house, transport, and treat farmed animals makes it more likely for viruses like H5N1 to transmit, mutate, and become more severe.

01/04/2025

Dino the turkey knows the best hugs come from Marji, our Development Director! This sweet moment reminds us of our special bonds with our rescued residents. Dino loves attention, and we love giving him all the care and cuddles he deserves! 🥰

Who else could use a turkey hug today? 💕

01/03/2025

Worried about avian influenza? Have backyard/companion birds?

We have a few tips to help reduce their risk of exposure.

1. Evaluate your risk level. Your risk level depends on many factors.
2. Limit access: No matter your risk level, now is the time to limit who has access to your birds. Keep it only to people who need access for care and cleaning.
3. Housing considerations: If you are at greater risk of exposure, work toward moving your birds inside or under cover. Regardless of your risk factor, work to keep your birds confined in specific areas (in an appropriate enclosure versus roaming on whole property).
4. Keep it clean: Use a dedicated set of shoes or disposable booties prior to entering your bird areas. Require anyone who enters your bird area to do the same. Use sanitizer and consider a dedicated set of clothes for your bird areas.
5. Equipment: Try to keep your cleaning supplies and equipment within your bird areas.
6. Advocate: Help stop the spread of misinformation. Avian influenza is a real virus, not a government conspiracy.

The risk remains low for most people who do not have exposure to birds. The risk remains low to moderate for people who do have exposure to birds. Being responsible includes implementing biosecurity protocols that make sense for your situation.

01/02/2025

Meet Sascha, our resident lovebug who’s all about the head scratches! If you stop mid-scratch, don’t be surprised if you feel a gentle paw on your leg — that’s his way of saying, “More, please!” 🥰

Sascha’s sweet and snuggly nature melts hearts every day. Who wouldn’t want to spend their day giving him all the love he deserves? 💛

01/01/2025

There's still time to be a star for the animals! Donate now and your gift will triple for individuals like Coco.

Coco is a Nigerian Dwarf goat rescued from a dairy farm. She suffers from squamous cell carcinoma that requires close monitoring and regular veterinary visits. When a new growth occurs, she needs to have it lasered off and removed.

With your donation, you'll provide Coco the care she deserves in 2025.

12/31/2024

Do you have a star in your life who is there for you, no matter what? Tina (left) has one in Mona.

Before Animal Place, Tina and Mona never knew where their next meal would come. They watched their friends starve to death, their bodies being fed to other starving animals. Cruel humans masquerading as an animal rescue hoarded over a 100 animals, and let them starve.

We knew Tina and Mona comforted each other during those dark days. And when Tina fell mysteriously ill earlier this year, Mona came through in a big way. Tina had to be hospitalized and was so anemic, she was near death. Veterinarians threw everything they could at Tina to help her live. But she was struggling.

We decided to bring Mona to her. Soon after Mona's arrival, Tina's spirits lifted. Her body could focus on healing, while her mind and heart were comforted by Mona. Mona stayed with Tina through several weeks of treatment at the hospital. While the veterinarians could never fully determine the reason for Tina's 20-day hospitalization and sickness, we were all relieved Tina pulled through.

Many of you donated to Tina's care. We also relied on the Rescue Medical Fund to help offset transport costs and post-hospitalization care. Today, Tina continues to be her wondrously strange self, with Mona the serious by her side.

If you have a Mona in your life, make sure to send them your love!

Or...make a donation in their honor to the 2025 Rescue Medical Fund! Thanks to a match, all donations made through 12/31/2024 are tripled!

12/30/2024

Have you ever met a 24-yr-old cow? Now you have. Babe turns 24 next month!

Babe and half-sister Honey (RIP) came to us in January 2021. Their elderly guardian fell ill and her family felt the only option for the 15+ cows on her property was to send them to auction. Luckily, we were able to help find placement for nearly all the cows.

But we felt it important that 20-yr-old half-sisters Babe and Honey not be transported far. And with our sanctuary a short 40-minute drive away, we brought them home.

Everyone - including our veterinarians - were surprised when both Honey and Babe gave birth to calves a few short months after their arrival. Elliot, Honey's son, arrived March 14, 2021. Edgar, Babe's son, was born April 11, 2021. These two boys have only known sanctuary and life with their mothers.

Babe is slower than the rest of her herd, but she is still top cow. She moves fast for apples and butt-scratches.

We said yes to Babe and Honey because of the Rescue Medical Fund, a life-saving reservoir of donations gifted to the animals by you and others. And thanks to a generous match, all gifts made through 12/31/2024 will be tripled. Yes, tripled.

With you by her side, 2025 looks bright for Babe. Please keep it that way with a gift to the 2025 Rescue Medical Fund!

12/29/2024

Tina goat does not have time for shenanigans.

12/27/2024

Look at Sterling's lovely face! Rescued from a dairy farm and now living his best life at Animal Place, this friendly and playful sweetheart just turned 5 last month! 🐄💖

Here he is enjoying some boops on the nose — his favorite way to show love (and get attention)! 🥰

Every rescued life has a story, and Sterling's is full of love, second chances, and plenty of nose boops.

12/26/2024

Northwest Naturals has voluntarily recalled one batch of 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after one cat died and the food tested positive for avian influenza. The food infected one cat in Oregon, who died.

The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1. The product was sold through distributors in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, PA, RI and WA in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada.

Avoid feeding raw pet food, particularly if it contains dead birds. The risk with infected cow flesh is unknown. Avoid feeding cats raw milk. Extrusion for dry kibble and retorting for wet food should inactivate H5N1. You can reach out to the companies that make your pets food and ask what their extrusion or retorting temperatures and times are.

Address

17314 McCourtney Road
Grass Valley, CA
95949

Opening Hours

Tuesday	11am - 4am
Thursday	10am - 4pm

Website

https://animalplace.org/, https://linktr.ee/animal.place

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Videos

Goats make everything better.

Jazzy arrived a decade ago, after her caregiver couldn't care for her. She was 4 and had been rescued from a veal ranch as a calf. She lived an independent life, although she never said no to a grooming session with Magnolia. If I had to describe Jazzy as a cat, I would. 😅 she would be a classic cat cat, the kind who would claw you over a belly rub. She would have been the cat who stared deep in your soul as she knocked over a priceless vase or even an urn. Jazzy did not like treats and would act grievously offended if you offered her any. If you wanted to pet Jazzy, it was hard maybe. But usually, no thanks. Jazzy lived how she wanted and that is admirable. She was sometimes mean to Daffodil, which was less admirable. But just like humans, cows are complicated and multifaceted creatures. After Jazzy died, Shelby and Magnolia- whom she was a begrudging aunt to - gathered around her body and grieved. Jazzy, we will see you in the stars.

Sound on for some ASMR: Georgina enjoying a tasty pumpkin snack! 🐷✨ Watch as she chomps away with pure joy — because life is better with treats (and a little pumpkin on your snout)! 🧡 Georgina’s big personality and even bigger appetite always make us smile. Who else is team #PumpkinEverything? 🙋‍♀️ #PumpkinQueen #PiggyParadise #SanctuaryLife #AnimalPlace