THE JP FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY,

LITCHFIELD, CT

Nestled in the bucolic hills of Litchfield, CT and hidden away down a long driveway, is the tranquil, wooded setting of the JP Farm Animal Sanctuary, home to several rescued cows, chickens, pigs, one people-loving turkey and the home of Oscar Janssen and Lynn Printy, the “J” and “P” of the JP Farm Animal Sanctuary.

The couple, who was already involved locally with animal rescue, became intrigued with the Scottish Highland cow, a small bovine with a thick, shaggy coat and prominent horns. They located a breeder in Connecticut, and when, on one of their trips to visit the breeder’s farm, it became apparent the farmer did not intend to treat one of his injured and sickly cows. When Lynn and Oscar suggested taking care of the veterinarian bill, the farmer offered to surrender the sick cow and her young son to them, along with four other bovines the farmer did not ‘see fit for his production’.

In 2013, after clearing and fencing part of their property, the six bovines arrived at their new home, the JP Farm in Newtown, CT.

The couple soon realized these four cows were just the beginning of their quest to rescue farm animals, but their Newtown property wasn’t ideal to house additional farm animals. They started looking for a larger tract of land in rural Connecticut.

Deciding on forty-four idyllic acres in Litchfield, CT, the JP Farm joined the Farm Animal Adoption Network, and received not-for-profit status in 2018, and JP Farm Animal Sanctuary was born.

Since 2019, the JP Farm Animal Sanctuary has given forever homes to their current and very happy rescued cows, both Highland and dairy cows, also known as “grass puppies”, chickens, pigs, and turkeys - and with the current expansion of a new aviary and projection of a new barn, the plan is to continue to rescue, educate and advocate for all farmed animals.

Realizing one of the best ways to bring their message of compassion to all living beings was to start by educating young children, Lynn and Oscar’s sister Britt, began traveling locally and speaking to school age children about the JP mantra of Inspiring Compassionate Living. They also began inviting groups of young people to visit the sanctuary to meet and spend time with the farm animals exposing these open, eager minds to the three tenets JP Farm adheres to: https://jpfarmsanctuary.org/ https://www.facebook.com/jpfarmsanctuary/

1) COMPASSION TO ALL BEINGS: Animals are sentient beings – they have emotions, feelings, and perceptions. They have family and friendships and, just like people, they need to feel safe and free.

2) PROMOTING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: Large, industrial farms - factory farms - look at animals as commodities, not living beings. To ensure they survive until slaughtered, they add hormones, antibiotics and other additives to their feed thereby moving those same additives directly into the human food chain. Science has shown eating animals does not promote good health.

3) PROTECTING THE EARTH: Grazing lands and forests are being destroyed by industrial farming at an alarming rate and deforestation is causing mass wildlife and plant extinction. The earth, as we know it, is not sustainable at the current rate of land and forest destruction.

Adria Henderson began her animal-centric career more than 35 years ago by opening a boarding and dog training facility in Norwalk, CT. Working as a dog trainer, animal behavior consultant and pet care specialist, she has handled more than 1,000 companion and farm animals and exotix birds. Currently the owner of the writing, editing and social media marketing company, Write at Home and creator of the Facebook Page, Animals Matters-News, she specializes in animal and environmental subjects and has written extensively on both subjects. She was a licensed Connecticut private investigator and legal researcher for more than 35 years and is currently a member of the CT Votes for Animals Advisory Board where she specializes in developing content and social media marketing. CT Votes for Animals is a state-wide, grass-roots, animal advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of Connecticut’s animals by making their well-being a priority for our elected leaders. https://www.ctvotesforanimals.org/