Catskill Animal Sanctuary

Vegan Animal Sanctuary in New York

Mission and History

Nonhuman animals have a right to live their lives free of suffering and exploitation by humans.

Catskill Animal Sanctuary exists to provide them with love and safety until they do.

The Sanctuary is a 148-acre refuge in New York’s Hudson Valley for eleven species of farmed animals rescued from cruelty, neglect, and abandonment. Thanks to the generosity of people like you, over 4,000 animals have been rescued since 2001. Between 250 and 350 residents call the Sanctuary home at any given time.

We believe that looking an animal in the eye and seeing someone — not something — looking back is one of the most profound shifts human beings can make in their understanding of the world and their place in it. And so we welcome visitors through tours, overnight stays, and events.

As the very best way to end animal suffering, improve our health, and heal our ailing planet, Catskill Animal Sanctuary advocates veganism and provides support and encouragement through a culinary program.

Learn how you can visit.

Our Mission

Catskill Animal Sanctuary rescues farmed animals, ignites social change to end their exploitation, and champions vegan living.

Our History

Catskill Animal Sanctuary opened in January of 2001, the culmination of many months’ research, travel, and internships at successful farm sanctuaries by founders Kathy Stevens and Jesse Moore.

Dino, the survivor of a Brooklyn arson that killed 23 horses, was the first resident at the small Kerhonkson, NY farm. In 2003, the Sanctuary moved to an 85-acre property in Saugerties, NY, and in early 2010, we completed that location’s conversion to solar energy. In 2011, an additional 32 acres was acquired. CAS at 32, just five minutes away from the Old Stage Road location. Today it is the home for many animals and is the future location of a new visitor’s center.

In addition to direct animal aid, the Sanctuary offers a wide variety of programs and events (including on-site tours) designed to help people experience farm animals as the unique individuals they truly are, and to educate people about the institutionalized suffering of food animals on factory farms.

Founder Kathy Stevens speaks at community organizations, schools, and conferences each year, and has written two books full of stories about animals that have lived at the Sanctuary. Her first book, Where the Blind Horse Sings: Love and Healing at an Animal Sanctuary, was released in 2007, and her second book, Animal Camp: Lessons Learned from Rescued Farm Animals, was released in 2010.

Catskill Animal Sanctuary has provided a safe haven for over 4,000 farmed animals and has found loving homes for many of them.

We’re Open For Tours — Come See Us!

The Sanctuary is open all year for educational tours to our members, guests of The Homestead, and groups of ten or more.

We are also open to the public and our members for weekend tours from April to November.

On your tour, you will:

• Meet rescued animals and hear their stories
• Understand what caring for these amazing animals has taught us
• Learn about the plight of farmed animals and how you can help

The pace is leisurely, with plenty of time for questions and saying hello to the residents.

Seasonal Weekend Tours (open to the public)

Catskill Animal Sanctuary offers tours on Saturdays and Sundays from April to November. You can purchase tickets in the Welcome Hut.

Ticket Prices

• Sanctuary members are FREE. Become a member today!
• Adults $12/person
• Children 12 and under $8/person
• Children 2 and under free
• Seniors (65 and older) $8/person

FAMILY-FOCUSED TOURS

Want to do something extra special for your kids? Catskill Animal Sanctuary now offers Family-Focused Tours (open to the public and our members). Kids are always welcome on regular tours, but we created one specifically for maximum kid-engagement. These tours are slightly shorter than regular tours, so little legs won’t get tired! Family-Focused tours take place at 11:45 am on Saturdays and Sundays from April through November. The cost is the same as the regular tour and tickets are available for purchase in The Welcome Hut (no reservations currently available).

DAY PASSES

Catskill Animal Sanctuary’s new Day Passes offer the opportunity for you to spend extra time enjoying the company of our rescued residents. A limited number of Day Passes are available to the public and Sanctuary members on Saturdays and Sundays from April through November. Visitors with a Day Pass may join any guided tour with available space for  FREE, as well as walk around the property on their own between 11 am and 4:15 pm.

DAY PASS PRICES

• $10 Sanctuary Members. Become a member today!
• $20 for adults
• $15 for kids (age 12 and under)
• $15 for Seniors (age 65+)
• Children 2 and under free

Stay with us at The Homestead

The Homestead is a renovated pre-Civil War residence, restored using traditional building methods and eco-friendly salvaged materials. Guests enjoy a seasonal vegan breakfast and spend quality time with our nearly 300 rescued residents. You’ll love the beautiful Hudson Valley and its unrivaled hiking, shopping, dining, and more!

Compassionate Cuisine

Welcome to a Better Way of Cooking!

Our vegan culinary program is designed to show how easy and delicious it is to cook without using animal products. All our recipes are intended to be creative, budget-friendly, and approachable for all skill levels. Whether you’re just curious, learning to cook, or an experienced pro in the kitchen, we have something to make mealtime and little easier and a lot tastier.

Take a Class With the Chefs

Offered on-site in The Homestead kitchen, our classes are intimate, with seating for ten. The style is relaxed and interactive, and generally demonstration-style. Classes are taught by either Chef Linda Soper-Kolton or Chef Sara Boan, both graduates of the chef’s training program at Natural Gourmet Institute in Manhattan. Learn more about the classes and see the schedule of upcoming topics.

Support the Sanctuary

Help Us Change the World for Animals

Your membership supports our daily operations and sustains programs that help exponentially more animals as we support humanity’s shift to veganism through our tours and mentor, cooking and youth programs.

 Become A Member Today

Sponsorship is Love

Help a precious animal know what love feels like with your generous sponsorship, which helps provide nutritious food, warm bedding and outstanding medical care to one lucky being.

Choose your special friend

Thank You For Your Gift

Your gift gives love and support to animals needing sanctuary, heals our ailing planet, and helps create a harmonious world for all living beings.

Donate Now

We’re in this Together!

Our corporate partners are a diverse collection of businesses of all sizes who share our vision of a joyous and just vegan world and help expand our capacity to deliver on that promise.

 Become a Business Partner