100%—WE MADE IT!   (Donations still welcome!)

THANKS for taking 5 minutes to help me deliver 2 simple but significant objectives:

1. RAISE AWARENESS about a disaster that took place on Iowa soil this summer

*and*

2. RAISE FUNDS for Farm Sanctuary, the national non-profit animal protection group who spearheaded the rescue of—and continue to rehabilitate and also place—the surviving animals.

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Back in June, you may recall hearing a national news story of the pigs of Oakville, Iowa.  These animals had been living out of sight and largely out of mind in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) when a flood hit—and those not "ready for slaughter" were abandoned and left to die. 

Hundreds did die horrible deaths—from drowning . . . from respiratory failure . . . from failed attempts at escape through a ventilation fan . . . and from gunshot wounds inflicted by law enforcement who feared the surviving pigs, who were swimming for their lives to the town's 20-mile-long levee, would tear sandbags with their hooves, putting the town at greater risk of flooding.

The 68 survivors were taken into the custody of Farm Sanctuary, the nonprofit animal-protection organization whose focus is rescue, education, and advocacy. 

For close to two months this summer, I cared for these brave survivors (and the piglets, born post-rescue) at Farm Sanctuary's New York shelter.  Therefore, I can tell you with certainty that all donations are put to excellent use at this exceptionally clean and well maintained farm, where many, many animals are given a new lease on life.

At first terrified of people, the Iowa pigs became my constant companions—behaving much like dogs—as I made my rounds to give them food, water, medication, and affection. 

At Farm Sanctuary, the pigs enjoy fresh air, sun, and mud baths . . . they are able to root in the ground and chew on clover and thistle . . . and they have room to rollick in the field—all in stark contrast to their former life in the concrete interior of a CAFO and flooded, toxic surroundings.  Every sow with piglets, once relegated to gestation crates in which she could not turn around or protect her babies, now enjoys nesting in straw with her offspring as well as basking in a sunny field. 

Best of all, these former Iowans will live out their natural lives at one of several public or private properties where they will be cared for by other compassionate individuals.

You can be a part of "the most ambitious rescue" Farm Sanctuary has undertaken in its 22-year existence.  Simply go to the top of the page, click the Sponsor Me Now button, and make a modest donation.  Please don’t underestimate the power of this seemingly small request, as it will amount to BIG help for the pigs: If we reach my fundraising target of $1500, you will have recouped the cost of ONE MONTH of food for the pigs.

On behalf of the Iowa pigs and Farm Sanctuary, MANY, many thanks for your involvement in a different kind of "CAFO"—a Concentrated Animal FUNDRAISING Operation!  A personalized thank you to each and every supporter appears below.

 --Elizabeth Cummings

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P.S.  Before I go on to thank my wonderful sponsors, I want to thank my Farm Sanctuary housemate and good friend Karen Snyder for capturing the great shot of Charlie and me, featured on this page.  Several people have commented on it, so I don't doubt it has contributed to the many contributions that follow:

A big THANK YOU goes out to my friend and former co-worker, Jim Nockunas, for being the first donor—and for going above and beyond the call of duty!  He also donated back when the pigs were first rescued.  You are wonderful, Jim!  Thanks MUCH to former colleague Joy Duffe, who enthusiastically sponsored me on this Walk!  And . . . to another friend and former co-worker, Staci Matthews, a big thanks for her contribution!  Randy, my friend, neighbor, and former co-worker—thank you for your generosity both through sponsorship AND catsitting while I was pigsitting!  To friend and former Pearsonite, Michelle Knedler, my vegan-lunch companion—thank you for your generosity!  To my dear mom, who has always supported me from the time I was a kid into present adulthood, as I have tried to do right by all animals—thank you for the big check!  To Guri, my old friend and former housemate—and to Maggie, my new acquaintance—both small business owners struggling during a recession . . . thanks for making a great contribution!  To Alisa, the “Best Person” at my wedding and long-time comrade and activist and educator extraordinaire, thank you for your donation on measly teacher’s salary!  Thanks, too, for encouraging your 7th Grade students to participate in the Walk.  To a grown-up Iowa farm boy, former boss, and dear friend, Gary Wolf, thank you for sponsoring me! 

To Laurie Cinotto, of www.ittybittykittycommittee.blogspot.com fame—and from back-in-the-day AAMC shows and parties at Iowa State: thank you for your financial and in-kind contributions, in particular, the creation of the itty bitty piggy committee!  To Kat and Chris, neither  of whom I believe I've had the pleasure of meeting yet--thank you for your donations!  Anne, Sue, Odie the Cat, Kary, and Maddie Bouvier—all amazing itty-bitty-kitty-committee devotees, thank you so much for donating to the pigs!  To my cousin Patti, thank you for your donation—and for being one of few vegetarians in our family!  Giwee, holy smokes—thanks for your HUGE help!  Jane, my fellow Midwesterner at heart, thank you so very much!  And . . . Wendy Northcutt, big animal lover and one of my husband's all-time favorite employees!  To "my friend" who is SO much more than that—you shouldn't have, but thank you for your TREMENDOUS support, on so many levels.  Thank you also for helping me prepare as I freaked out the night before the Walk!  Renee, my wonderful neighbor, great friend and confidante, and passionate activist for all animals—thank you for the boost that pushed the fundraising pot to over the half-way mark!  Thanks, too, for improving the Walk route maps, tabling while we walked, and all your support!  Jeanelle, thanks much for your nice check—and I'm sorry you couldn't join us on the Walk.  To Mark, thank you for remaining involved with the important issues—and for your donation.

Cat Laurie, thanks for being a member of the Farm Sanctuary cheer squad—and for your financial contribution!  Gregory, owner of Defunct Books, thank you for commending the work of Farm Sanctuary—and for donating money to allow them to continue to do such work!  "PoohlovesPiglet"—thank you for your sweet sentiments about this "pig tale" and for your sponsorship.  Eric, the pigs will be very "moved" by your generous contribution!  And Sondy, thanks very much for the check and all the work you do for animals.

Eve!  Thanks so much for your wowing donation—and again, for networking me into the Midwest Akita Rescue Society back in 2005, which allowed me to place "Kako", one of the Hurricane Katrina survivors we brought back from the LA/MS area, in the best of homes, outside of Chicago.  And: Good for you for going vegan!  Sarah Voigt, thanks so very much for coming to the rescue with your nice sponsorship!  Thank you to Lauren, who does so much work already on behalf of the animals—and now is helping even more!

My dear, laugh-riot of a friend, Carrie, from Iowa State and AAMC days, how kind of you to give on such a difficult day.  My thoughts are with you; clearly, you are a VIP to all animals! 

Rick (a. k. a., Dr. Walton) and Laura, thank you, thank you, thank you many times over for taking the time to listen to me, read literature, reflect on what you learned, and to contribute at the level you did.  I hope more people follow your lead and will be willing to set aside assumptions and take in new (albeit disturbing) information.  Ken, my new acquaintance via a professional network—thank you for taking my LinkedIn challenge and donating, cheering on Farm Sanctuary (and me!), and introducing me to possible work leads.  Whatta guy!

Katy, my super-cool college roommate who continues to be the dedicated artist (http://www.gregkucera.com/stone_commissions.htm) I knew back in the early 90s—thank you, thank you, thank you for caring about all beings--and for bringing so much beauty in the world where sometimes there seems like there is none.  To Kathleen, thank you so much for your donation—it definitely gives me a boost toward meeting my target amount.  I miss seeing being able to see you and David at ye olde M.A.F.A. and commiserate about the state of the world.  You are a compassionate duo, and I'm glad we met, all those years ago!

To my ever-supportive, compassionate mom, THANK YOU a million times over for believing in me and supporting such important work—AGAIN! 

To my neighbor Lynn, who suggested joining forces when I (just a stranger at the time) expressed concern about another neighbor's dogs who were in distress, I am wowed by your donation!  How wonderful you had a dear pig in your life so know how utterly wonderful they really are.  Can't wait to hear more about Endicott.

Vickie; Jerry; Wendy & Mercury; Joelle & Harry; & Brodiepig & Su: my newfound human AND pig friends I met via PigINFOandCHAT Yahoo! group—you are dears for taking such great interest in and care of so many pigs.  Your to-the-rescue response to a last-minute plea for help from me, a stranger just hours ago, allowed me to meet (and later, exceed!) my fundraising goal a mere 28 hours before it officially ended.  A million thanks!!