JAINA Convention 2009 07 Los Angeles

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 69

15th Biennial JAINA Convention 2009
ANGELS OF ASSISI CLINIC & HARMONY FARM SANCTUARY Norman Mason nmason@nationsline.com
Norman Mason is the co-founder of the Angels of Assisi Spay & Neuter Clinic, and the Harmony Farm Sanctuary in Roanoke, Virginia.
'Oh, I love animals!' How many times have we heard this phrase? For the most part these words ring hollow. Many years ago I was invited to an SPCA fund raiser. I thought of these words as they tried to serve me a choice of pork or chicken for dinner; I politely declined both. The hypocrisy of killing one species to save another we happen to favor prompted the launching of two animalfocused charities in Roanoke, Virginia: the Angels of Assisi Spay & Neuter Clinic and the Harmony Farm Sanctuary for neglected farm animals.
Dr. Kelly Ferrell operating on cat
In the summer of 2001, Dr. Kelly Farrell, a very compassionate veterinarian, and I decided to offer low and no cost spays and neuters to pet owners with limited incomes, all in the hope we would reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats from getting killed (euphemistically called 'euthanasia').
We started with a 36 foot state-of-the-art mobile spay/neuter hospital. Two years later we added an in-ground clinic and a 'no-kill' shelter. Next, we founded a 90-acre Harmony Farm Sanctuary for farm animals in need of help.
Our accomplishments to date include:
⚫ 60,000+ completed spay/neuters of cats and dogs, and about 100 bunnies
Ecology - The Jain Way
5,000+ adoption of dogs and cats from our 'no-kill' shelter
200+ cows, pigs, sheep, goats and chickens live peacefully on our Harmony Farm Sanctuary
Young Farm Volunteer, Macey Kirby, Age 12
One thing was still missing. We knew eating 'life style' choices dramatically affected the lives of thousands of living creatures raised for 'food.' This prompted the launch of our company 'Vegeteria,' where to this day, we serve all of our employees free-of-charge completely vegan lunch mealsveggie 'loafs,' spaghetti, casseroles, lasagna, fresh vegetables, vegan soups, and vegan desserts. In recognition of our Vegeteria, we received from PETA their annual 'Proggy' award. In the lifetime of just one vegetarian, more than 12 cows, 25 pigs and 220 chickens will be spared just one simple life style choice - good for the individual, good for the animals and good for the planet.
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Our efforts have been modest but with every step some progress is made. Perhaps one day all of us will understand it is not necessary to kill animals to live. Perhaps one day we will all understand that the choices we make every day enormously impacts our health, our earth, and the lives of billion of countless forgotten animals with whom we share this planet.