In the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where animal agriculture dominates the landscape, Lancaster Farm Sanctuary offers a different vision for the future. Co-founders Sarah Salluzzo and Jonina Turzi launched the sanctuary in 2017 with the goal of rescuing farmed animals, educating the public, and building a compassionate plant-based community. What began as a small property with no staff has now grown into a vibrant nonprofit with nearly 100 rescued residents, a rotation of 40 volunteers, and dedicated caregivers.
Sarah, the executive director, brings a background in social work and nonprofit outreach, while Jonina, the vice president, is a doctor of physical therapy specializing in trauma-informed care. Together, they’ve created a haven for animals who would otherwise have no chance of survival.
The Realities of Rescue
Running an animal sanctuary is far from a romantic notion. As Sarah and Jonina explain, the work is intense, demanding, and unrelenting. Their days begin with the sun and end only after the needs of every cow, pig, goat, chicken, duck, horse, and alpaca are met. Cases like Maeve the lamb, rescued from a livestock auction with a serious antibiotic-resistant infection, highlight both the challenges and the urgency of their work. Maeve required round-the-clock medical care, including IV treatments in their own home. Stories like hers reveal the hidden dangers of antibiotic resistance entering the human food system.
Beyond Rescue: The Power of Education
The Lancaster Farm Sanctuary team emphasizes that “we cannot rescue our way out of the problem.” Education is essential for lasting change. Their Pen Pal program connects schoolchildren with animals like Edie the goat through letters, drawings, and stories, teaching kids to see farmed animals as individuals with personalities, friendships, and emotions.
They also produced The Choice Is Yours, a documentary funded by a local community foundation. The film addresses the connections between animal agriculture, health, and the environment, while giving voice to the animals themselves. Shown at theaters and libraries across the region, every screening has sold out, sparking conversations and challenging long-held assumptions.
Building a Community of Support
One of the unexpected blessings of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary has been the human community that has formed around it. Volunteers and supporters often express that the sanctuary is the first place where they feel truly understood as plant-based individuals. Events such as volunteer potlucks draw dozens of people together to share food, stories, and solidarity. This sense of belonging fuels both the work of the sanctuary and the personal journeys of those who visit.
A Gala for the Animals
Fundraising is critical to sustaining the sanctuary’s efforts, with 98 percent of funding coming from individual donors. Their signature event, the annual Gala and Auction, combines a multi-course plant-based dinner with an online auction that allows supporters nationwide to participate. From jewelry and artwork to vacation getaways, the gala raises essential funds while giving attendees the chance to meet rescued animals and experience the sanctuary’s mission firsthand.
How You Can Help
Lancaster Farm Sanctuary thrives on community involvement. You can support their mission by:
- Following them on Instagram and Facebook for daily updates
- Donating through their Patreon or website
- Attending their annual gala or bidding in the online auction
- Watching their free documentary The Choice Is Yours
Every action, no matter how small, helps ensure that animals in Lancaster County and beyond have a chance to live in peace.
https://lancasterfarmsanctuary.org/
Episode Highlights
[00:00] Introduction.
[03:00] Lancaster Farm Sanctuary… humble beginnings.
[06:15] Bringing humans into the mix of sanctuaries.
[09:00] Volunteers are essential to the success of the sanctuary.
[13:30] Aligning what one eats with the mission of the sanctuary.
[16:00] Some animals require extreme care.
[18:30] Many animals are put into the food system while being antibiotic resistant.
[22:15]] Pen pals with animals … a program for children.
[25:30] The Choice is Yours documentary.
[29:00] The Gala and Auction in-person and virtual fundraiser.
[32:00] Ways to support the sanctuary.
About Sarah and Jonina
Sarah Salluzzo and Jonina Turzi are the co-founders of Lancaster Farm Sanctuary, a nonprofit based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, dedicated to rescuing farmed animals and promoting a compassionate, plant-based lifestyle.
Sarah, who serves as Executive Director, holds a master’s in social work and media studies. With a background in counseling and nonprofit outreach, she brings a deep commitment to animal rights, emotional healing, and community education. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that storytelling and connection can shift hearts and minds toward a kinder world.
Jonina, Vice President and a Doctor of Physical Therapy, integrates her expertise in trauma-informed care, yoga, and environmental ethics into the sanctuary’s mission. She brings a unique perspective on healing—emphasizing the interconnection between personal wellness, animal liberation, and regenerative plant-based agriculture.
Since founding the sanctuary in 2017, Sarah and Jonina have grown it into a refuge for dozens of animals and a center for advocacy. Their shared vision is rooted in ahimsa (nonviolence), truth, and compassion—offering a model for how we can live in harmony with all beings.
https://lancasterfarmsanctuary.org/
https://www.facebook.com/lancasterfarmsanctuary
https://www.instagram.com/lancasterfarmsanctuary/
https://www.patreon.com/lancasterfarmsanctuary
About Cheryl Moss
Cheryl Moss is the host of the Better Life for Animals podcast, where she shares uplifting stories from sanctuaries and highlights the work of vegan activists, ethical consumers, and 
animal welfare leaders. A passionate advocate for animal welfare, she is dedicated to ending factory farming and is working to raise $100,000 for Mercy For Animals to support underrepresented sanctuaries.
Beyond podcasting, Cheryl is a banking professional and an accomplished children’s author. A graduate of Main Street Vegan Academy, she promotes plant-based living through her books, Gabriel, Cluck, and Pickle the Pig, which inspire young readers to embrace kindness, sustainability, and compassion for animals.
When not advocating, she enjoys Pilates, and spending time with her rescue dogs and grandchildren. Through her work, writing, and activism, Cheryl continues to inspire positive change for animals and the planet.
https://www.facebook.com/BLFAnimals/
https://x.com/betterlife4anim
https://www.instagram.com/betterlife4animals/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylmossabetterlifeforanimals/
