Jude’s Story
Born with a cleft lip on a dairy farm, this male calf was scheduled to be thrown in a compost pile and left for dead when the Lancaster Farm Sanctuary received a call. When they arrived, the four-day-old calf was alone in a pen and struggling to survive while battling four serious infections. The calf was rushed to a team of professionals and volunteers for immediate medical attention and against all odds, survived.
In many ways, Jude has become the face of the Lancaster Farm Sanctuary. Jude won the hearts of many farm sanctuary supporters, as evidenced by the celebrity-level love on social media. In addition, Jude’s story typifies what the organization stands for. They specialize in helping farm animals who have been abandoned, discarded, neglected, or in need of urgent medical care.
There is even a mural of Jude in downtown Lancaster, located at the WOW (Wacker on Walnut) building on W. Walnut Street. This mural, created by acclaimed local artist Shauna Yorty in 2025, cemented Jude’s status as Lancaster Farm Sanctuary’s most famous resident.
Yet even with the mural and social media attention, Jude doesn’t seem to let the spotlight get to him. Instead, he seems happy to share the stage with best friend Maya and the other farm animals who all have their own stories of survival and rescue.
We were able to connect with the Lancaster Farm Sanctuary’s executive director, Sarah Sallazzo, to learn more about the organization. Sarah started the sanctuary in 2017 with co-founder Jonina Turzi. We asked for an update on Jude, the biggest challenges at the farm sanctuary, upcoming events, and other questions about life on the farm.
A Conversation With Lancaster Farm Sanctuary’s Executive Directory, Sarah Salluzzo
How is Jude doing? Any updates?
Jude is doing remarkably well overall despite the many health challenges he continues to face. He was born with a severe cleft lip as a male calf on a dairy farm, where he was already considered economically “useless,” and his disability made his chances of survival even slimmer. Every day with Jude is a gift. We once hoped and prayed he would simply make it to his first birthday, so the fact that we’re now planning his sixth birthday feels nothing short of miraculous. He spends his days relaxing with his best friend Maya, and Jude loves his daily brushing and chin scratches as much as anyone ever loved anything in this world! His life is a powerful reminder of what can happen when an individual is given compassion instead of being discarded.
What inspired you to start Lancaster Farm Sanctuary?
We started Lancaster Farm Sanctuary because we wanted to create a place where rescued farmed animals could heal while also helping change the way society sees them. Through education, storytelling, and giving people the opportunity to meet these incredible individuals on tours, we hope to inspire a more compassionate world for all animals.
Before launching the sanctuary, you were involved with other animal advocacy organizations. What did you learn from those experiences, and what gap did you hope Lancaster Farm Sanctuary would fill?
Before we started the sanctuary, we were so grateful to be part of a citizen lobbying effort that helped Pennsylvania achieve long-overdue anti-cruelty legislation for animals. However the framework still explicitly denied “animals farmed for food” from fundamental legal protections against abuse.
Those experiences taught us that advocacy can take many forms. That every day people can make a difference for animals. And that we wanted to build an organization that combined rescue with education, using both in-person experiences and the power of storytelling through social media to help people see farmed animals in particular as individuals worthy of compassion rather than as commodities.
Can you describe the types of situations that lead animals to the sanctuary? What are the most common cases of neglect, abuse, abandonment, or emergency rescues you encounter?
Every week is different. We work with humane officers on cruelty and neglect cases, take in animals who have been abandoned or discarded, respond to urgent medical situations, and rescue animals directly from the animal ag system. Unfortunately, there is never a shortage of animals whose needs are being profoundly neglected and who need help.
Many people may not realize farm animals end up needing rescue. Is there a particular animal or rescue story that illustrates the work you do and the impact the sanctuary can have?
Robin’s story is one we will never forget. She was just a young pig when she escaped from a transport trailer on her way to slaughter. We worked alongside compassionate bystanders and local police officers to get her safely off the highway and into our care, and today she’s thriving at the sanctuary. Her story is a powerful reminder that a single moment of luck and a community based in compassion can completely change the course of our lives.
What are some of the biggest challenges involved in operating a farm animal sanctuary, both financially and logistically?
Farm animal rescue is resource-intensive. Providing specialized veterinary care, food, shelter, medications, fencing, and emergency rescue while caring for more than 100 rescued residents requires constant fundraising, careful planning, and an incredible team of staff and volunteers. It is all-day-every-day work, no matter the weather or any other circumstances.
For people who want to support your mission, what are the sanctuary’s greatest current needs? How do donations, volunteers, and community partnerships make a difference?
Our greatest need is support. Donors provide the stability that allows us to plan for the future, volunteers make the daily care of more than 100 animals possible, and community partnerships help us expand our impact and continue saying “yes” when animals desperately need somewhere safe to go.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for Lancaster Farm Sanctuary over the next few years, and what would success look like for the organization?
Our goal is to continue providing exceptional lifelong care while expanding our ability to respond to urgent rescue cases. We have recently acquired some additional acreage and are hoping to build the infrastructure necessary in the coming months to expand our critical work and save more animals in need.
Are there any topics that you’d like to address that you don’t usually get asked about?
We wish more people asked about prevention! Rescue is incredibly meaningful, but our ultimate goal is to create a world where fewer animals need sanctuaries in the first place by addressing the mindsets and systems that put them in these horrific situations.
Any upcoming events that you’d want to make readers aware of?
We’re excited to host our 7th Annual Fields of Love Gala & Auction on September 12, one of our largest fundraisers of the year! It’s always a really fun night, with great live music, an open bar with a delicious catered dinner served in the barn, and a lovely chance to take a stroll around the sanctuary and spend dusk with the animals. There is also a fantastic live and online auction with lots of fabulous items, trips, experiences to bid on and win for a great cause. Every dollar raised helps provide lifelong care for our rescued residents and ensures we can continue being there for animals who have nowhere else to turn.