Our Mission

Farm Animal Refuge is a 501c3 non- profit organization that focuses on the rescue and forever refuge of abused, unwanted, and neglected farmed animals. The animals here act as ambassadors and help people make the connection between companion animals and farmed animals. In addition to animal rescue, our mission is to help those people who have made the connection transition to a vegan lifestyle through resources and advocacy.

Our Team:

Jordan: Founder

I grew up my whole life loving animals. My mom used to bring in all sorts of unlikely pets. From bottle-feeding kittens to a raccoon that used to come to our back door, and we would feed him grapes and let him run around the house. We hopped fences to feed horses. We bought feeder mice to save them from being eaten by snakes. We loved our dogs and fed squirrels and ducks. But we also had yet to make the same connection to farmed animals.

It wasn’t until my littlest sister said it was mean to eat cows that my family began our plant-based journey. Then everything changed.

Going vegan wasn’t just a diet for me, it was much more, it became my purpose. It gave my life purpose and was the most beautiful gift I could have ever imagined.

It never feels like a sacrifice. To this day it still feels like a gift.

My hope is that we can change the world for animals together as a community! To give people a higher calling than just the day to day grind. We can do this for us, for the animals, and for the environment. When people band together in a movement, we can move mountains.

And as people, we have to understand that change starts with ones self. There is a calling that lies in each person’s heart to make the world better place. To be good stewards of our planet and all of it’s inhabitants. We have to answer that call! It all starts with you, right now! Can you be the change? Please join us in this journey to save lives!

 

Matt: Co-Founder

Matt is a native San Diego. Spending much of his life as a chef and in the kitchen, he was raised and trained to see animals as a product.

Everything changed when he decided to dedicate his life to animal advocacy!

Matt runs the day to day of the refuge and wears many hats around the farm. He is our construction Forman for all new projects, he’s a full time caregiver for the residents, he coordinates volunteers daily, and most importantly he is “dad” in the eyes of the residents here! He also still finds time to put his culinary skills to work by making delicious fully vegan dinners for the humans here as well as by making fruit cakes for the residents to celebrate any rescue anniversary or birthday!

 

Sam: Board Member

Sam (she/her) has been a volunteer at Farm Animal Refuge since she moved from the east coast to San Diego in November 2020.

Prior to joining FARSam was a volunteer at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Maryland for almost 5 years. Sam’s vegan journey began 13 years ago when she was living in the Caribbean with her daughter.

Although Sam had been vegetarian for many years, it was John Robbins’ book ‘Diet For A New America: How Your Food Choices Affect Your Health, Happiness, and the Future of Life on Earth” and the experience of living in close proximity with chickens, roosters, goats, and cows, on island, that helped her to (finally) recognize that all animals are sentient beings with complex personalities, friendships, familial bonds, and the desire to live free from harm. After making the connection between farmed animals and the companion animals in her home and learning more about animal agriculture practices and animal rights issues, Sam went vegan in 2009 and considers it one of the best decisions she’s ever made. Although she went vegan for the animals she is now vegan for all of the reasons (animals, environment/planet, social justice, and health). Sam is a former transactional law attorney and has been working in contracts, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation for commercial businesses and government contractors for 12 years. Sam received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.

 

Dr. Rosen: Board Member

Dr. Rosen is incredibly honored and proud to be a board member of Farm Animal Refuge. She has been a veterinarian for their animals for over 5 years and has become a close friend with everyone on the farm. As a vegan and animal lover, Dr. Rosen’s vision for animal care aligns closely with the mission for the sanctuary, and it is her goal to help provide all the animals with the highest standards of care.

Growing up Dr. Rosen worked in animal-centered jobs starting in her teenage years and through college, while receiving top honors for her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz (Go Banana Slugs!).

During veterinary school at St. Matthew’s University in the Cayman Islands and North Carolina State University, she participated in sea turtle research and wildlife rescue for aquatic animals. Her post graduate training included a rigorous year-long internship in small and exotic animal medicine and surgery at the University of Tennessee, followed by an additional year of training in the field of companion exotic animal and zoological medicine and surgery at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences.

She then took a position as a faculty member at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine where she worked for a few years prior to returning to California. To this point, her years in San Diego and Los Angeles have been spent working in private practice, treating all animals, including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.

As an exotic animal veterinarian, she understands the importance of comprehensive care for her patients, and there is no better way to accomplish this than with a mobile practice. It allows an even closer relationship between the doctor, patient, and client, so that all aspects of heath can be addressed. Because of her deep love of pigs, and with the convenience of a mobile practice, Dr. Rosen became an “accidental farm vet.” She discovered her love of sanctuary medicine and treating pet farm animals and is passionate about bringing top of the line veterinary care onto the farm.

Wellness comes from a combination of environment, diet, lifestyle, and medical care, and Dr. Rosen is passionate about treating the entire patient. She has a particular interest in pot-bellied pigs and is currently working on a companion pig medicine textbook. She also enjoys teaching and lecturing on the subject, and helping new vets learn how to see these fun pets in their practices. Dr. Rosen is thrilled to be a board member at Farm Animal Refuge and hopes to continue their work of making the world a happier, healthier place for years to come.