Death Discussions: Part One of an Ongoing Series

Happy times with Mr. Ed, Farm Sanctuary, Acton, California

January was a challenging month. So many friends died. I almost typed "departed" or "passed away," but I have been trying to not mince words when it comes to death. Our language around death obfuscates, sometimes designed to stave off or mollify the grief we experience or witness others experiencing without actually engaging it.

I reference and reread the below linked article from Elephant Journal writer Ed Preston frequently, because it is a reminder of how important our words in relation to death are, how they can shut down or cultivate connection.

Via Elephant Journal: "Why We Need to Stop Saying, "I'm Sorry For Your Loss"

Preston discusses the language of "loss" in particular, and shares why that concept may not invoke the empathetic connection actually needed. I catch myself typing or saying "I'm sorry for your loss" in many instances, fumbling when I remind myself to engage versus this response ingrained in us, but that fumble reminds me to be present to the suffering the individual may be experiencing. 

It is a presence of mind I have to practice with my own grief as well. I currently have several blog posts in the works to celebrate the lives and mourn the deaths of some of these friends, but my brain is not allowing me to finish them. Earlier in January Mr. Ed, the magnificent Brahman bull with whom I spent many years, was euthanized when his physical pain could no longer be managed. His death did not feel real until just yesterday when Farm Sanctuary finally released a tribute video to him.

In what felt like quick succession, and actually starting on December 30th when part of my Maryland pack, Jesse dog, died, death came to Mr. Ed bull at Farm Sanctuary, Lucia goat of Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Jake goat of New Moon Farm Goat Rescue & Sanctuary, Ogie steer and Vanna goat at Indraloka Animal Sanctuary. There are beautiful tributes to these individuals linked with their name, followed below by portraits I am privileged to have created of these magnificent people. Sharing these portraits helps me process my grief due to the absence of some rather amazing individuals.

I am sure there are more individuals about whose death I have yet to learn just from this last month. However, as I will continue to discuss throughout the life of this project and blog, death is a natural and inevitable, and often frequent, companion in the sanctuary world. It will bring suffering in its wake, but also, with dedicated work and thoughtful support, healing and deeper relationships with the beings around us, even after death.

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. In the meantime, may our dead friends be remembered and our suffering be acknowledged, and may so much joy find you, not despite death, but because it reminds us how beautiful life is.

Jesse, Brewing Good Coffee Company, Odenton, Maryland

Lucia, Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Saugerties, New York

Jake, New Moon Farm Goat Rescue & Sanctuary, Arlington, Washington

Ogie, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Vanna goat with her partner in crime Maddie in the rear, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Editing, Editing, Editing

Yoga Animalia: Caprine - Jack, Skylands Animal Sanctuary & Rescue, Wantage, New Jersey

A reality of how I edit photos: it makes very little logical sense. I'll confess it. I have found in the past if I am very regimented and work through them methodically, there is a lack of creative juice that I believe dilutes the potency of the individual's portraits. Or maybe I'm just too finicky and need to get the darn photos edited!

So I have been compromising a bit - editing a few from each sanctuary, doing small steps here and there. It very likely is far from the most efficient, but then I come across a photo like this one, demanding immediate full edits. 

I distinctly remember capturing this image because Jack is a goat who most assuredly does not want humans in his space. Patience and luck were the source of this sunset capture: patience to let Jack be Jack and me not to be a totally obnoxious interloper whilst I watched the sun dip lower and lower, and that hefty dose of luck that let it all work in time to catch the sun through the trees.

Sunset and sunrise photos are a particular favorite of mine, and given the opportunity, I love staying at a sanctuary to attempt to capture them. I find it highly amusing that Jack is one of the Skylands residents with whom I managed this feat. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that another one I might have gotten of Grover sheep will be equally as magical. It is hopefully somewhere among the 3400 photos of Skylands residents!

Love from Florida: Sanctuary Travels from snow to sun

Yoga Animalia: Feline & Bovine - Wax On & Nandi, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania

Happy Holidays! I recently visited United Poultry Concerns in Machipongo, Virginia on my way south, and I was absolutely delighted to finally spend some time with Karen Davis and the sanctuary residents. The human and avian team at UPC have been creating change for birds for decades, and I am so honored to have visited and photographed at the sanctuary which is a haven for formerly farmed animals amidst one of the most concentrated chicken factory farming regions.

Yoga Animalia: Galline - Rainbow, United Poultry Concerns, Machipongo, Virginia

I just arrived in Ocala, Florida at Kindred Spirits Sanctuary who are graciously hosting me as I  spend winter editing photos from two-and-a-half years of travel. My goal is to dedicate the entirety of winter to preparing the photos and stories from the 74 sanctuaries I have visited, with the hoped-for goal of getting ready to run a crowdfunding campaign in 2018 to make the Yoga Animalia Book a reality. More details about the book to come!

Yoga Animalia: Bovine - Owen, Kindred Spirits Sanctuary, Ocala, Florida

In the meantime, if you would like to support my art please consider becoming a monthly patron on my Patreon page. Asking for help as an artist is really challenging, but I am attempting to get out of my own way and make it easier to bring my sanctuary portraits into the world. Your support will enable this, and through Patreon, you will get neat bonuses not available anywhere else.

Many thanks for reading, and I hope your holiday season is surrounded by that which makes you happy. I will leave you with a few snow photos of my friends at Indraloka Animal Sanctuary.

May joy find you,

Cameron

Ogie and Mookie in front, PennyLove behind

Abhey, Greenie, Daisy, Decha, Galen, LucyLou Goosey, Lucy Goosey, Opie, Whitey, Peep, Bo

Quicker, Joe, Whirlee Girlee, Fancy, Hubub

Yin, Yang, Nod, Teehee, Lexi

Sanctuary Gathering at Animal Rights National Conference 2017

View fullsize

38 sanctuary humans representing 22 farm animal sanctuaries gathered at the Animal Rights National Conference.

Thirty-eight sanctuary humans representing twenty-two farm animal sanctuaries gathered at the 2017 Animal Rights National Conference to meet in person this past weekend. We also began a conversation about working more closely together as a united sanctuary movement which made my heart burst with joy. Many of these humans I have had the joy of visiting, meeting the individuals for whom they care, and creating portraits of the rescued individuals who reside at the sanctuary. Others I met for the first time, and new travel plans and destinations and connections were formed. To the best of my knowledge, no such gathering has ever happened at the AR Conference, and that so many were able to participate was a monumental achievement. The momentum we began at this simple gathering was couched in love for the sanctuary movement of which we are all a part, and I look forward to that energy continuing to build, grow, expand, and thrive.

Beatific Emma: From Broken Beef Calf to Blessed Bovine

Emma, Farm Sanctuary, Orland, California

One of the highlights of early 2015 was this beauteous young lady who came into my life while road-tripping on a separate Farm Sanctuary-related quest spearheaded by my besty Alicia. Half way home from Vegas, the call about a calf in need arrived, propelling us to drive into the late hours. We stumbled into a hotel room, slept (maybe), then drove to the rural vet where Emma was supposed to be cared for overnight before we took her to UC Davis. That vet is not high in my estimation to put it mildly, having left her outside in a cold lean-to with barely enough straw for warmth and no pain meds. Alicia and I miraculously kept our tongues in check, got Emma pain meds, and got her loaded for the trek across Utah, Nevada, and into California for proper vet care.

Emma ready for travel

I became instantly obsessed with this big-eyed girl, and wrung my hands a fair bit while we waited for positive word about her condition. Receiving that word brought a relief to my whole body and tears to my eyes. Though at that point she wasn't out of the woods totally, she had a fighting chance, and a beatific presence conveyed through those large eyes.

Tongue acrobatics not hampered by the pain in her leg

More than a year later, after trekking from New York to Florida to Pennsylvania and then flying back to California, I got to see Emma again, thriving at Orland. This young lady has endured months of hospitalization, surgeries, humans fretting, and yet she still carries serenity in her eyes and her being. She is such a magical friend I feel so blessed to know.

Yoga Animalia: Bovine - Emma

Farm Sanctuary, Orland, California

Emma was found on the side of the road in rural Utah. Her mother was standing protectively by her, and the concerned human who saw them in the same place a second time realized something was wrong. Emma had likely been hit by a car and was unable to walk. The woman contacted the rancher who owned the herd, but his solution was to shoot her. The woman got him to release Emma to her, but sadly could not get her mother. She contacted Farm Sanctuary who raced up to take the calf immediately to UC Davis. There life-saving vet care was provided to Emma, and it was determined her leg was infected and would need to be amputated. After many surgeries, much waiting, and many months, Emma is starting to settle into her three-legged life of love and devotion at Farm Sanctuary's NorCal shelter.