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The Story of Meadow the Lamb


A NEW LIFE AT EASTER, FOR MEADOW, THE LAMB: SAVED FROM SLAUGHTERHOUSE, WELCOMED AT WISHING WELL SANCTUARY

In the spring of 2015, at the height of the slaughter, one will be spared.

This, at least, is the promise of the Newmarket Meat Packers company co-founder, Gino Plastino, to a small group of animal activists. Anita Krajnc, co-founder of Toronto Pig Save, and Paul Bali, a professor of philosophy at Ryerson University and founder of The Save Response Team, made their request for “this small Easter mercy” during an impromptu meeting with Mr. Plastino, his son, and a couple of plant employees just outside the site office.

The Toronto-based activists had come to Newmarket for a break-of-dawn vigil King Cole Ducks, Canada’s largest duck slaughterhouse and Newmarket Meat Packers. The vigil was organized by Katie Barber of Aurora's Animal Rights Activists and drew more than a dozen from around the G.T.A.

A few decided, while there, to try reaching out to N.M.P. management. Mr. Plastino’s son made the argument that their plant keeps fifty families afloat; Anita counter-argued that alternate employment, alternate industries are arising as the world converts to cruelty-free food production. Mr. Plastino expressed support for the right to protest, but the debate, clearly, would not be resolved in the cold and still-dark parking lot of 6:30 AM.

Words would not stop the day’s slaughter; but perhaps they could elicit one mercy, practically symbolic in the face of so many thousands?

Paul explained to Mr. Plastino that The Save Response Team coordinates with a number of Ontario farm sanctuaries, and could find a permanent home for one lamb if N.M.P. could spare it. The Save Response Team helped, for example, a couple of “veal calves” to Wishing Well Sanctuary last October, their arrival featured on Breakfast Television.

Mr. Plastino protested that they had no animals on-hand; when Anita revealed she had earlier seen some in the indoor pens, through the side window, Mr. Plastino claimed they were not marked for slaughter. Paul and Anita expressed their scepticism. Mr. Plastino said perhaps they could check back next week. Not a firm commitment, but as the exchange wrapped up, and the parties were separating――workers returning to plant, and activists back to the vigil next-door――Mr. Plastino turned back to the activists and seemingly acceded, proclaiming: “You guys next week want an animal, I’ll give you.” Paul and Gino shook hands, Paul promising to check in this week.

In the meantime Anita and Paul are working to arrange transport and a home for the promised lamb. They’ve already had offers from two Ontario sanctuaries.

They plan to return to N.M.P. on Thursday morning, the day before Good Friday, to meet again with Mr. Plastino.

At 10 am on Thursday, April 2, Brenda Bronfman, founder of Wishing Well Sanctuary, and a team from Toronto Pig Save met with slaughterhouse owners and workers at Newmarket Meat Packers on 15452 Warden Avenue for a promise kept while Katie Barber of Aurora’s Animal Rights Advocates started setting up at the sanctuary. "Just one lamb, save one lamb," Paul Vegano-Bali asked co-founder Gino Platino at an early morning vigil on Saturday. Mr. Plastino responded: "You guys next week want an animal, I’ll give you." Last night (April 1), Nick D'Elia, one of the owner's sons, wrote us: "In light of it being Easter and with everyone in good spirits we would like to extend a Lamb offering to your group [Toronto Pig Save and The Save Movement]."

This morning, we watched a NMP slaughterhouse worker carry the baby lamb out of the pen and into Brenda's car on his path to freedom. He was named Meadow by Brenda and NMP staff--an Easter name. Nick D'Elia said that they were moved by the volume of calls and letters they received in support of securing one lamb's freedom.

Meadow was immediately at home, befriending Brenda Bronfman's welcoming committee. Meadow sniffed out his new home at Wishing Well Sanctuary in Bradford, Ontario. 

"What better way to celebrate Easter than to spare a life. That's the best way to honor the Spring and the new life it brings. There is nothing as great as following your conscience in the present all the time, a lesson Jesus taught and Tolstoy recalled in his book The Kingdom of God is Within You-- a copy of which was included in a vegan gift package we gave to the slaughterhouse owners," says Anita Krajnc, co-organizer at Toronto Pig Save.

Paul Bali, founder of the Save Response Team, says "What happened to Meadow is some version of "Open Rescue" advocated by Wayne Hsiung and others at Direct Action Everywhere in San Francisco. The lamb was, in effect, rescued from the slaughterhouse in a perfectly transparent manner, in a kind of strange collaboration between slaughterhouse and animal activists. I would like to think that conscience played a part for both parties."

You visit and can help by donating to Wishing Well Sanctuary. Help sustain a forever home for Meadow and all the lovely, rescued animals by contributing here

Please Share this story for Easter

Thank you Katie Barber for Aurora’s Animal Rights Advocates – “Compassion is our Passion and Peace is our Mission!”

Group Picture outside King Cole Duck Farm and Newmarket Meat Packers

Group outside King Cole duck Farm, Katie second from Right founder of Aurora’s Animal Rights Advocates

Suzanne Salvatore Blocks a Transport truck full of young sheep for slaughter from entering the slaughterhouse. The other side of the sign read MEAT is MURDER!

Brenda Bronfman founder of Wishing Well Sanctuary receiving the lamb form rescue at the Newmarket Meat Packers slaughter house.

Meadow on his way home to the Sanctuary.

Meadow the seep that was saved in his new home at Wishing Well Sanctuary in Bradford

Please Share this story for Easter

Thank you Katie Barber for Aurora’s Animal Rights Advocates – “Compassion is our Passion and Peace is our Mission!”

Written By Paul Bali -

Paul has taught Philosophy at Ryerson University since 2003. He has been active with Toronto-area activists since 2014, and helped to found the Save Response Team, which helps get animals to Ontario sanctuaries.

Thank you Paul for speaking up for Meadows Life!!!!

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