You could be pandemic pen pals with a Pennsylvania goat

Sarah Thorton, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary's director of education, reads pen pal letters to goats Bapu and Madalista. Kids can write to an animal at the sanctuary and get a response from the animal (with a human's help). (The Washington Post/Johnny Braz)
Sarah Thorton, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary's director of education, reads pen pal letters to goats Bapu and Madalista. Kids can write to an animal at the sanctuary and get a response from the animal (with a human's help). (The Washington Post/Johnny Braz)

Here With Us Farm Sanctuary is a permanent home for farm animals in York County, Pa. Founder and caretaker Amanda Clark walk the grounds each morning, checking on the sanctuary's 93 rescued animals.

Cows, turkeys, pigs and other farm animals that were once abused or neglected make themselves at home here.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the animals were missing visitors and friends, Clark said.

"The goats especially like seeing regular guests," she said. "And I know the cows miss seeing my mom. She brings them blueberry-bread snacks, and they come running up whenever they see her."

With stay-at-home orders in place, field trips, camps and spur-of-the-moment trips were canceled. But a Here With Us board member found a way to connect the animals with people.

The sanctuary began an animal pen pal program in late March. It posted biographies of the animals and their journey to Here With Us on the organization's website. Visitors can go online and choose one of the farm animals to write to.

"We wanted to give kids and our animals some joy," she said. "We've been doing it a few months now and starting to get responses back from the same kids."

Some of the most popular animals have been Ronnie the steer, Chester the steer and Rosie the chick.

About 165 miles north in Dalton, Pa., the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary is also using pen and paper to connect with animals.

Ronnie, a rescued cow living at Here With Us Animal Sanctuary, poses with a kid's pen pal letter. (The Washington Post/Amanda Clark)
Ronnie, a rescued cow living at Here With Us Animal Sanctuary, poses with a kid's pen pal letter. (The Washington Post/Amanda Clark)

Indra Lahiri began rescuing animals in the late 1990s. She originally saved cats, dogs and horses, but after seeing how animals were treated at factory farms, she decided to add farm animals into the mix. She opened Indraloka in 2005. Lahiri began with a 30-acre farm with a few animals. This spring they moved to a bigger piece of what Lahiri calls "heaven on earth" with more than 300 animals.

From the start, education was also part of the sanctuary's mission. Children with emotional trauma visit to work with the animals and academic programs help students learn how to apply science, technology, engineering, art and math to tasks at the sanctuary.

Indraloka's pen pal program was started several years ago by the sanctuary's on-campus educator, Sarah Thornton. It was only for children who had participated in events. But during the pandemic, the team at Indraloka decided to expand it for all children.

"It was devastating for us to close our doors for our kids," Lahiri said. "But [the pen pal program has] been such a tremendous success."

In return for their letter, kids receive a response from their animal of choice (with the help of a sanctuary representative). Kids also receive a photo and sometimes even a work of art created by the animal.

"I believe the animals enjoy them," Lahiri said. "We read all of the letters to them. Kids need animals, and animals need kids, too."

TO WRITE TO THE ANIMALS

◼️ Here With Us Farm Sanctuary, 3397 Tunnel Hill Road, Seven Valleys, PA 17360.

Pick an animal on the website herewithusfarmsanctuary.org. Send your letter to the sanctuary's address.

◼️ Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, 333 Oak Drive, Dalton, PA 18414.

Fill out pen pal form on the website indraloka.org/about/meet-the-animals/. Pick an animal or have an Indraloka staff member pick an animal for you. Send your letter to the sanctuary's address.

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