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By Mark:
We handed out vegan literature and our new newsletter (#6) at the second annual Super Pet Adoption Event, held in the Wal-Mart parking lot on Kietzke Lane. Thousands of people passed through and nearly 150 animals were adopted (none by us, everybody gets a forever home who comes here).
We had pamphlets from HumaneMyth.org and Farm Sanctuary (especially vegan info aimed at kids) as well as Vegetarian Food for Thought podcast sampler CDs.
The Nevada Air National Guard collected money from the public during the event and then, at the end, looked for a worthy organization to give it to — and that turned out to be us! It was very much appreciated. We had quite an expensive surgery for the angora rabbit named Chagall recently and had to get many bails of hay for the donkeys and goats so it couldn't have come at a better time.
Our table was right next to the hot dog stand so there was an interesting bit of cognitive dissonance going on. The first person to visit us — and who started by looking at the poster board of photos showing all the new animals at CockadoodleMoo — said in all seriousness: "Oh, I love goat. I had some at a Mexican restaurant last week. Do you sell them?"
I explained that we are a sanctuary for rescued and abused farm animals and we take in goats and give them a lifelong home.
"How do you abuse a farm animal?" he asked.
I explained a few of the ways: setting them loose to fend for themselves, tying them up and forgetting about them, and surrendering them to Nevada Humane Society because they got too big, expensive, inconvenient or got sick through neglect.
He had never heard of such a thing. This is an extremely common reaction. It's strange. People understand that farm animals are hurt and killed to make meat and clothing, and they've generally made peace with this (usually by not thinking about it), but the idea that they are often abused without a so-called benefit for humans is something they never imagined.
In addition to handing out literature about the sanctuary and veganism, I was interviewed on stage with it broadcast over the PA system about the animals and not eating meat so it turned out to be a very worthwhile day.