We hope that your Veganuary not only went well but that your vegan choices at meal and snack time may just stick around forever! A plant-based diet offers so many health-related benefits, in addition to being better for our planet and—of course—better for and kinder to the animals. Plant-based diets are known to benefit: - Heart health
- Reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes
- Weight management
- Lower blood pressure
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Cancer prevention
- Digestive health/improved gut microbiome
- Longevity
- Anti-inflammatory effects.
Plant-based diets are also a more sustainable choice, with a smaller environmental footprint compared to diets heavy in animal products. And if all these benefits weren’t enough, plant-based diets are they key to a compassionate lifestyle, where you can quite literally save lives by what you choose to put on your plate and in your cup.
Lucky for us all, it’s become increasingly easy to eat a cruelty-free diet, with so many vegan products on shelves as well as support from programs like Veganuary. Recently, our neighboring city of Baltimore has become the first-ever US city to declare January as the official month of Veganuary. The proclamation cites environmental, health, economic, and animal protection reasons for the official support, and indicates that this will hopefully inspire more “resilient, sustainable, and healthy” communities.
We, at Rosie’s, are always happy to provide support in the journey to a plant-based diet, so please feel free to reach out for suggestions or guidance! And we appreciate you supporting our mission to spread awareness for a more compassionate world. |
A HUGE Thanks to All Our Marty-sitters |
Who knew a tiny little potbelly pig who escaped a rough start could bring so many wonderful people together?!? We are truly in awe of our incredible community--when we put out the plea for babysitters so our piglet, Marty, wouldn't feel lonely in quarantine, you all answered the call and then some! We are so grateful for everyone's generosity in giving your time and we loved seeing the smiles that Marty inspired. We hope you'll consider coming back to take a tour to meet the rest of our residents, or sign up to volunteer!
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Have You "Herd?": Advocacy and Outreach - by Michele
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On January 23, I testified in the State Senate in favor of Senate Bill 193 which calls for the prohibition of battery cages for egg-laying hens in the State of Maryland. This legislation was introduced by Senator Lewis-Young and Delegate Terrasa.
As many of you know, we have egg-laying hens at Rosies. We love our hens. Hens are misunderstood by humans. Our girls are all social, playful, curious, adventurous, affectionate and smart! They recognize 100 faces and have a developed language. They have best friends and come together to talk. They sound like bunch of ladies in a hair salon and I swear they gossip about me when I leave their coop. I see them running up and down their large coop and chatting away with one other. They are such happy girls.
Confining hens to battery cage is simply unnecessarily cruel. Their welfare depends on 3 things: physical well-being, mental well-being, and the ability to follow their natural instincts. All 3 of these are grossly compromised in battery cages. I honestly cannot imagine our hens being confined to a wired cage with 5-10 other hens when their entire existence is on the size of a piece of printer paper, not even being able to turn around or spread their wings. It goes against all of their natural instincts and is cruel for no necessary reason. Battery cages are slowly becoming outlawed in places around the world. Several states in the US have already gone cage free, but 74% of all egg laying hens in the United States are still in these barbaric cages (roughly 308 million birds).
Our hens spend their days running, jumping, perching, and stretching their wings. They love to roll in the dirt, which is called dust bathing and is really important for them to rid themselves of parasites. They naturally spend 60% of their days foraging - looking for seed and insects in the ground. They do this whether or not they are provided food. It is a well-honed instinct that has developed for millions of years (let’s remember they are descendants of dinosaurs). Over a very short period of time, humans have come in and caged these birds without any care or compassion about what is does to the birds physical or mental well-being. It goes against everything that they are born to do. Honestly, this bill is the BARE MINIMUM of what we should do for these hens.
I will be returning to testify in the House on 2/14/24 about this (HB357).
#CageFreeMaryland |
Compassion Corner - by Sanctuary Manager Jason Bolalek |
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It's with heavy hearts we share the news that Willow, one of our special Golden Girls, has passed. Our girl lived happily with 7 companions, her best friends, until the end. She didn’t face prolonged suffering and did not show signs of illness. Her gentle clucks, playful antics, and warm presence will be missed.
Egg-laying hens like Willow endure significant suffering in the egg industry. One of the primary reasons is the confined systems in which they are kept. Many hens are housed in battery cages, which are small wire enclosures that restrict their movement. These cages are often stacked on top of one another, leading to overcrowding and a lack of space for the hens to move, stretch their wings, or engage in natural behaviors.
In addition to abhorrent living conditions, the selective breeding of hens for maximum egg production also contributes to their suffering. These breeds often experience health problems, such as weakened bones and reproductive issues, due to the strain of producing a large number of eggs. In egg production on average a hen will lay near 300 eggs per year, a menstrual cycle near everyday. This is why rates of ovarian cancer are so high in these birds. Because selective breeding focuses solely on production value, natural selection doesn’t weed out ailments, instead it intensifies them.
It is crucial to raise awareness about these issues because the industry will not tell us the truth. We owe it to Willow to do just that. |
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Rosie's Residents in the Snow!
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Mickey and Moose happily munch hay and romp in their snowy field. |
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Jeffrey is prepared for the weather with his gorgeous winter coat. |
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The piggies don't love the cold, but will brave snow for snacks! |
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Rosie's Recommended Recipes
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Vegan Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup Recipe adapted from The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone This soup will warm you from the inside out with its plant-based goodness and delicious blend of spices!
INGREDIENTS 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, diced
2 small tomatoes, diced 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced 1 1/2 tsp. turmeric 1 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. ground coriander 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
Pinch of sea salt 2–3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes 7 cups vegetable broth
1 cup brown lentils, rinsed 1 cup baby spinach or kale INSTRUCTIONS - In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat and saute onion for about 2 minutes, until soft.
- Stir in tomatoes and ginger, cooking an addition 3 minutes. Stir in turmeric, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cayenne and salt and cook for 2 minutes, tasting to make sure its to your liking. - Next add the sweet potatoes, broth and lentils. - Bring soup to a boil then reduce heat and cover, allowing to simmer for about 30 minutes. - Then add spinach (or kale) and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Enjoy! |
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