July 8, 2024

Celebrate with us at the second Twin Cities Plant-Based Bike Crawl After-Party on Sunday, July 28, from 1 pm to 3 pm at Reverie Cafe + Bar. This lively event, hosted by Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA), will feature music, food, drinks, games, and local vegan vendors. Whether or not you participated in the bike crawl, everyone is welcome to join the festivities a the After-Party!

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July 8, 2024

Spring Farm Sanctuary is delighted to welcome two of their newest residents, Marmaduke and Tinker. Despite the recent trauma from losing their previous caring home, these two charming pigs have landed in a new safe and nurturing place. 

Their Journey to Spring Farm Sanctuary

Marmaduke and Tinker spent the first six years of their lives in a loving home in Wisconsin, where they were treated as cherished members of the family. Raised since they were just eight weeks old, they enjoyed a life full of affection and care. However, a tragic accident changed everything. This past March, their “dad” suffered a freak accident, resulting in paralysis that left him unable to care for them. Friends of the family reached out to Spring Farm Sanctuary to see if they would take them in. They knew this would ensure that the pigs would be well cared for. Spring Farm was glad to take them in.

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June 27, 2024

On Saturday June 22, forty-six people enjoyed a delicious meal, connecting with fellow animal advocates, and moving CAA’s work for animals forward during A Vegan Evening at Owamni. A description of the evening and photo slideshow are below.

Food, Community, and Presentations

The evening featured a four-course menu of Indigenous food from the award-winning restaurant along with a presentation on Owamni’s mission and each of the dishes from restaurant staff. Guests had a wonderful time visiting with each other while enjoying family-style dining.

There was also a presentation about the impact of CAA’s work for Minnesota’s farmed animals from treasurer and volunteer Hannah Milos as well as executive director Laura Matanah. Hannah and Laura’s presentations emphasized the critical role of volunteers and donors in helping us reach our goal of inviting one million Minnesotans to take action for animals by 2027.

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June 11, 2024

The 2024 Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit in May brought together over 800 passionate advocates from around the world. This included five representatives from CAA. Their experiences were a fertile ground for learning, networking, and inspiration. Across various workshops, panels, and informal gatherings, our team collected valuable experiences and insights. This will assist CAA further advance its work moving forward.

What is the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit (AVA)?

AVA is an international summit for individuals and organizations involved in animal advocacy. The summit included four days of workshop and plenary sessions on a variety of related topics. These ran the gamut from communications to policy work, strategies, organizing, fundraising, activism, and much more. Participants included those active in animal rights, animal welfare, alternative proteins, food system change, and related movements.  

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June 11, 2024

Grace Prins has been a passionate volunteer with Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) since 2022. Her first volunteering was at Twin Cities Veg Fest. She reports that “When I first went vegan, it felt pretty lonely because I didn’t know anyone else who shared my values and lifestyle. I started looking for ways to meet other vegans and volunteer for a cause I believed in and found CAA!” She signed up for our emails, followed us on MeetUp, and finally decided to volunteer. She was impressed by the dedication of CAA volunteers, especially those who spent a lot of time planning the festival.

Grace’s volunteer roles at CAA

Grace has volunteered in many different roles at CAA. She worked twice on the Zero Waste team at Twin Cities Veg Fest, helped plan the Vegan Chili Cook-Off, and joined the Annual Banquet committee for 2024. She also assisted people in signing up for the Veg Pledge at The Smell of Money movie screening and volunteered at Chicken Run Rescue for International Respect for Chickens Day. Beyond CAA, Grace also volunteers at Farmaste Animal Sanctuary, helping with barn cleanings.

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June 3, 2024

Hattie Mae, a 5-year-old Nubian goat, is a natural caretaker with a curious spirit. She arrived at her new home, Farmaste Animal Sanctuary on March 30, 2024. Since then, she’s been busy exploring and bonding with her new friends, Opie, a playful goat kid, and Willow, an adult goat.

Hattie Mae’s journey from the dairy industry

Hattie Mae’s journey began in the dairy breeding industry, where she produced triplets each year. She was eventually sold to a new breeder who was starting a herd. During routine tests, Hattie Mae was found to be positive for CAE (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis), a common and contagious disease among goats. Despite this, many breeders continue to breed CAE-positive goats. She may have been sent to slaughter at this point but Farmaste was able to take her in.

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May 24, 2024

Kim Milligan is a fresh face at Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA). She first heard about us this February, then jumped right in to volunteer as the Logistics Coordinator for the upcoming Twin Cities Veg Fest. She brings her enthusiasm and dedication to the cause, and we are so excited to have her aboard.

Discovering CAA: A “Sign from the Universe”

Kim discovered CAA through a friend who mentioned volunteer opportunities for Veg Fest. Feeling it was a “sign from the Universe,” she joined a CAA volunteer Zoom call that evening. Immediately, she knew she had found the right organization. She could see that she shares the same vision and moral and ethical values as CAA.

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May 24, 2024

CAA’s Wholesome Minnesota program made a big impact this spring! We held multiple events promoting plant-based diets with a variety of groups. Jodi Gruhn, Wholesome MN Director, inspired students and families through presentations, cooking sessions, and interactive activities.

The focus was on the critical link between diet and personal and environmental health. This message resonated with diverse audiences, encouraging healthier and more sustainable dietary choices. This blog provides an overview of each of the presentations.

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May 20, 2024

In a heartwarming tale of resilience, Rupert, a Pekin drake, found refuge and family at Herbivorous Acres Farm Sanctuary after a harrowing ordeal.

A tale of rescue and survival

Rupert’s life took a dramatic turn when he was callously thrown out of a moving vehicle at the Forest Lake Marina in December 2019. Fortunately, a compassionate person witnessed this act of cruelty and promptly alerted the police. Acting swiftly, the police managed to catch Rupert and brought him to the feed mill utilized by Herbivorous Acres. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Herbivorous Acres was contacted to inquire if they had room to accommodate the injured and frightened young drake.

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