Stacey Bowman’s passion for animals brings her to Wishing Well Sanctuary in Bradford, Ontario – a haven for creatures big and small. The facility is home to animals like pigs, llamas, and a turkey with attitude named Hector. Bowman runs the entire facility. Her tasks include feeding, cleaning, and keeping them hydrated. If one is sick, she tends to them until they recover.

“She’s like the mom to all of the animals,” says volunteer Jordan Priebe. “I don’t even know how this place would continue if she wasn’t here."

Since the founder of Wishing Well left in the summer, Bowman has taken on new responsibilities. She’s now in charge of social media and volunteer coordinating – all while being on the sanctuary’s Board of Directors.

Bowman says she doesn’t need a pat on the back; to her, advocating for animals is a calling. She says it is our collective responsibility as human beings to be a voice for the voiceless.

The animal advocate takes a strong stance against factory farming – a practice intended to cut costs and generate maximum profit. Animals kept in confined spaces often suffer from respiratory infections and other painful diseases. They are subject to tail docking, beak trimming, and castration without anesthesia.  An essay in the journal Animal Behavior and Cognition found that cows display learned fear responses to humans who have abused them in the past.

Through her work at Wishing Well, Bowman wants to shift the public perception away from viewing animals as a commodity. Her goal is to convey their beauty and vulnerability to those who take them for granted.