Before you think I’ve gone absolutely mad in suggesting you bring home an actual baby veal to be placed under the tree, let me explain that I’m talking about farm animal adoption, which is a great gift idea for your animal-loving and vegetarian friends and family.
If you find modern farming methods as abhorrent as I do, the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary is an ideal place to get a wonderful present such as this. Take Dylan, for instance, photographed above, a calf who was found stuck in his own feces. Being male, he was of no use to farmers because he couldn’t produce milk.
Through this website (which is 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your gift is even tax-exempt), you can simply use your credit card to pay and your giftee will receive a photo of the animal, a certificate and their story. So not only do you save fuel by shopping at home, but you also save the earth by forgoing the usual mass consumerism of the holiday season. Needless to say, your kids will love you for saving “Wilbur” from the bacon factory.
“…with the FABULOUS gift of an ANIMAL SPONSORSHIP the lucky (and now adoring) recipient of your uber-goodness will receive a beautiful, personalized photo card of the animal who you select (or we can select for you), including a description of that animal’s rescue story and personality, plus an optional personalized note from you! The recipient also gets full membership to the farm and special privileges to visit their animal any time of year, and your credit card will be billed a modest amount each month.”