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Kindred Creatures, A Documentary About Farm Animals as Sentient Individuals

by Jennie Richards · Published March 5, 2022 · Updated March 6, 2022

“They are somebody – not something. They resemble us physically, anatomically, psychologically, mentally—that is the truth of the matter. They are living beings who are aware of the world, aware of what happens to them, and it matters to them what happens to them, it matters to the quality of their life as they experience it.” ~ Tom Regan, PhD Philosophy, author of The Case for Animal Rights

Kindred Creatures is a feature-length documentary that captures the beauty and individuality of farm animals who are rescued and peacefully living out their lives on farm sanctuaries. The director, Samuel Sprynczynatyk, visits many farm sanctuaries throughout the U.S. and interviews sanctuary owners about the impactful story of how the animals were rescued, and how having a sanctuary changed their lives. The film explores the personalities and ways of life of the animals used in animal agriculture, and explores the bonds they share with humans and each other, and the work that farm animal sanctuaries do. It also touches on animal sentience, animal rights activism, and the impacts of a vegan diet.

Film Length: 1 Hour, 8 Minutes

Film Premier: 2019

More about the Film

Watch the film on Amazon

Buy the DVD on Amazon

Watch the Interview with the Film Director: https://vimeo.com/234547157

Quotes from the Film

“They are somebody – not something. They resemble us physically, anatomically, psychologically, mentally—that the truth of the matter. They are living beings who are aware of the world, aware of what happens to them, and it matters to them what happens to them, it matters to the quality of THEIR life as they experience it.” ~ Tom Regan, Philosopher, PhD Philosophy, author of The Case for Animal Rights

“Animals raised today are treated like machines in a factory. A lot of people just don’t know the horror of their food. They hurt. The animals hurt physically and they hurt emotionally from what we do to them—for food.”

“We need to see other creatures as individuals.”

“The philosophy of animal rights stands for peace, and opposed to violence done to animals.”

“It’s very apparent this is not the proper way to treat an animal.”

“We are all capable of being part of the solution, and literally saving these animals. We can be part of the problem, or part of the solution – be a vote against this cruel, unjust industry.”

“It’s upsetting, it’s upsetting to see people eat my friend.”

“Despite our many differences with animals, we and they are equal.”

“Animals have a life of their own, they are aware of their world, what happens to them matters to them.”

“Farm animals just want to be safe and loved, just like your dogs and cats do.”

“There is an undeclared war being waged every day against countless millions of animals, time to stand truly for peace–against their exploitation.”

“They feel happiness, sadness, they feel pleasure and pain—they are just like you and I.”

“It remains to be seen who the political victor is between what is just—and what is not just at all.”

“A farm sanctuary is a place for farm animals that have been abused, neglected – where they live in freedom. It’s usually the first time they feel love. They can live in peace, live out their lives, where there are no demands on them, and they can be happy.”

“I started to learn the personalities of farm animals when I started a farm animal sanctuary.”

“They know they are so safe and loved and protected.”

“Animal rights advocates—oppose what is being done to animals today. They want to intervene. They want to help animals. They want to change what is happening to animals. They want to include animals in our moral community. They are opposed to any and all violence done to animals.”

“Is there a humane way to kill a human who doesn’t want to die? Of course not.”

“I want everyone who comes to visit Chicken Run Rescue to hold one of our rescue chickens, hold them close to their heart, look into their eyes, so they see what we see in each animal. Every person who has this interaction has a changed perspective.”

“Spring Farm is about opening people’s eyes to the beauty and spirit of all animals.”

“It’s very fulfilling not to eat animals any longer, but also to provide these animals with a safe, loving home—it’s the least we can do for them.”

“They are no different than our pets. No different than a dog. They all have their unique personalities. My job is to make sure they live the life that they are meant to live.”

“A lot of these animals came from very bad places, it takes a lot of time for them to heal and trust again, but eventually they do.”

“We have a rooster sanctuary, people don’t understand or know roosters.”

“We see these birds first thing in the morning, and put them to bed at night, and keep our number of birds to a level that we can have a relationship with each bird—so it’s not a sea of birds. Chickens are the best kept secret! Each one is so different, such individual personalities.”

“There are snuggly hens, I had no idea – there are hens that have so much reasoning ability and can figure things out more than you imagine.”

“By breeding domesticated chickens to have as many eggs as they do today— we guarantee a short life for them. The number of eggs hens are forced to have today is so abnormal—that literally causes their death, they ‘lay eggs to death.’ It’s normal for a hen to have up to 12 eggs a year, but factory farm hens are forced to lay 300-350 eggs per year which causes them to die in one year. Normally, they live 15 years.”

“Sheep love to play. People don’t know that. They love to be goofy. They can memorize faces, up to 10 people, and 30 other sheep.”

“When we allow people to see farm animals that are loved in a safe place, they make the connection, and see how farm animals really are—individuals.”

“The animals are my friends, and you don’t want to eat your friends.”

“The kids that visit the sanctuary, make the connection and walk away not wanting to eat animals.”

“A little kindness can change everything.”

“Most pigs are sent to slaughter at nine months old. Wally is now 1.5 years old and is going to have a really good life at our sanctuary.”

Story of Wally

“Wally knew he was going to slaughter, at nine months old, he kicked the back gate of the truck five times, and he punched a hole in it and jumped out the back of the truck going 70 MPH on the highway, took a couple of big rolls, and waited in the middle of the road for the Humane Society to pick him up! He saved himself. He knew he was going to die.”

Story of Libby

“Libby was from Craigslist advertised for $1 dollar. She had a very high fever when we picked her up, but we got her to the University of Minnesota. We were told she had a one-percent chance to live, and we said “go for it” do what you need to do—we found out she had a 100-pound puss-filled uterus. They drained it, and she had a very long recovery–three months, but she was a fighter, and wanted her life. She is one of the biggest loves of my life.”

“Since my husband has developed relationships with our sanctuary animals, he has completely stopped eating meat, ‘I don’t miss it—I could never eat meat again. I could never eat another animal ever again.'”