A $260,000 Loss… and a Lifeline Through Stories
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Did you know that 82% of starving children live in countries where food is grown to feed animals consumed in the West? This staggering fact is just one of many powerful insights shared by John Vallimarescu, featured guest on the Better Life for Animals podcast hosted by Cheryl Moss.
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In this heart-centered and eye-opening conversation, John shares how he transitioned from a career in economic consulting to serving as Chair of the Board for Sunset Farm Sanctuary in Cove,
Arkansas—a forever home to 129 rescued animals. After the sanctuary lost $260,000 worth of property and equipment to a dishonest moving company, John launched a meaningful project to help raise funds: a $9.99 eBook titled Voices of Kindness and Compassion: Interviews with Vegans.
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More than just a fundraiser, the book is a call to conscience, a collection of stories from people around the globe who have embraced veganism for the sake of animals, health, and the planet. Proceeds from the book directly support the care and feeding of the animals at Sunset Farm.
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Why Veganism Isn’t Just About Food—It’s About the Future
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John shared a compelling “thought experiment,” inviting listeners to imagine a geomagnetic storm wiping out the power grid in four minutes. What would be the final messages to leave behind? Among his top five takeaways:
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- Consider a vegan philosophy and plant-based diet for personal and planetary healing.–
- Strive to end factory farming and treat all beings with dignity and compassion.–
- Remember the words of Gerald Durrell:
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“Until we consider animal life to be worthy of the consideration and reverence we bestow upon old books and pictures and historic monuments, there will always be the animal refugee living a precarious life on the edge of extermination…”
– - Help recover from the sanctuary’s devastating loss by purchasing Voices of Kindness and Compassion.–
- Be strong in love.—
It’s a message that transcends diet—it’s about ethics, empathy, and creating a world where no being is left behind.
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From TikTok to Sanctuary: An Unlikely Journey
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John never imagined his TikTok hobby would connect him to animal rescue. What started as posting art museum photos led to a serendipitous encounter with Helen Demas, co-founder of Sunset Farm Sanctuary. When Helen invited him to join the board, John saw it as a way to return to a childhood love of animals—one that started with a horse named Pancho, a gift from his parents during a time when he was being bullied as a child in the Dominican Republic.
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His deep connection to animals was rekindled, and today, he plays a vital role in supporting the day-to-day survival of a sanctuary that gives a second chance to abused, neglected, and abandoned beings.
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The Realities of Running a Sanctuary
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As John explains, running a sanctuary isn’t as romantic as it may seem. While the bond between animals and caregivers is extraordinary, the work is constant, emotionally intense, and often dangerous. Pit bull attacks, injured animals, and the daily grind of feeding and caring for 129 animals fall mostly on the shoulders of Helen, a skilled veterinary technician with a heart of gold—but without farmhands, she’s doing it almost entirely alone.
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A Global Chorus of Vegan Voices
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In Voices of Kindness and Compassion, John gathered written interviews from 38 vegans across 10 countries. From forklift drivers and IT students to authors and zoologists, the stories span generations and geographies. Each person responded to 17 thoughtful questions, including:
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- What motivated you to become vegan?–
- What impact has veganism had on your health?–
- Have you ever been to a slaughterhouse?–
- What inspires you most in the movement?–
- How do you get your protein—and do you eat dark chocolate?–
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There’s also a bonus afterward by Lulu the Savior Pig and Aurora the Very Aware Cat, with photographs by Rafal Mijakowski, an animal rights activist.
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One Small Action, Big Impact
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As Cheryl wisely pointed out during the episode, “A book like this is a wonderful way to get started… to help a sanctuary for $10 and to feel like, yes, I’m making a difference.” Whether you’re a seasoned vegan, a curious flexitarian, or someone exploring your values, Voices of Kindness and Compassion is a beautiful entry point into a more conscious way of living—and a direct way to support animals who need us now more than ever.
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John and Cheryl’s conversation is a reminder that the path to compassion is walked one action at a time—one story, one donation, one life touched.
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Episode Highlights
[00:00] Introduction
[04:00] “End of days” thought experiment.
[07:00] Photography was a catalyst for John’s activism.
[10:00] A horse named Poncho further influenced John’s commitment.
[13:45] What it actually takes to run a sanctuary.
[17:00] Pitbull fighting in Arkansas challenges the sanctuary’s efforts.
[20:00] Sanctuaries everywhere need young hands.
[23:00] Using an eBook to raise funds.
[30:40] The reality of food insecurity.
[33:00] How Lulu, the pig, is changing minds and hearts.
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About John Vallimarescu
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John Vallimarescu is Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Sunset Farms Sanctuary in Cove, Arkansas, a forever home to 129 animals rescued from abuse, neglect, abandonment and tragically shortened lifespans.
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After a career in economic consulting, John became a National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) with Senior Fitness, Corrective Exercise, Nutrition, and Cancer Exercise certifications.
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While displaying his hobby of photography on TikTok, it caught the attention of Helen Demes and her husband Brian Reeds. Helen and Brian are co-founders and co-owners of Sunset Farms Sanctuary in Cove, Arkansas.
John, an animal lover since childhood, gladly accepted Helen’s TikTok invitation to join the Sunset Farms Sanctuary Board of Directors and help contribute to the sustainment and well-being of the sanctuary’s 129 rescued animals.
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As a fundraiser for the sanctuary, John has published a $9.99 eBook available on both Amazon Kindle and Google Play Books, entitled “VOICES OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION: Interviews With Vegans,” which includes informative and inspirational interviews with 38 vegans of all ages and professions in ten countries, compelling sanctuary stories and photographs, Afterwords by Lulu the Savior Pig and Aurora the Very Aware Cat, and photographs by animal rights activist Rafal Mysakowski.
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About Cheryl Moss
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Cheryl Moss is the host of the Better Life for Animals podcast, where she shares uplifting stories from sanctuaries and highlights the work of vegan activists, ethical consumers, and animal welfare leaders. A passionate advocate for animal welfare, she is dedicated to ending factory farming and is working to raise $100,000 for Mercy For Animals to support underrepresented sanctuaries.
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Beyond podcasting, Cheryl is a banking professional and an accomplished children’s author. A graduate of Main Street Vegan Academy, she promotes plant-based living through her books—Gabriel, Cluck, and Pickle the Pig—which inspire young readers to embrace kindness, sustainability, and compassion for animals.
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When not advocating, she enjoys Pilates, show jumping, and spending time with her rescue dogs and grandchildren. Through her work, writing, and activism, Cheryl continues to inspire positive
change for animals and the planet.
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https://www.facebook.com/BLFAnimals/
https://x.com/betterlife4anim
https://www.instagram.com/betterlife4animals/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylmossabetterlifeforanimals/
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