From one cow to 200 rescued animals

Most animal sanctuaries begin with compassion.

Shy 38 Animal Sanctuary began with a single cow.

She wasn’t known by a name. She was simply Number 38, one of dozens of cows grazing in a neighboring pasture. Yet by quietly observing her and the rest of the herd, founder Kris Taylor and her young children witnessed something that would forever change the course of their lives.

They saw mothers form deep bonds with their calves. They watched friendships develop within the herd. And each autumn, they witnessed the heartbreaking grief that followed when calves were taken away from their mothers.

Those moments revealed a simple truth: these animals were not products. They were thinking, feeling individuals with unique personalities and emotional lives.

That quiet cow became the inspiration behind what is now Shy 38 Animal Sanctuary.

From One Cow to Nearly 200 Rescued Animals

Today, Shy 38 provides lifelong sanctuary to nearly 200 rescued animals, including cows, pigs, horses, chickens, ducks, and almost 90 rescued roosters.

Every resident has a story.

Many arrived after surviving neglect, abandonment, or exploitation. Others were victims of classroom chick-hatching projects or situations where people simply no longer wanted them. At Shy 38, they finally have the opportunity to live as they were always meant to, surrounded by safety, companionship, and compassion.

Running a sanctuary of this size is demanding work. Feeding, cleaning, veterinary care, and responding to emergencies are part of daily life. While every day brings joy, it also brings responsibility and, at times, heartbreak as aging residents reach the end of their lives.

Changing Hearts Through Education

While rescuing animals is at the heart of Shy 38’s mission, changing hearts and minds may be its greatest long-term impact.

Educator Elizabeth Wallace has helped develop the Hatching Kindness Project, an innovative classroom curriculum that offers schools an ethical alternative to traditional chick-hatching experiments.

Rather than incubating live eggs and leaving teachers to find homes for unwanted chicks, students explore the complete life cycle of chickens through interactive models, digital learning, engaging activities, and even “Chicken TV,” a live stream that allows children to observe rescued chickens living naturally at the sanctuary.

The program teaches biology and life science while introducing empathy, responsible decision-making, and respect for animals. Students still receive an engaging, hands-on learning experience, but without causing unnecessary harm.

Every Animal Has a Story

One of the sanctuary’s greatest ambassadors is Walter, a rescued rooster who challenges nearly every stereotype people have about roosters.

Visitors expecting aggressive behavior instead discover a gentle, curious bird with his own personality and preferences. Encounters like these help people rethink long-held assumptions about animals they may have only known through agriculture or childhood myths.

It is often these personal connections that create lasting change.

When people spend time with rescued animals as individuals instead of commodities, compassion naturally follows.

Small Acts Create Lasting Change

Throughout this conversation, one message rises above everything else: meaningful change doesn’t require millions of people acting all at once.

It begins with one person making one compassionate choice.

One teacher choosing a different classroom project.

One child learning empathy instead of indifference.

One family looking at animals through new eyes.

And one quiet cow named Number 38 who unknowingly inspired a sanctuary that continues to change lives every single day.

To learn more about Shy 38 Animal Sanctuary, support their mission, or explore the Hatching Kindness Project, visit shy38.org. Together, we can build a world where every animal is seen, valued, and given the opportunity to live with dignity.

Episode Highlights

[00:00] Introduction

[02:30] Kris’ start with animal advocacy

[04:30] Elizabeth was right behind

[06:30] The danger of hatching chicken eggs in classrooms

[07:45] How Shy38 got its start

[10:00] Shy38 curriculum

[15:00] Shy38 is committed to educating children

[19:00] How Shy38 raises funds

[22:30] Small actions create big results

[25:00] Moving forward for Shy38

About Kris Taylor and Elizabeth Wallace

Kris Taylor is the founder of Lawrence, KS based non-profit farmed animal sanctuary, Shy 38 Inc. The sanctuary was founded in 2015 after Kris and her family lived in a house next to a farmer’s herd of cows. The sanctuary’s mission is to change public perception of animals raised for food, offer humane education programs to local youth and provide a safe space for their 200 rescued residents including horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats and over 80 roosters.

Elizabeth Wallace

As a lifelong vegetarian and vegan for over a decade, Elizabeth Wallace started working with Shy 38 in the spring of 2022. She has been a licensed teacher since 2012, and currently works as a senior training developer. She has a passion for both helping animals and teaching people.

About Cheryl Moss

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. She is also the founder of the Funding Blueprint for Sanctuaries summit, designed to empower those involved with sanctuaries to create sustainable funding streams.

A passionate advocate for animal welfare, Cheryl is dedicated to ending factory farming and supporting underrepresented sanctuaries.

Beyond podcasting, Cheryl is a banking professional and an accomplished children’s author. A graduate of Main Street Vegan Academy, she recently added Vystopia Transformation to her resume. The Vystopia work, created by psychologist Clare Mann, focuses on the emotional impact many people experience after becoming aware of animal suffering and exploitation. The training offers tools for resilience, communication, and emotional well-being while continuing to advocate for positive change.

Through her books, Gabriel, Cluck, and Pickle the Pig, Cheryl inspires young readers to embrace kindness, sustainability, and compassion for animals.

When not advocating, she enjoys Pilates 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.

https://www.facebook.com/BLFAnimals/