Hi, I’m Buttercup

In spring of 2019, Barn Sanctuary was contacted about an eight year old cow in Pinckney, Michigan. The woman’s husband had passed away and she was having difficulties getting close to her, and even feeding her. Buttercup had started exhibiting what was likely fear-based aggression.

Rather than send her to slaughter, the woman contacted us and Buttercup was brought to her forever home at Barn Sanctuary. The staff set up a private, secluded pen with a small pasture to eliminate as much stress as possible while allowing her to acclimate to her new surroundings and caretakers. She was very cautious around staff, who slowly worked at gaining her trust and quickly discovered her love for corn on the cob. When she was finally ready, she was introduced to the big pasture, where she met her new cow friends.

The moment Buttercup stepped into the pasture, she turned into a completely different cow. She was so excited to meet her new friends, and she spent hours frolicking with them in the grass. While Buttercup is still a little bit cautious of people, she has come such a long way and continues to make progress with trusting those around her.

Your sponsorship will help provide daily care, regular medical checkups, and cover any unexpected emergency care. Please sponsor Buttercup to provide the care she deserves!

Richard V. Hausrod, MD - Treasurer

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

    A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

    Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

    Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

    She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Richard V. Hausrod, MD - Treasurer

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

    A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

    Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

    Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

    She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Alicia Prygosk - Board Chair

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

    A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

    Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

    Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

    She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Alicia Prygoski

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

    A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

    Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

    Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

    She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Erin Klug

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

    A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

    Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

    Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

    She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Alicia Prygoski

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

    A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

    Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

    Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

    She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Richard V. Hausrod, MD

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

    A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

    Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

    Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

    She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Alicia Prygoski

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

    A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

    Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

    Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

    She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Alicia Prygoski

  • Animal Legal Defense Fund - Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager | Washington, DC

    A dedicated animal rights advocate, Alicia oversees the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s federal legislative portfolio and works to advance animal protection legislation at all levels of government. She has been integral to the passage of several laws,including, most recently, the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which the President signed into law in 2022.

    Alicia has an extensive background in farmed animal protection issues, previously working on public policy for farmed animal welfare at the Humane Society of the United States and then as a farmed animal policy associate at the Animal Welfare Institute. At both organizations, she advanced protections for farmed animals in several different states and contributed to the passage of ballot initiatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island banning the extreme confinement of animals in industrial animal agriculture.Before beginning her career in the animal protection movement, Alicia worked to pass environmental and conservation legislation with the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

    Alicia holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School. In 2016, she received the Wanda A. Nash Award from the State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section for advancing animal law in the state.

    She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband Luke and her rescue dog Patches. She fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.