Today we’d like to introduce you to Kris Taylor.
Hi Kris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Shy 38 began with the cows on the other side of our fence. In 2013, my family moved to Tonganoxie, Kansas, next to a pasture where a herd grazed each spring and summer. I had always loved animals and was vegetarian at the time, but getting to know those cows personally changed my life.
My children and I watched their friendships, learned their personalities, and saw how lovingly the mothers cared for their calves. We also heard them calling and watched them searching after their babies were taken away. One cow wore an ear tag numbered 38. She became the inspiration for our name and a reminder that every animal is an individual.
I founded Shy 38 Inc. in 2015 with the goal of creating a farm animal sanctuary and helping others make those same connections. In January 2019, we acquired our sanctuary property near Lawrence, Kansas. Today, we provide lifelong care for around 200 rescued animals, including cows, pigs, horses, miniature horses, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, and other birds.
Each resident has a story. Helen was rescued from neglect on a dairy farm several years ago, yet despite her rough start, she loves people. Our newest resident, Pixie, is a polydactyl pig with four toes on each front foot and a huge personality. Had a kind person not stepped in to help her, she would have been slaughtered for meat. We also care for over 90 roosters, which is highly unusual for a sanctuary. Roosters are frequently unwanted and have very few safe places to go.
That need helped inspire our Hatching Kindness Project, a free, humane alternative to classroom chick hatching. After taking in classroom-hatched chicks—most of whom were roosters—we wanted to give educators a way to teach science without bringing more animals into the world with uncertain futures.
Getting here has meant years of daily care, fundraising, learning, and building with limited resources. We remain volunteer-run and depend on the people who donate, show up, and believe in this work. We’re currently improving fencing and animal spaces, including building our Chicken Neighborhood to give our rescued birds safer, more organized accommodations.
The work has grown far beyond those first days watching cows through a fence, but the purpose remains the same: giving animals a safe place to live and helping people get to know them as individuals.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. Consistent funding and volunteer help are ongoing challenges. Feed, hay, bedding, veterinary care, and property maintenance are constant expenses, and the animals’ needs don’t pause when donations slow down.
Limited space, aging fencing, and Kansas weather also present challenges. Improvements happen in stages as funding and help become available, while daily care always comes first.
We had hoped to expand onto neighboring acreage, but that opportunity fell through, leaving us with limited space for grazing and improvements. One of our long-term goals is to move to a larger property where our residents will have more room and we can build a more sustainable future for the sanctuary.
There’s an emotional side to rescue, too—helping animals recover from neglect and eventually saying goodbye to beloved residents. Seeing them feel safe, form friendships, and enjoy their lives makes the work worthwhile.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Shy 38 Inc. is a vegan farm animal sanctuary in rural Lawrence, Kansas. We provide lifelong care for rescued farm animals while promoting compassion through advocacy and humane education. Our residents include cows, pigs, horses, goats, sheep, many birds, and several animals with special needs, each with their own personality, relationships, and story.
One thing that sets us apart is our commitment to roosters. Over 90 live here, which is highly unusual for a sanctuary. Roosters are often unwanted, prohibited by local ordinances, or left without homes after classroom hatching projects. They deserve safety and care just as much as any other animal.
We’re especially proud of our Hatching Kindness Project, a free, humane alternative to classroom chick hatching. It helps educators teach science and empathy without creating more animals who may have nowhere to go. Extending compassion beyond our sanctuary through education is an important part of our work. Shy38i.org
Any big plans?
One of our biggest long-term goals is to acquire a larger property with more grazing land and room for our residents. We’re currently closed to new intakes so we can focus on the animals already in our care and build a sustainable foundation for the future.
We’re also looking forward to expanding our humane education work. Building on the Hatching Kindness Project, we want to create more compassionate alternatives to animal-based classroom activities, giving children opportunities to learn science, develop empathy, and understand animals as individuals.
A larger property and more educational resources would help us deepen our impact—both for the animals who call Shy 38 home and for those we can help by inspiring more compassionate choices.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Shy38.org
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/shy38inc
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/shy38inc
- Other: Tiktok @Shy38inc
