Patty has personally conducted numerous investigations into factory farms and backyard breeders, often in the cold dead of night, with a flashlight and video camera in hand.

Nearly 46 years ago, Patty founded Animal Liberation Victoria (ALV) in 1978. Her commitment to the animals led her to pioneer the Open Rescue movement, where activists do not hide their identities while documenting conditions and rescuing animals.

Open Rescue has since become a world-wide practice, inspiring groups such as Direct Action Everywhere, Animal Equality, Mercy For Animals, other Animal Liberation groups, Open Rescue Collective (New Zealand), Farm Transparency Project, Compassion Over Killing (now Animal Outlook) and many others.

“Those early open rescues by Patty and her group Animal Liberation Victoria triggered international attention and put farm animals front and center in animal rights”

– Wayne Hsiung, co-founder of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE)

A staunch believer in the principle of non-violence, her rescue missions have always been peaceful and the only “property damage” an occasional broken padlock (she would leave a replacement!) She has faced violent, threatening farmers and slaughterhouse workers, attempting to engage their empathy and compassion.

Over the years Patty also homed numerous animals at her suburban residence in Elwood, which came to be known as ALV’s urban sanctuary. It was not uncommon to be greeted at the front gate by friendly sheep, goats, ducks, hens, roosters, turkeys, dogs and even calves and pigs!

In 2016 Patty moved to a large rural property where the urban sanctuary became Liberation Sanctuary, a forever home for over 140 rescued animals. She continues to volunteer at the Sanctuary as the manager and serve as the president of ALV.

Liberation Sanctuary requires several employees and many volunteers to care for the animals who live there. Vet bills, feed and maintenance are expensive. If you can, your monthly support would mean the world to the animals in our care.

Visit alv.org.au/donate to become an ALV Supporter and help the animals at Liberation Sanctuary. Your monthly contribution entitles you to receive generous discounts at vegan businesses Australia-wide and online, who are part of our Ethical Community.

Or if you’d like to sponsor a specific animal at Liberation Sanctuary, visit liberation.org.au/family

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