Jon Stewart is Opening an Animal Sanctuary – No Joke!

Comedian Jon Stewart is done with make people laugh for a living – and he’s moving on to giving rescued factory farm animals a loving home. In a recent announcement made with his wife Tracey, Stewart joked: “I’m a little uncomfortable. I’ve spent the last 20 years immersed in the world of Washington politics and the media landscape, so I don’t know how to deal necessarily with people who have empathy.”

Jokes aside, it sounds like Stewart is going to do just fine in the empathy stakes. Him and his wife purchased a 12-acre farm in Middletown, New Jersey to house the animal sanctuary, and plan to work in coordination with the animal rights nonprofit Farm Sanctuary. Along with caring for rescued animals, the farm will also include an educational center.

Jon and Tracey Stewart are no strangers to animal welfare. The comedian often highlighted the issue during his six-year stint hosting The Daily Show, and his wife recently published an aptly-titled book on animal husbandry, Do Unto Animals.