Jon Stewart to open an animal sanctuary in New Jersey

Jon Stewart has traded in The Daily Show for farm life, having purchased a property in New Jersey that will be turned into a sanctuary for rescued factory farm animals.

On Saturday, Stewart and his wife, Tracey, were honored at a gala in New York City by Farm Sanctuary for their work. "I'm a little uncomfortable," he told the crowd. "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." The Stewarts' planned sanctuary will also have an educational center, and will be Farm Sanctuary's fourth rescue center. They did not say when it is expected to be up and running.

It's not entirely surprising that the Stewarts have gone down this path, AFP reports. Tracey Stewart recently published a book about animal rights, and on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart brought up the welfare of animals several times, once mocking New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) for vetoing a proposed ban on confining pigs to small pens.

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