Former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart Is Opening an Animal Sanctuary

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Ever since political satirist Jon Stewart retired from his role as host of Comedy Central’s

The Daily Show

in August, the media has been speculating about his next career move. Now, nearly three months later, Stewart has announced plans for his next role: animal rescuer.  Stewart and his wife Tracey, a former vet tech, have purchased a farm in New Jersey, which they plan to transform into an animal sanctuary and education center, according to

Yahoo! News

. The farm will be the fourth rescue center affiliated with

Farm Sanctuary

, an organization which rescues and rehabilitates animals from factory farms. Though Stewart’s new career may be a bit fuzzier than his last, he’s long been engaged with animal welfare issues, repeatedly discussing the topic on

The Daily Show

over the years. Together, the Stewarts have rescued close to a dozen animals, including several farm animals, according to

The A.V. Club

. Now those animals, and more, will have a home on the couple's 12-acre farm.

Stewart acknowledges that the plan is a big shift from the cynical world of political comedy. At a recent Farm Sanctuary gala,

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.”

[h/t