Meet the Cows
Maple Mae
Maple Mae is a Jersey cow that has had a tumultuous life. She was born on a dairy farm, but was bought by a different farm that eventually became a criminal neglect case with nearly a thousand animals. For years, she lived with numerous other cows on a multi-acre pasture with no shelter or veterinary care. It was a fresh water stream that kept Maple and the cows she lived with alive for years, through neglect, extreme weather, and other seasonal conditions. Other animals on the property were not so lucky, as there were hundreds of individuals that were in critical condition or had already died by the time that rescues arrived. Today, we are glad that Maple is a healthy cow and part of our family, and we think she is too.
It goes without saying that Maple arrived to us not knowing much about people or proper cow life at all. She didn't like to be touched, and would often startle and stare at cars and other sounds of normal life. After a couple months of TLC, she now enjoys being pet, and gives sloppy cow kisses to hands, arms, sleeves, pants, whatever is in reach. She is a very loving girl to those who earn her trust!
Spudley Dudley
Spudley Dudley, aka Spud, is a Jersey steer with an adorable carrot top hairstyle! He is extremely playful and enjoys headbutting. Luckily, he has no horns to cause real damage. He just gets too excited and can't contain himself! His big friend Maple has been teaching him how to behave, and he is learning a lot from her. He is on much better behavior since having someone show him the ropes. Spud thanks her for her patience and companionship often by giving her kisses and nibbles, which she happily returns. Their friendship is beautiful.
Like every baby boy born on a dairy farm, Spud was destined to be slaughtered. The farm had used DNA sexing technology to select for a female cow, but Spud was an "oops" in the system. When he was born, he was kept around as a playful companion for human children. When he reached a year of age, the farm decided that his time was up. We don't believe that animals are playthings, and we are so happy that Spud got his second chance with us. In fact, despite being a little dangerous, Spud can have as many chances as he wants here! We love him exactly how he is.
Hazelnut Cosmo
Hazelnut is a Holstein heifer with a miraculous story. She was born on a dairy farm unable to stand, legs tightly contracted. She was left helpless on the ground for over a month, only propped up to receive feedings. A young woman affiliated with the dairy had negotiated for her surrender and eventually found us. When we took Hazelnut in, we admitted her to the hospital right away. There, the caked-on waste was washed off of her body, her wounds were tended, and she was treated for ear and eye infections, pneumonia, and a deep, life-threatening pressure wound that had developed from being left on the ground. She was given a less than 1% chance of recovery by her vets. Though it took multiple weeks of healing and physical therapy before she was finally able to stand, she did it! Her life was saved thanks to the devoted vet students and clinicians there that taught her to walk using a sling, and Lancaster Farm Sanctuary who taught them the PT techniques.
When Hazelnut finally came home to the sanctuary, we spent weeks performing physical therapy, restricted exercise, and tending to her deep pressure wound. Eventually her contracted legs that made walking stiff and painful became straight and strong! And then as she spent more time on her feet, the dangerous pressure wound became just a small scab on her skin. Today, you would never guess that Hazelnut was close to death. She is bright, bubbly, and loves to gallop and romp around. Her name comes from the first time we met her, when she was a lifeless calf laying in the back of a van. When I looked into her big brown eyes, I saw the universe and cosmos reflected with a hazelnut tint, and all that made our stars align for her to join our family.
Mindy Rose
Mindy Rose is a Red Angus heifer who was rescued as a young calf by a loving family. She had numerous infections at the time of her rescue, one of which unfortunately resulted in partially blinding her permanently. For two years she lived with that family and a flock of sheep, but she was missing the vital companionship of other cows, which caused her to break out of their fence and put her life and the sheep's lives in danger on a daily basis. When her family recognized the imminent danger she was causing, they contacted us for help, and we could not say no to the urgent case of sweet Mindy!
Today, Mindy has blossomed in the company of her five new cow friends and no longer wishes to roam. She spends her days lovingly grooming and being groomed by Spud and Hazelnut, her best friends. She loves to get excited and romp around during hay deliveries! Her blind eye makes her cautious as she approaches, but her sweet and mild-mannered personality also lets her love a good scratch on the nose before heading back out to the field to her besties.
Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday is a Holstein heifer that is gentle and mild-mannered! She has an elegant, reserved nature and is bonded closely with the other young cows, but especially Huckleberry. She arrived with Huck from a petting zoo-type farm that had initially purchased her from auction when she was just a few days old, but they could not keep the two permanently. Auctions are terrible places for animals, and there is often rampant disease, overcrowding, and physical abuse that occurs there. She would surely have been sold for veal, or to become exploited by the dairy industry due to being a female cow of a dairy breed.
Today Ruby is a big gentle girl who loves to groom Huck, hang out with Hazelnut, and be pet with the cow brush on her head and neck! What sets her apart from the other cows is that she just loves to zoom around and kick her back legs. Ruby loves to prance and dance when she gets excited, and it's so fun to watch!
Huckleberry “Huck” Huey
Huckleberry is a young Jersey steer that is rambunctious and loves to play. He has a bit of a mischievous and wild nature and is bonded closely with the other young cows, but especially Ruby. He arrived with Ruby from a petting zoo-type farm that had initially purchased him from auction when he was just a few days old. Auctions are terrible places for animals, and there is often rampant disease, overcrowding, and physical abuse that occurs there. Due to his sex and breed, Huck was likely destined to become veal by another purchaser, or allowed to live slightly longer to become beef.
Huck has a super outgoing personality and will stand still to be pet, groomed, and loved on by whoever he can get attention from. He can be a little mischievous with his horns and seeing what trouble he can cause with them! However, he is extraordinarily gentle around humans and would be happy for any love (or bananas!) you can give him.