Oct20
A (Truly) Happy Cow
Posted at 10:05 AM | Permalink
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Comments (11)
Actually, to be precise, Jerry's a steer. A PETA investigator found him hobbling around a field and scrounging for weeds at the appallingly filthy Pennsylvania dairy farm we told you about last month. This is how the investigator described the 5-month-old calf in her log:
[I] found a steer at the entrance to the barn (outside of the fence) who looked [to be] in a pitiful condition. He is thin, pot-bellied, buckled over at the front knees and pasterns … and when he looks at you he has a tilt to his head. Flies were covering both of his eyes, which appeared cloudy.
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In addition to being crippled, the young calf was crawling with lice and was nearly blind because of pinkeye, a bacterial infection that spreads like wildfire in the disgusting conditions on factory farms. PETA's investigator bought Jerry and whisked him away to a "safe house" until he could be driven to his new home at a sanctuary.
Although he was initially (and understandably) terrified of humans, we're told that Jerry became mysteriously calm during the ride to the sanctuary. It was as if he considered the journey to be an adventure and knew that it would end at a safe and loving place.
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Jerry has now almost fully recovered and regained most of his sight. He loves to wait outside the back door every evening at dinner time, and he's become the adopted "big brother" of another calf who was rescued from the same farm. If the younger calf strays too far, Jerry will go off in search of his adopted sibling.
Unfortunately, not all calves are as lucky as Jerry. Most male calves who are born on dairy farms are sent to slaughter, usually after they've been confined for up to 23 weeks to cramped veal crates that are intended to prevent the calves from moving so that their flesh will stay unnaturally pale. Making sure that you don't contribute to their suffering is as easy as giving up dairy foods.
To read a more about Jerry, you can head over to Facebook, where he is featured on our "causes" page.
Posted by Alisa Mullins
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Comments
God bless him.
Posted by: NT | October 20, 2009 12:37 PM
Boy, God must have been looking out for this little guy that day! Now if only God would firmly say to humanity "What part of 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' did you not understand?"
Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | October 20, 2009 02:18 PM
Hindu regions of India are pretty nice places for cows to live.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | October 20, 2009 08:14 PM
OMG!God bless that men.I wish there could be more people like him.I hope one of this day America and all the countries in this world shut down all the factori farms so NO MORE ANIMALS CAN SUFFER and live a happy life instead of a life with injections,infections and shut guns.Or instead of a dinner plate.I LOVE PETA!! ♥
Posted by: Nathalie | October 20, 2009 08:23 PM
More power to Jerry and PETA!
Posted by: Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo | October 21, 2009 05:39 AM
What an endearing story!!
Go vegan, it is a moral imperative!
Posted by: AAG | October 21, 2009 07:46 AM
bless him. he looks very wise for a little un' :-)
Posted by: kate leinster | October 21, 2009 08:27 AM
i am so happy to hear about this positive turn around for Jerry-what an angel!!...If only all animals had this life.reason number 5 billion to go Vegan and stay Vegan.
Posted by: simara | October 21, 2009 12:14 PM
I'd be interested in seeing a full body (head, legs, body, butt, tail) before and after shot of Jerry to see how much he's improved all over.
He looks great on the head and face, but the rest of the body sure could help as well so we can see how well his tender-loving care has paid off.
Posted by: Jade | October 21, 2009 01:33 PM
Hes gorgeous!.
How could anyone eat him?.
I'm so glad him and the other cow were rescued.
Its just so sad and heart breaking that people continue to kill animals for food.
Posted by: ava | October 21, 2009 02:14 PM
wow, what an amazing comeback.
Posted by: brianna | October 23, 2009 11:23 AM