Rescue & Adoptions | Farm Sanctuary

Move over winged cherubs and blushing sweethearts, there's a new heartbreaker in town! Newly-arrived in time for Valentine's Day, Cupid the calf has everyone at our California Shelter swooning- especially staff and volunteers who have yet to stop oohing and ahhing over the white heart-shaped mark on his forehead, his sweet and playful personality and, most of all, his compelling tale of bravery and survival.

One of several calves who reportedly fell from a transport truck onto Highway 99 near Turlock, California, Cupid was the lucky one. California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Merced County Animal Control officers called to the scene found no trace of the little escapees and left-believing the animals were hit by cars or claimed by an "owner." The following day, however, a calf was spotted in an orchard just off of the freeway. And, upon entering the wooded area, animal control was immediately greeted by a tiny bellowing animal. The calf-Cupid-was starving and more than ready to be rescued.

From the identification tag on Cupid's ear, animal control officials determined that the young male Holstein was likely acquired at the nearby Turlock Livestock Auction Yard, which had held a sale the day before the calf was found. Had he not fallen or been rescued, he would have been, officials believe, slaughtered locally for low-grade veal-a fate common among male dairy calves who do not grow up to be milk producers, and, therefore, are of no use to the industry.

Once taken in by animal control, the wide-eyed little calf earned devotion from everyone he encountered. Caring employees assigned to his case-all of whom wished to see him permanently spared-swiftly placed Cupid with the Santa Cruz SPCA, a facility with more resources for aiding farm animals. After a short stay among cats and dogs at the SPCA, officials there, who whole-heartedly took on Cupid's cause, secured and planned his speedy delivery to a safe, happy home: Farm Sanctuary's California Shelter.

Our Orland shelter-located in the middle of California dairy country-has a long history of caring for fragile, motherless calves. Since opening our barn doors in 1993, the west coast sanctuary has taken in nearly 100 cattle, approximately 73 of them under the age of one year. Whether abandoned at stockyards or discovered alive on rendering trucks or dairy farm dead piles, the majority of these fragile animals require closely-monitored care and rehabilitation-Cupid is no different.

Malnourished-but suffering from no major injuries-upon arrival, Cupid is eating heartily from a bottle, beginning to sample solid foods, and so far responding well to treatments for a leg abscess-likely from his fall-as well as navel ill, a condition usually caused by an unclean umbilical cord site and exacerbated by his lack of colostrums. Cupid resides in our shelter hospital, where he remains under the watchful eyes of caregivers and his delighted, curious neighbors, Maya and Rosa-two pigs also recently welcomed into our growing fold.

When Cupid is weaned, neutered and grows bigger and stronger, he will join Phoenix and Casey, two young Holstein steers rescued by Farm Sanctuary last January, when they were only hours old and also bound for a slaughterhouse. Click here to view a video of their harrowing rescue and the sad reality faced by other calves discarded by the dairy industry in California. And please spread compassion for the more than 80,000 calves-just like Cupid, Phoenix and Casey-who are slaughtered in California every year (about half of them within days of birth) by forwarding their stories widely.

Want to help Cupid the calf and thrill your Valentine with a unique, heartfelt gift all at the same time? Adopt Cupid for that special someone through Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Farm Animal Project and help provide him with the special care he needs and deserves. Please, call 607-583-2225 ext. 225 or e-mail sponsorship@farmsanctuary.org to sponsor Cupid today.