On Tuesday, December 5, an animal sanctuary in California shared a wonderful video about one of their longest residents. In the viral clip, viewers are introduced to a 14-year-old rescue cow named Holy Cow, which is likely what you’ll say after seeing her in the clip!
Her inspiring story is one of perseverance and love. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!
@thegentlebarnBorn in the dairy industry, Holy Cow was taken away from her mom and stomped on, leaving her unable to walk. When we rescued her, we got her immediate expert vet care, and other treatments like sports medicine therapy, chiropractic, and more. With time and intensive care, her spine got straighter and her legs were strong enough to walk. Now 14, Holy receives close medical attention to watch over her mobility issues, a variety of therapies, acupuncture, alfalfa hay and grain to help keep her weight up and keep her warm in the cooler months, and so much daily love, affection, cookies, and music. Holy is now the matriarch of our California cows. She’s incredibly affectionate and is known for lovingly licking all the other cows, even nurturing baby cow Lewis, who had become ill after losing his mother as a newborn. It’s thanks to your support that we’re able to help sick animals like Holy and Lewis survive those crucial early months and years after being rescued—and it’s equally important that we maintain gentle care plans geared toward their specific issues for the rest of their lives. We can’t do this work without you! You can donate here, through Venmo @TheGentleBarn or at the link in our bio 🙏
Wow, I’m in total awe of Holy Cow! This incredible girl had a very difficult beginning to life when she was intentionally made unable to walk as a calf. Thankfully, The Gentle Barn rescued her and gave her all the time and care she needed to make a full recovery!
Related: Seal at Sanctuary Appears to Want to Pet a Dog Visitor in Funny Video
Now, 14 years later, she’s the matriarch of the group. This sweet girl is loving and nurturing to the other cows in the rescue herd. She’s even stepped up as a mother figure for an orphaned calf. She’s an inspiration to all!
Animal sanctuaries do incredible work
Animal sanctuaries come in all different shapes and sizes, but each one does incredibly important work. They cater to different types of animals, such as farm animals versus typically wild animals.
Just like The Gentle Barn, they take in orphaned, injured, sick, and neglected animals who can’t survive in the wild. At their new homes, they’re nursed back to health and given the opportunity to live peaceful lives full of joy and love from their human caretakers!
They also educate the public on the importance of conservation and kindness toward animals. By sharing stories like Holy Cow’s, sanctuaries can raise awareness about the work they do and why it’s so important. Some will even allow members of the public to interact with the animals while supervised by a staff member. After an experience like that, who can deny that animals are deserving of love, care, and respect?
Sanctuaries and their staff are activists as well. They’re advocates for the animals they care for. They know that efforts to sway legislation in favor of these animals is crucial.
At The Gentle Barn, many of the animals are rescued from inhumane farms where they were treated poorly or raised for meat. This sanctuary is truly doing incredible work with lovely animals like Holy Cow!
