Leo and his friends were not the first to suffer at the farm where they were saved. Rescuers with kind intentions had purchased 12 other calves from the same farm, and never having received the care or even food and water they needed to survive, all 12 sadly lost their lives within a week. Their rescuers alerted animal control officers—who found Leo among the dying calves who remained.

There is no such thing as “humane dairy.” The meat and dairy industries are intertwined. Even small family-run farms send their cows for slaughter when they can’t produce enough milk. All male calves end up in the slaughterhouse, and any animal who does not produce revenue is killed to keep these operations profitable.

But thanks to kindhearted people like you, Leo has escaped his fate. Now a member of the Farm Sanctuary family, Leo is valued and loved for who he is.

Today, Leo is a sweetheart and a friend to all members of his herd. While he’s often playing, he can also be pretty chill throughout the day, and we often find this happy guy lounging in the sunshine or roaming the back pastures with his friends. 

Will you open your heart to Leo and support us as we continue his lifelong care? Adopt Leo with a one-time gift, and Treeline Cheese will match your donation up to $10,000!

Our friends at Treeline Vegan Cheese, makers of delicious dairy-free foods, actively help prevent farm animals from experiencing the suffering Leo once knew. Farm Sanctuary is so thankful to partner with Treeline Cheese for the ninth year.

Use this store locator to find Treeline products near you!

Leo and his fellow calves were dying, and they needed help fast. Sadly, of the four calves who officers tried to save, Leo was the sole survivor. He was determined to live, and we knew we could help. 

We contacted an animal control officer with whom we had worked before and were quickly given permission to bring this struggling calf to our Los Angeles sanctuary. Thanks to our supporters, he has lived every day since in safety and love.

Today, Leo has blossomed into the healthy, strong giant you see below. Looking at him today, you would never know that he was once a very sick little calf.

Leo’s caregivers say he’s a curious and playful guy who is now in great health. He can be a lovable challenge at feed time, known for tipping over our cart before we can even get hay into the feeders! Leo loves being the first one to eat and is a bit of a foodie who’s picky about the snacks he loves best. He’s also very smart and quickly figured out the treat ball we offer for enrichment.

Considering how adorable Leo is now, it’s also hard to imagine he was even cuter as a calf—but it’s true! Look at his big eyes….and those eyelashes…and those ears! We could go on.

Our dedicated wellness caregivers worked hard to ensure Leo would recover from his heartbreaking start in life. He arrived at Farm Sanctuary with severe diarrhea and needed extra hydration and nourishment. But in our care, he was quickly on the road to recovery.

Go, little Leo, go! From a tiny trailer to the freedom of sanctuary

As a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of individuals to help us care for animals like Leo and give them a second chance at life. Right now, your gift will go twice as far!

Adopt Leo, and our friends at Treeline Cheese will MATCH your contribution up to $10,000.

The day Leo came into our lives, his luck changed. He’d be even luckier to have a friend in you. Will you open your heart to Leo today? There’s no time like the present because Treeline Vegan Cheese will double your gift.