Bruce—a shaggy, red headed Scottish Highland—and Evan—a deerlike Jersey cross—were once so sick that their very survival seemed miraculous. Now these two—named after the title characters in Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty—are healthy and strong, thanks to a team of dedicated people who banded together to help them out.

We first learned about the duo from compassionate friends who felt that they deserved a second chance. Neither Bruce—who was born on a beef farm—nor Evan—a dairy farm “reject”—had received colostrum (the first secretion from the mammary glands after giving birth, which is rich in antibodies) from their mothers’ milk. If calves don’t absorb this vital nutrient within their first day of life, their immune systems can become compromised. Without it, both of them were failing to thrive.

Bruce’s case was likely accidental; he had somehow escaped from his paddock on the beef farm where he was born, and couldn’t get back to his mother in time to nurse. The beef farmers had done what they could to help—but as Bruce continued to decline, they had to put a cap on spending; it isn’t economically viable for farmers to spend more on farm animals than they know they can make. Since Bruce wasn’t getting better, they felt his best option would be euthanasia.

His doctor disagreed. She thought he might bounce back with additional time and care—though he would need a lot of it. To start, Bruce had Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) due to lack of colostrum, which greatly compromised his immune system. He also had pneumonia and rotavirus—a gastrointestinal disease that causes diarrhea. To add insult to injury, he was septic: his body’s attempt to fight off infection instead traveled to his bloodstream—causing an extreme inflammatory response that, if left untreated, could lead to tissue damage, organ failure, or death.

Bruce would need plasma transfusions in order to build his immunity back up—and his extended hospital stay was getting expensive. Thanks to support from our members and donors, Farm Sanctuary can step in when calves like Bruce need our help. But spacing is another issue. We were near capacity for bovine care—and responsible rescue means we only take on what we can handle. After a few barn movements—something our caregivers called “Farm Animal Tetris”—we figured out a way to fit Bruce in with our other rescued residents.

Two days later, we met Evan.

He, like Bruce, also had FPT, which required a plasma transfusion. He also had pneumonia, rotavirus, and cryptosporidium—another gastrointestinal disease causing dehydration and diarrhea. With antibiotics and supportive care, Evan showed great promise of recovering from all of his ailments. But first, he needed someone to stand up for him, as others had done for Bruce.

Sadly, Jersey boys like Evan often fall to the wayside, since they can’t produce milk for profit. Most dairy farmers cull or abandon these “byproducts,” or sell them for veal or cheap beef … even despite the fact that many of these calves are sick.

As with Bruce, however, a kind person felt that Evan deserved a chance. So, after a few more rounds of “Farm Animal Tetris,” we freed up some pen space for Evan as well. Once they were both healthy enough to meet, we introduced the pair. The two quickly became close friends.

Recently, the boys moved to their permanent home: JP Farm Animal Sanctuary, a member of our Farm Animal Adoption Network. They have a herd of Scottish Highlands like Bruce, who will be so excited to “adopt” these youngsters as their own. While it’s always hard to say “so long” to our temporary residents, they always stay part of the Farm Sanctuary family. We stay connected about all placements to ensure they remain a good fit for our animals and our adopters. Responsible adoption helps us save more animals—and it also frees up space at our shelters so we can say “yes” to other animals in need.

The boys are settling in well; it always helps to have a buddy by your side while adjusting to new surroundings. They enjoy regular brushings from their new caregivers, and have started meeting the other bovines through the fence. Once they’re ready, they’ll join the “big kids” in the herd. These former orphan calves now have plenty of new “parents” to help them grow up—and best of all, these two will grow up together.