Below are six of our most heartwarming farm animal stories from 2024. Read on and share to spread kindness.

Olive was one of several cows who ran for freedom in July, escaping from a New York dairy farm. Sadly, the others were all rounded up and sold, leaving Olive alone and scared.

She spent four months in the woods, and local property owners told us she was likely pregnant. When they realized that she may have already given birth, the search grew urgent. Our rescue team was dispatched immediately, ready to help Olive and her calf.

Tragically, Olive’s son was found in pain and unable to stand. We rushed him to Cornell for care, but the veterinary team determined that this suffering calf had severe and untreatable musculoskeletal and joint abnormalities. Because he had no chance of surviving, veterinarians made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize him. 

We knew that we still had a chance to help Olive. So, our team monitored this grieving mother cow as she went in and out of our pen, too fearful to stay for long. Once, she was secured inside but broke free. But patience and empathy won out, and Olive decided she was ready for help. 

Now, Olive is safely at Farm Sanctuary, where she’s settling in and can begin to heal from trauma.

Magik hen was among several chickens cruelly transported in a plastic bag in the trunk of a car. Sadly, she was the lone survivor of this harrowing drive—and then, this brave bird was still facing slaughter. 

Thankfully, a rescuer stepped in and ensured that Magik’s journey would end in safety and love. But this kind guardian soon discovered that Magik was fiercely determined to be free and wasn’t yet convinced what rescue would mean. She escaped her temporary home and flew into the nearby trees, watching from above.

But her guardian was patient and determined to find a permanent haven where the resilient Magik would thrive, and we are so thankful that she’s found her forever flock at Farm Sanctuary.

In January, Samson lamb melted our hearts when he was born at Farm Sanctuary New York. Just weeks later, twins Jeanne and Margaretta were born here, too. As a responsible sanctuary, we never breed animals, so the arrival of these three lambs (and playful Ashley, born shortly before them) was a rare experience made possible by the rescue of their mothers.

Frannie (Samson’s mom) and Evie (the twins’ mom) were found among over 200 animals on a farm in North Carolina, where some had already died from neglect. We welcomed 10 sheep to Farm Sanctuary and helped them to recover from their physical and emotional trauma. 

We soon discovered that Frannie and Evie were pregnant, and the joy of their lambs being born was topped only by the sight of Samson, Jeanne, and Margaretta happily playing together as they became close friends. After all, they are among the lucky few farm animals who will know only love and peace as they grow up alongside their mothers at Farm Sanctuary.

Rufus missed his three best friends, Marzipan, Junco, and Kazoo, while he was sick. Seeing these loving goats reunited at Farm Sanctuary was a highlight of our year. 

Rufus and friends were originally rescued in 2022 and lived happily in a home in our Farm Animal Adoption Network for two years until changing circumstances for the adopter and health challenges for the goats meant that the animals needed a new home. Thankfully, our friends at Odd Man Inn Animal Refuge realized that the goats faced treatment-resistant parasites and rushed Rufus and two other goats from the herd to the University of Tennessee for treatment. Rufus needed extensive care and an emergency blood transfusion.

As he recovered, it was clear he’d feel most at home with his friends. Farm Sanctuary Los Angeles was the perfect place because parasites would be less of an issue here. So, we quickly transported Marzipan, Junco, and Kazoo (and Rufus once he’d recovered) to our California site—and Oboe and Sprocket sheep to Farm Sanctuary New York. 

OMI’s care of Rufus until he could travel, this courageous goat, and this story shows that working across the sanctuary movement truly saves lives.

Like all animals, Rose sheep wanted to live. So she ran for her life.

Rose was spotted frantically running through the streets in Northern California, most likely after she fled from slaughter. Most farmed animals who manage the nearly impossible feat of escaping a slaughterhouse or transport truck are soon recaptured—but Rose beat the odds with the help of a kind person who saw her flight for freedom and chose to help.

The most urgent step was to bring Rose to safety, but the guardian soon found that they couldn’t meet her lifelong needs. That’s when they turned to us for help, and Rose came to Farm Sanctuary Los Angeles, where she quickly found she could relax, let her guard down in safety, spend time with friends, and enjoy her spacious new home.

Many of the animals taken in or placed in homes by Farm Sanctuary have come from situations of abuse or neglect: factory farms, backyard butchers, and other places of suffering. But sometimes, animals come to us because their loving guardians need to find a place where they will continue being safe and loved. This was the case for Walter, Randolph, and Ted.

A vegan animal advocate originally saved these three best friends on their way to slaughter. When the rescuer faced changing circumstances, they asked us for help—and we knew we had to try to keep these three best friends together.

To find the perfect home, we turned to our Farm Animal Adoption Network, and Longleaf Animal Sanctuary in Alabama was just the place. As we brought the trio to their beautiful home, it was a joy to see them confidently exploring their many acres together and knowing their original rescuer could soon visit them.