ORLAND, CA and Vacaville, CA – Farm Sanctuary, which operates the largest rescue and refuge network for farm animals in North America with shelters on the east and west coast, and Animal Place, which operates two facilities — a 600-acre sanctuary in Grass Valley, CA and a 60-acre farmed animal adoption center in Vacaville — have taken in five sickly calves, discards of the dairy industry. All five calves arrived Friday, July 8, to Animal Place’s Rescue Ranch facility in Vacaville. Three will head to Farm Sanctuary’s 300-acre refuge in Orland, while two will be transported to Animal Place’s 600-acre sanctuary in Grass Valley.
Todd Stosuy, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter’s Field Services Manager, was alerted by neighbors regarding the five calves. Upon arrival, he and an accompanying veterinarian found malnourished calves in a small dirt pen, skin and bones. Knowing the lives of the calves were at risk, Stosuy confiscated all five. The person who bought the calves at auction released custody of them to avoid facing penalties.
Both Farm Sanctuary and Animal Place responded immediately to Stosuy’s plea for help, offering to take in the five calves, giving them a safe haven where they will be treated as individuals, not commodities.
“Throughout our 25-year history, Farm Sanctuary has rescued countless victims of the dairy industry, and witnessing its callous disregard for animals never gets any easier,” says Leanne Cronquist, Farm Sanctuary’s California Shelter Director. “Calves are every bit as playful and sensitive as cats and dogs, and they deserve the same respect and consideration. We are excited to welcome these babies to our sanctuary, and hope people will think of them the next time they are at the grocery store and making a choice between cow’s milk or a healthier, non-dairy milk made from almonds, coconut, or soy.”
“Male calves are treated like garbage by the dairy industry,” says Marji Beach, Animal Place Education Manager. “These are the unhappy cows the dairy industry doesn’t want you to see. Calves are stripped from their moms at birth and sent to auction, selling for a measly five bucks. We are grateful Todd Stosuy and Santa Cruz Animal Services treats cruelty to calves as seriously as cruelty to puppies.”
California is the largest producer of dairy products in the country, home to nearly two million cows. To produce milk, cows must give birth. Female calves replace their mothers who are sent to slaughter at a fraction of their lifespan. Day-old male calves are sold at auction for either “cheap dairy beef” or “bob veal.” At both Farm Sanctuary and Animal Place, these five calves will be some of the lucky few who will get to live their lives out in peace.
Animal Place is one of the largest sanctuaries and adoption centers catering to the needs of farm animals in the country. Animal Place operates a 600-acre facility in Grass Valley, home to more than 200 rescued chickens, pigs, cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, and turkeys. Additionally, their Rescue Ranch on 60-acres in Vacaville is the only chicken rescue in the country that takes in hens from the egg industry slated for slaughter and places them into permanent homes. In less than a year, they have saved the lives of 2,000 hens. For more information, visit www.animalplace.org or call 530-477-1757.
