Thinking about what a domestic cow's life is like just breaks my heart. The ones on dairy farms are literally born into tragedy.
Calves are taken away from their mothers only a few days after they're born. Female cows are taken advantage of for their milk and males are slaughtered for their meat.
In the U.S. alone, almost 30 million cows suffer and die in the meat and dairy industries every year, according to PETA.
So when you hear stories about cows escaping their man-made confines and letting fear guide them in a whole different direction in life, you can't help but root for them.
But once they do escape, what happens then? They can't find their own kind in the wild, unless someone is willing to adopt them...
A New Beginning
Four-month-old calf Bonnie fled her farm home in Holland, New York before she was sold to a slaughterhouse.
According to Farm Sanctuary, Bonnie made her escape after hearing the cries of other cows.
We don't speak cow, but it's possible that the calf could sense something was wrong.
While the owners of farm were loading their trailer with cows, Bonnie took the opportunity to escape in a nearby forest.
People searched high and low for the lost calf, but she was nowhere to be found.
After several weeks went by, people couldn't imagine Bonnie surviving on her own during the harsh winter.
But cameras that were set up in the forest by hunters revealed that Bonnie was alive! All thanks to the new family that adopted her.
Footage showed Bonnie surrounded by a herd of deer. This compassionate herd adopted the calf and allowed her to eat with them.
Becky Bartels, who had set up the camera, wanted to save the cold calf's life.
Becky won the calf's trust by giving her food, but she knew that Bonnie had to be adopted by a different family before her neighbors found out she was still alive.
Finding Home
Becky reached out to a non-profit organization known as Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York.
The organization was happy to rescue Bonnie from a life of abuse.
Now eight months later, Bonnie is enjoying her life at the sanctuary and has made a lot of new friends.
We're so glad Bonnie is in good hands! Share this story if you believe these animals deserve to have more rights!
[H/T: PEOPLE / Farm Sanctuary]
