 |
Pasado’s Safe Haven strives to come to the aid of local companion animals who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Every year, thousands of companion animals are sold at livestock auctions in Washington State. Before we intervened, pets like delightful Dolly the goat were just a whisper away from the dinner plate. Other companion animals, like Rudy, were saved from severe neglect and abuse. But here, at a haven, they kid around and cut loose.
They come from farms and households, beloved pets or investment-based livestock, converging at the site where it will all end for most of them: the livestock auction. Livestock are defined to be those domesticated animals who are raised and used for profit, and this includes cows, horses, pigs, sheep, and goats. Animals classified as “livestock” are often treated in dollars, and not with sense, and many of these amazing, unique beings are sold for pennies on the pound.
Dolly, who was rescued from a livestock auction in September of 2009, loves her new life here. Click
here to read about Dolly’s story. Dolly narrowly escaped being someone’s main course – and now she’s Rudy’s main lady. Like many companion animals who fall through the cracks, Dolly had been taken to a livestock auction because her family didn’t know what else to do with her. She had tried to jump through the window of her family’s home to be close to her family, and Dolly’s folly almost sealed her fate. Goats are pack animals, and she had been lonely in her pen. She had seen her human family as her “pack,” but now, Dolly has a pack of goats to roam, romp, and play with.
Rambunctious Rudy is Dolly’s best friend, and these goofy goats love to frolic together and play on the big toy in their pasture. Rudy is the leader of the goat pack and he is the ultimate mischief-maker. This silly guy is also very sweet, and he’s always the first goat to greet our visitors. Outgoing Rudy loves to cuddle and be petted, and he goes wild over bananas.
Rudy was rescued from a potentially neglectful situation with his friend Blue, the cow, who also makes his home at Pasado’s. Blue had been taken from his mother when he was very young, and he was close to starvation. In the industrialized dairy business, baby calves like Blue are the unfortunate byproduct of the end goal. If cows don’t give birth to calves, there is no milk for the consumer. Young calves are taken from their mothers far too soon, deprived of the nutrient-rich milk that they cry for. These two brave boys were a small band of brothers in the fight to live, but now they have their own happy band at Pasado’s sanctuary.
Dolly, Blue, and Rudy could have easily been on someone’s dinner plate. The sound of the gavel or the finality of the word “sold” are the end for many companion animals, but you can help prevent this fate.
Donate to Pasado’s to help us continue to save the lives of all companion animals. We believe that a label like “livestock” shouldn’t deprive an animal of a high quality of life, love, and companionship. Click
here
to make a difference today – and thank you, from all of the companions here at Pasado’s Safe Haven!
(don't forget
to ask your employer
to match your donation)
|
