A rare opportunity to rescue three BC-based Holstein calves and save them from slaughter has arisen - but we can’t do it alone. Of course, it takes a village. We are requesting the support of this amazing community.

Last week, a To Live For customer and friend told me about three baby bulls born to a Fraser Valley dairy farmer. Calves are common on a dairy farm – after all, to produce milk, cows must become pregnant and give birth. However, in the dairy industry, male calves are considered a ‘by-product.’ They will never produce milk, so they are of little use to the dairy farmer. While a few males may be kept as breeding stock, most are usually sold (to recoup some profit) to veal or beef farmers.

The customer told me that, through a series of connections, she had the opportunity to (legally) rescue these three babies and save them from slaughter (how incredible?!). The problem? Nowhere to put them! Of course, I wanted to help and reached out to all the sanctuaries across western Canada that I could think of. Things were looking bleak as almost every sanctuary is at capacity and stretched to their financial limit. We were losing hope, but then a small miracle happened – thanks to a connection made by P.E.A.C.E. Canada, The Alice Sanctuary in Airdrie, Alberta, responded affirmatively. We were beyond thrilled! Suddenly saving all three babies seemed possible!

Transporting, housing and indefinitely feeding three Holsteins is no small endeavour. The sanctuary needs to build a new shelter for the calves, so the costs are mounting before they even arrive. Further, although most cows/steers are killed after only a fraction of their life span, their natural life expectancy is approximately 20 years!

We hope these three babies will grow up big and strong and be at The Alice Sanctuary for a very long time – but that also means the sanctuary is shouldering a huge financial burden.

We want to ensure that financial strain doesn’t derail the plans to save these calves. We are trying to raise $4500 by June 15, 2024 to help with rescue costs. ALL proceeds from this GoFundMe will go directly to this unique rescue mission.

In the future, To Live For hopes to have a sanctuary of its own. We dream of having our own safe space for rescued farmed animals – and one day we will make it happen! For now, we are grateful to everyone who has advocated and networked for these babies, and especially to The Alice Sanctuary for opening their (barn) doors.

We are so close to directly saving three innocent lives. If you have the means, please consider donating to help save the lives of these three babies, or even sharing their story. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps! Thank you so much!

PS - stay tuned to IG stories (@erinireland) for updates and a visit with the calves very soon.