Rescue & Adoptions

In Loving Memory

Sweet Pie

Sweet Pie - all 2,300 pounds of him - lived up to every bit of his gentle name. An unwanted by-product of the dairy industry, he was found on November 26, 1993 as a young bull, and was one of the first animals to be brought to Farm Sanctuary's newly opened California Shelter. Abandoned, destitute and deprived of food and water, Sweet Pie was near death when finally found and taken to safety. He was thankfully brought back to health by our staff, and lived a long and peaceful life at Farm Sanctuary. Sweet Pie, with his huge heart and independent soul, will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Sweet Pie had been so mistreated before his rescue that his growth was severely stunted. However, this did not stop him from growing into the grand Holstein he became when simply given the food, water, love, and attention all farm animals deserve. He would forever carry a memory of this neglect on his body, though. There would always be a distinct demarcation line on his hooves, which indicated the starvation period he endured during his development; like the differences in the width of space between the growth rings of a tree indicating times of drought and abundance.

Sweet Pie was a happy and active leader of our California herd. He spent his days roaming our green pastures, dozing in the sun with his herd mates and eating his favorite carrot treats. Many a visitor was enamored with Sweet Pie's stature and grace - a reflection of the peace cows often convey through their gentle nature when treated with respect and kindness.

Once reaching his later years, Sweet Pie began developing red, irritated bumps on the inner eyelid (also known as the third eyelid) of his left eye. Our veterinarian diagnosed the bumps as pre-cancerous, and Sweet Pie underwent a successful surgical procedure to remove the inner eyelid, minimizing the possibility of cancer gaining a foothold in the area. A few years later, our healthcare staff discovered similar pre-cancerous bumps on Sweet Pie's right inner eyelid, requiring a second surgical procedure. Thankfully, Sweet Pie recovered quickly and completely, and after time spent healing in a private pen in our cattle barn, he was returned to the main herd.

Pre-cancerous cells in and around the eyes can be a common affliction amongst cattle, but if caught early, it rarely develops into a serious condition. Unfortunately, in the cattle industry, most cases go untreated, and develop into what is known as "cancer eye." Adult cattle at stockyards can often be seen with huge, festering wounds, taken over by cancer. At Farm Sanctuary our animals receive extensive health checks regularly in a determined effort to prevent illness and disease from taking hold.

As Sweet Pie aged, he was moved to the special needs herd to keep an even closer watch on his health. In the last few months of his life, Sweet Pie was being treated for chronic arthritis in his right knee. With the help of glucosamine supplements and pain medication he thrived and enjoyed many lazy, comfortable days with his herd mates. Although he couldn't get around as easily as he did when he was younger, he remained spirited, carefree and content.

Sadly, in 2006, Sweet Pie's health suddenly deteriorated. Caregivers found him in the cattle barn one morning in pain and unwilling to eat. Hoping his condition wasn't serious, they did all they could to keep him comfortable and watched him closely for any change in his condition. The next day, Sweet Pie seemed to be doing worse. He was dehydrated and had not eaten any grain, so caregivers called a local veterinarian out to the farm. By the time the veterinarian arrived, Sweet Pie had lain down and was experiencing significant discomfort.

After examining Sweet Pie, the doctor concluded that his condition was very serious. Because Sweet Pie's stomach was distended and his breath smelled acidic, the doctor feared that his gastrointestinal tract had ruptured. He told us that Sweet Pie was likely dying of sepsis (which developed when the gastrointestinal tract spilled toxins into his bloodstream) and that there was nothing more we could do to help him. Hoping to spare Sweet Pie further suffering, we made the decision to have him humanely euthanized. We said our tearful goodbyes and, thankfully, he passed away surrounded by friends who loved him.