But this grieving mother still needed our help, and our dedicated rescuers kept trying until a frightened Olive came close enough to be secured and brought to safety.
In her early days at Farm Sanctuary, Olive struggled to overcome the emotional scars inflicted by the dairy industry. She was terrified of humans, but we devoted time, care, and patience, and Olive soon realized that here, she’d always and only be loved.
Known as our “Cow Whisperer,” environment manager Sarah Rappleye became particularly close with Olive, taking time to earn her trust. Today, their bond remains a very special thing to witness.
“Olive is perfect and doing well,” says Sarah, as her cow friend enjoys the warmth and fun of springtime at the sanctuary. “She still comes up and eats apples out of my hand, which really warms my heart.”
Given the loneliness Olive faced, losing calf after calf to dairy production, it’s also heartwarming to see how many cow companions she has now. She’s closest with Paula, Hayes, Aggie, and Milton.
As Dairy Month continues, follow along for more on Olive, some other inspiring rescued cows, and how Farm Sanctuary is taking a stand for cows—long after June ends.
