Before-and-after photos show two calves thriving after rescue from a slaughterhouse

Two calves that were nearly sent to slaughter instead got a second chance at a better life.

Here's what to know

Before they could be sent to slaughter, Summer and Paddy were rescued and eventually found a permanent home, where they now live as companion cows.

The comparison photos start with the pair as very young calves just after rescue and end with them larger, healthy, and secure, showing them enjoying a field of vast green grass. The original poster shared the side-by-side images in Reddit's r/BeforeNAfterAdoption.

Commenters expressed satisfaction that the cows are now in a safe and loving home.

One user wrote, "How lovely. It makes me happy to see animals live the lives that they were intended to live." 

Another commented, "This should be a norm for cows. I hate that humans are terrible to them."

More background

As "companion cows," the animals are not raised for slaughter and are instead living on a farm or in a sanctuary-style setting where their care comes first. That can include regular feeding, veterinary attention, and enough land and shelter to live safely.

What can be done?

Not everyone is in a position to take in large animals. Caring for cows requires land, fencing, feed, transportation options, and access to veterinarians familiar with livestock, so adoption is a far bigger commitment than bringing home a dog or cat.

Support for farm animal rescues and sanctuaries can include donations, volunteering, fostering when appropriate, or sponsoring an animal's ongoing care. Sharing the work of rescue organizations can also help connect animals with supporters and future homes.

Experienced rescue groups can help determine whether a property is suitable and whether a person is prepared for the commitment involved.

"Summer and Paddy were lucky not to be loaded onto a truck headed for the slaughterhouse," the original poster said. "Instead, the farmer called us to take them. Our favorite calls to take! They arrived in foster care and were cared for until they were ready for their forever home. Now they live happily as companion cows."

Where can I learn more?

Summer and Paddy's story raises a debate about how cattle are raised and cared for. Occasionally, cows and other livestock can be saved from a very different fate.

• At one ranch, footage inside a "grass-fed" farm ignited debate over winter cattle feeding.

• In West Virginia, DuPont-linked forever chemicals were traced after a farmer's cows died mysteriously.

• In Nebraska, winter ranching conditions turned unexpectedly manageable, giving cattle farmers a rare break.

Summer and Paddy ended up somewhere safe for good, showing why rescues and sanctuaries still matter so much.

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