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Description
Near Valentine's Day in 2008, one of several calves who reportedly fell from a transport truck onto Highway 99 near Turlock, California, Cupid was the lucky one. California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Merced County Animal Control officers called to the scene found no trace of the little escapees and left-believing the animals were hit by cars or claimed by an "owner." The following day, however, a calf was spotted in an orchard just off of the freeway. And, upon entering the wooded area, animal control was immediately greeted by a tiny bellowing animal. The calf-Cupid-was starving and more than ready to be rescued.

From the identification tag on Cupid's ear, animal control officials determined that the young male Holstein was likely acquired at the nearby Turlock Livestock Auction Yard, which had held a sale the day before the calf was found. Had he not fallen or been rescued, he would have been, officials believe, slaughtered locally for low-grade veal-a fate common among male dairy calves who do not grow up to be milk producers, and, therefore, are of no use to the industry.

Once taken in by animal control, the wide-eyed little calf earned devotion from everyone he encountered. Caring employees assigned to his case-all of whom wished to see him permanently spared-swiftly placed Cupid with the Santa Cruz SPCA, a facility with more resources for aiding farm animals. After a short stay among cats and dogs at the SPCA, officials there, who whole-heartedly took on Cupid's cause, secured and planned his speedy delivery to a safe, happy home: Farm Sanctuary's California Shelter.

Malnourished-but suffering from no major injuries-upon arrival, Cupid was eating heartily from a bottle, beginning to sample solid foods, and responded well to treatments for a leg abscess-likely from his fall-as well as navel ill, a condition usually caused by an unclean umbilical cord site and exacerbated by his lack of colostrums.

Cupid became best friends with Harrison , who was also a little baby when he arrived to Farm Sanctuary later that year, and they still spend their days grazing and hanging out with each other. Cupid had also caught the eye of an older lady bovine named Jitterbug , and the two are definitely boyfriend and girlfriend. When he's not with Harrison, he's with Jitter, or at least not very far from them. Cupid loves banana peels and carrots, and will rarely stay still if you take out a camera, as he will run up to inspect it. He loves to play and buck, and still likes to act as if he is little, even though he is over 1000 lbs.

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Description
Near Valentine's Day in 2008, one of several calves who reportedly fell from a transport truck onto Highway 99 near Turlock, California, Cupid was the lucky one. California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Merced County Animal Control officers called to the scene found no trace of the little escapees and left-believing the animals were hit by cars or claimed by an "owner." The following day, however, a calf was spotted in an orchard just off of the freeway. And, upon entering the wooded area, animal control was immediately greeted by a tiny bellowing animal. The calf-Cupid-was starving and more than ready to be rescued.

From the identification tag on Cupid's ear, animal control officials determined that the young male Holstein was likely acquired at the nearby Turlock Livestock Auction Yard, which had held a sale the day before the calf was found. Had he not fallen or been rescued, he would have been, officials believe, slaughtered locally for low-grade veal-a fate common among male dairy calves who do not grow up to be milk producers, and, therefore, are of no use to the industry.

Once taken in by animal control, the wide-eyed little calf earned devotion from everyone he encountered. Caring employees assigned to his case-all of whom wished to see him permanently spared-swiftly placed Cupid with the Santa Cruz SPCA, a facility with more resources for aiding farm animals. After a short stay among cats and dogs at the SPCA, officials there, who whole-heartedly took on Cupid's cause, secured and planned his speedy delivery to a safe, happy home: Farm Sanctuary's California Shelter.

Malnourished-but suffering from no major injuries-upon arrival, Cupid was eating heartily from a bottle, beginning to sample solid foods, and responded well to treatments for a leg abscess-likely from his fall-as well as navel ill, a condition usually caused by an unclean umbilical cord site and exacerbated by his lack of colostrums.

Cupid became best friends with Harrison , who was also a little baby when he arrived to Farm Sanctuary later that year, and they still spend their days grazing and hanging out with each other. Cupid had also caught the eye of an older lady bovine named Jitterbug , and the two are definitely boyfriend and girlfriend. When he's not with Harrison, he's with Jitter, or at least not very far from them. Cupid loves banana peels and carrots, and will rarely stay still if you take out a camera, as he will run up to inspect it. He loves to play and buck, and still likes to act as if he is little, even though he is over 1000 lbs.

[link]