Update - 19/11/2024

A quick update on the cow rescue program that started seven years ago. So far we have rescued and re-homed eight cows out of the dairy's around Mullumbimby. We currently have one of those cows remaining cow in our care. She is named named Kamadhenu ( the name of the first cow in existence). At one stage she made her way around a cattle grid, left her paddock and headed for greener pastures with a new herd and a Bull. She must have fallen in love as over the next few months, we noticed she became much bigger. Nine months later she had a beautiful baby, a cross of an angus stud, big bull and Jersey dairy cow. We named him Gopal and is such a big soft mummas boy. They lived a few years in a paddock with solar fencing, but kept getting out. So we found a new paddock with good barb wire fencing, where they are enjoying their days on a five acres of fresh grass. Thanks again for all your support and helping to give these cows a good life!! We do have plans to rescue more cows, but also realise its a huge undertaking and we can only really do it with the communities support. Blessings!!

Update - 21/11/2019

Calf Rehomed - Hits the Jackpot!

Bolenath or Bolo for short, was rehomed to an abundant sanctuary in Mullumbimby last week. Thanks to Julie O'shea from 'Who Gives a Cluck - Chicken Rescue' Bolo found this new home full of 40 acres of green green pasture and some more surprises, including a new friend Mini Moo (cow on right of photo). Julie rehomed Bolo as a friend for her rescued calf Mini Moo.

Bolo wasn't very impressed to begin with, opting to head-butt Mini Moo. Being a littler cow who had never met another cow, Mini Moo quickly retreated away and Bolo searched the filed for his previous herd. But this was until Julie, who rescues a variety of animals including chickens and other bird, horses, ponies, donkey's etc. brought out the feed. In the back of Julie's 4wd, she filled a bucket with at least 5 different types of feed, including vitamin C, lucerne (bolo's favourite) and even a cow super feed. Bolo softened his composure, became very impressed and soon took a new liking to his surroundings where he continues to settle in the happy eva after life!

Thanks Julie O'shea and Mark for giving Bolo this opportunity and thanks to all our supporters who have also enabled Bolo and others cows to live a life. Please continue to support this project, so more calves like Bolenath can be rescued and rehomed out of the dairies.

UPDATE 23/8/2019

They made it! The four calves rescued last year on the 18/8/18 made their first birthday. Thank you so much for all your support. We couldn't have done this without you!

It hasn’t been the easiest of mission's, so much to learn in this process. Being a dry summer and come winter we couldn’t sustain the four calves on our small pasture and supplementary feed is expensive, cows eat soooo much! Thankfully the kind neighbours allowed us to have the calves on their land. The calves soon cleared their vacant area (saved them mowing) and by July we had to move them again. When there is a need, life responds and we came across another neighbour who happens to have 100 acres of lush green grass, where they are now currently being agisted for $4 a week each. We are now encountering expressions of interest regarding rehoming two of the cuddly hand raised calves (one male Bolo has already found a furever home) and a female cow Kali Ma is looking for a new home. Once we rehome these two calves, we will be rescuing two more out of the dairies. So far 8 calves have been rescued out of the dairies, thanks to this program and thanks for your ongoing support and care!

On fresh lush pasture, looking healthy and having a bounitful life.

UPDATE 17/12/2018

First phase of ghoshala (cow protection shed) complete, just in time for the rains! Must say I'm pretty proud of my first standing build with recycled materials, total costs less than $200. Thanks to all those who donated and volunteered their time. More beautiful calves shall be saved!

Also; Adopt a Cow - Sponsorship Program launched. Please check out the story's and photos of the cow's by following this link.

http://www.divinenature.com.au/adopt-cow-sponshorship-prog…/

Image may contain: tree, outdoor and nature

UPDATE 28/8/2018

Sanctuaries for Life rescued these adorable calves on the 18/8/18 from a dairy that was closing down. They had 20 excess calves, that were going to be killed if no-one took them. We were able to spread the word through the network of animal rescue operations in the area. In a few days all the calves were thankfully rescued.

Besides the constant three days of mooing for their mummas, these calves have settled in well to a diet of milk replacer powder two to three times a day and calf starter pellets. Slowly they have taken to their new diet are also freely wondering the fields with an occasionally hop skip and a run. Its soooo good to see these calves happy and enjoying a stress free, protected life, as all animals have the right too.

This shows the gentleness of these calves, Kamadhenu allowing a 2 yr old (Indigo) to play intimately with her.

Thanks again for your support, we really appreicate and cant do this without you. We are doing this on a shoe-string budget, so every dollar counts and somehow it all seems to work out.

UPDATE 7/5/2018

Thanks again to the supporters of this campaign, so much gratitude. We have made a good start and have constructed the first phase of the fencing. Once more funds become available, we will purchase a solar electric fencing (most cost effective way to fence) and then a water trough. Once these are in place, we will be able to rescue more calves from the dairy's, raise and re-locate them and then begin on building a shelter.

UPDATE 31/10/2017

Since starting this campaign, four calves have been successfully rescued and re-homed to a property in the Byron Shire. After a speedy learning curve, they have settled in well, are about two months old and nearly all weaned off bottle milk. We have purchased materials for fencing and are in the process of building. We will be rescuing more calves once we have a bit more infrastructure, like water troughs and materials for the shed, and funds for more calf powder.

As we have learnt, it's great saving these beauty's, but it doesnt come with out a cost. Every dollar counts... to give more calves like this a chance to live!!!

About

SanctuariesForLife is starting this fund-raising campaign to rescue calves from the dairy industry and other animals. We are inviting you to co- create an animal sanctuary's, education centre's and an outreach model. SanctuariesForLife is starting a not-for-profit for it's own animal sanctuary and in the process of rehoming animals, will support other animal sanctuaries, read on...

The Problem

Sadly in Australia 450,000 ten-day-old 'bobby calves' are legally killed each year as "waste products" from the dairy industry (RSPCA link below). This figure is from the abattoirs and does not include calves that die inside dairies.

The calves are taken away from their mothers from birth so they don’t drink milk. Many are subject to appalling conditions, such as not being given water for 48 hours before they are slaughtered at 10 days of age. All of this is within the law as it currently exists. RSPCA and other respected bodies are having very little impact on this situation.

It is up to grass roots initatives of the people and education, to create an impact on the dairy industry. These calves were not born to live such short and painful lives and are not waste products, but dignified animals.

It is also becoming widely recognised that animal agriculture, with bovine agriculture at the top of the list, to be the number one contributor to environmental pollution. Education surrounding these issues, including plant based diets and so much more, is drastically needed.

The Cause

In dairy's greed-driven efforts to produce more milk, cows are constantly impregnated, produce too many calves and most of these are considered waste products. As long as there is demand for dairy products, dairies will produce excess calves.

Seeing organisations like the RSPCA and other respected bodies are having very little impact on this situation, it is up to grass roots movements like this to educate the wider public and create solutions.

The Solution

We are creating an animal sanctuary on our land in the Byron Shire and starting a not-for- profit organisation called , Sanctuaries For Life to rescue these calves, re-home calves (re-locate to other sanctuaries) and provide education about reducing animal agriculture and saving animals, also by use of road side signs.

The Strategies

The animal sanctuary(s) will provide shelter & protection for animals. Calves will be rescued or if need be purchased from local diaries.
Once established, the animal sanctuary(s) will be used as education centre(s) for children and adults to learn about the natural connections we have with animals, through school-field trips, family and friends visits, yoga retreats and open days to reconnect with our four- legged friends.
Education will focus on compassionate positive solutions to animal agriculture such as plant based diets. The health impacts of diet choices, cruelty- free choices, the environmental benefits of plant-based diets, cows and permaculture and other topics are being covered.
We are offering these road-signs below. People can place them in front of properties that support or provide cruelty-free environments for animals (similar to the Lock The Gate campaign). This will help raise awareness about the importance of animal welfare. Each property that supports an animal will recieve a SanctuariesForLife roadside sign. SanctuariesForLife will reserve the right to run random checks on properties displaying the signs.

Sign 1. Cruelty-Free Zone (20cm across) $10 postage included

Sign 2. Protection Zone (30cm across) $15 postage included

SanctuariesForLife will act as an outreach to properties that would like to re-home animals (re-locate to other sanctuaries). Through the roadside signs, networking, word of mouth, establishing a website, facebook page Sanctuaries For Life; we are adding to the movement of bringing this into public awareness, and in the process, re-homing as many calves as possible to fur-ever homes.
Offering beautiful cows to live out cruelty free lives, great for keeping the grass down, saving on lawn mowing petrol and associated costs or agistment (if funds allow). Do you have land you could support and animals on (please be in touch)? We can either offer young calves direct from the dairy (these calves need to be bottle fed up to 2-3 months of age), or calves that are weaned from bottle milk, around 2-3 months of age. *(Condition's apply for rehoming an animal, including entering a contract that the animal will be given a natural life for as long as humanly possible. If change occurs and this is not possible, then you will need to contact us, and have the animal re-homed to another location or back to us. You will also need to be open to a random property check. Male bull calves will be de-sexed from a young age.
We will provide training and education to other property owners wanting to be involved as part of SanctuariesForLife.
SanctuariesForLife will advocate with government organisations for ending animal exploitation!
Create volunteer and possibly paid positions as SanctuariesForLife grows and develops.
Keep supporters of SanctuariesForLife up to date with photos and videos of progress.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Current Needs

SanctuariesForLife has access to land.

SanctuariesForLife needs money and volunteers to build the animal sanctuary and to fund the on-going costs of feeding and caring for the calves.

Specifically, SanctuariesForLife currently needs the following:

Water troughs and plumbing ($500)
Fencing, a solar/electric portion as this is friendlier to

passing wildlife, thanks to Ishka Massey, this was donated.
A shed to keep them dry and out of the sun ($2000 for materials)
Calf powdered milk substitute ($100 per month per calf)
Calf Pellets and supplements ($20 per bag)
Vetinary Bills (variable)
Volunteer labour and animal carers

Get Involved

We need your support to help us help the animals. Here are the ways:-)

Donate to create the infrastructure for the Sanctuary.

Please see sidebar for impacts!!

Not everyone is in a position to help financially, but if you are, then it would mean so much to us and the animals. Currently, we cannot financially do this without your support. There will be no judgment as to the amount, every little bit counts. If you cannot contribute financially, read on......

Volunteer

If any of this resonates with you, we humbly invite you to come and help us create and maintain a fully functional animal-space, with a concrete floor, food and water troughs and fencing.

We are making connections with people who have land suitable for rehoming either calves or cows, through word of mouth, and online connections.

If you are not into getting dirty, but would like to participate, then you may want to get involved in the team that is locating available land for re-homing and sharing through social media.

If you have land and would like to support a cruelty-free animal by kindness or by agistment, please email Daniel Rawson -> info@DivineNature.com.au and we can discuss options.

Share ideas on connecting with and influencing dairies to make more ethical decisions, advocating with current policy makers for ethical laws for animals.

Join Facebook group - Sanctuaries for Life to be kept up to date with ongoing progress.

Or purchase and display signs, tell others about SanctuariesForLife, talk to us.

Contact: ph 0266849262 or email Daniel Rawson -> info@DivineNature.com.au and be invited to come along to our first community meeting.

Who We Are

Daniel is a yoga teacher. Jasmine, a sacred musician and dancer. Jasmine and Daniel have both lived on a plant-based diet since their teens. Jyoti, now 7, has never eaten meat. We are caretakers of land and animal lovers. We have two dogs, a cat and a flock of birds. Since startng this campaign we have resuced 4 calves and successfully re-homed them in the Mullumbimby area. We see SanctuariesForLife as contributing to a step in evolution that our culture deserves to make, making this a kinder world for animals.

During Daniel's first visit to India in 2004, he learned a deeper respect for cows and all other animals. On hearing the staggering bobby calf statistic, he felt a strong passion to do something immediately!

"Expressing this to my community has led me to believe, that I am not the only one who feels this way. Seeing governments and bodies like RSPCA are having little impact on this issue, we (my wife Jasmine and fellow campaigners) feel its time that we stood up and besides living off a plant based diet, this is the best answer we have come up with so far. We are open to new ideas; together we can make a difference. We as a society can no longer turn a blind eye to this!"

Benefits

The SanctuariesForLife animal sanctuary and education centre will honor the rights of our voiceless animals and help open hearts and minds to a more compassionate world for all animals, giving animals the rights and respect they deserve, and at the same time having a positive effect on our environment.

This model can potentially be replicated anywhere in Australia or overseas.

More from Daniel...

One of the most tragic of all factors, which is mostly hidden from our common cultural knowledge, is the cause and effects of allowing animal slaughter. Sadly most of their last days and moments are found in slaughterhouses. This is a very damaging factor upon the sensitivity of our society. As we may be aware, by killing peaceful creatures, the flow on effect can be very harmful for all the relations of the animals; the person doing the killing, their families, friends and the rest of society, in its interconnected relationships.

It is widely known that animal agriculture, with cow agriculture at the top of the list, is the number one most harmful factor to environmental pollution. By providing a public demonstration centre that gratifies and cares for our four legged friends, we will be able to educate our society about this important matter and give alternative diet options to meat, and cruelty dairy, therefore creating a kinder world and reducing our carbon footprint at the same time.

This project will make a difference to our world as it will change the way our culture views animals and their rights. This will save and respect animals and give them the lives they deserve.

Interestingly, On 26 May 2017, the Ministry of Environment of Indian Central Government led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) imposed a ban on the sale and purchase of cattle for slaughter at animal markets across India, under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals statutes (Wikipedia, link below).

We will be the voice for these animals and make spaces for their natural lives!

It is estimated that the average meat-eater consumes around 8000 animals in their life and 65 billion animals are killed in slaughterhouses around the world each year.

Rainforests are also being cut down at an alarming rate for animal agriculture. Thankfully we already have a pasture with healthy long grass. So we won't need to cut down any trees. We just need to fence it and build a shed with a water trough. Properties involved in this campaign should not be cutting down trees.

Creating an education centre to provide information about the effects of animal agriculture on the environment and animal cruelty, will shed light on and hopefully reduce the desire for animal agriculture.

By being part of this campaign you will help open hearts and minds to a more compassionate world for all animals, giving animals the rights and respect they deserve and create so much good karma!!!

By sponsoring a cow or another animal, you can visit it, feed it and watch it grow happily to its last days.

You will be one of the change-makers in creating a less cruel, more COMPASSIONATE and KINDER world!!!

Please choose cruelty-free products and consider veganism.

Lets create this network of compassion and kindness!!

RESOURCE LINKS

http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-happens-to-bobby-

calves_87.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_slaughter_in_India

http://www.cowspiracy.com

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