Three cows destined for the abattoir are living their days out at an animal sanctuary – after caring Claire Bruce took out a £5000 loan to save them.
The mother-of-two couldn’t bear the thought of the beasts being killed for meat after visiting them every evening for several weeks.
The trio were part of a 15-strong herd and the 42-year-old would often climb the fence to speak to them and feed them grass.
But when the cows started being taken away for slaughter three at a time, the animal-lover felt compelled to try to save the remainder of the herd.
She set up a Gofundme page and contacted various sanctuaries across the UK but with no success.
When the field was down to its final three cows, the mum of two took out a £5000 bank loan and bought them from the farmer.
The accounts assistant, from Blackburn, Aberdeenshire, will spend the next three years paying back the money – but she believes it was worth it.
The cows – Murdoch, Bailey and Archie – are now enjoying life at Blaikiewell Animal Sanctuary, near Aberdeen, with more than 50 horses, four pigs, two donkeys and a menagerie of other rescued animals.
The sanctuary desperately needs donations to help with the upkeep of the animals and build the cows a shelter.
Claire, who spent nine months searching for a permanent home for them, said: “Everyone kept saying, ‘You can’t save them all’, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t save any. When there were only three left, I had to do something.
“I’m really happy that I was able to save these three but I still feel sad that I couldn’t save the others.
“They all deserved to live.”
She managed to acquire a temporary field near her home, until she contacted like-minded Mavis Petrie, who runs Blaikiewell Animal Sanctuary, at Maryculter, Aberdeen.
Claire said: “It was such a big relief when she said she could give them their forever home. They’re in their own field and it opens up into a valley area with trees and bushes and a river. It’s really idyllic.”
To donate, visit here.
