Sponsor Rudolph
Rudolph's journey to the sanctuary...
We received a call from Mr. McAdams, a cattle farmer in our area, we didn’t know what to expect. The cattle industry here often prioritizes profits over compassion, so we were surprised when Mr. McAdams showed us that change is possible, even in the most unexpected places. A disabled military veteran caring for his elderly parents and a herd of 90 cows, he had been caring for an orphaned bull calf named Clark, hoping to raise him for vacation money. However, the responsibilities quickly became overwhelming, and he realized he couldn’t give Clark the care he needed.
That’s when Mr. McAdams reached out to Outsiders Farm & Sanctuary, recognizing that our mission is to provide loving homes for animals in need. By the time we arrived, Clark had already consumed half a bottle of milk. Mr. McAdams was considering whether he needed to surrender him, but then he asked if we had already made arrangements to take in the calf. His willingness to let go and prioritize Clark’s well-being moved us deeply.
We had never imagined taking in a fifth cow, but here we were, contemplating the possibility of a true-to-the-core cattle farmer surrendering a bull calf—one we could save from exploitation and eventual slaughter, all without any exchange of money. My heart was in my throat. Many rescues have to pay to get these animals released, but this farmer wanted nothing more than the promise of a good life for the calf, and you've never seen a big of a smile as his, when our son Porter stepped in to be the calfs new caretaker. Porter immediately renamed him Rudolph when meeting, it was love at first site.
When we received Rudolph (as we named him) and rushed him across the street to the Animal Hospital. He was small, clearly unwell, and fragile. I carried him inside through the large animal entrance, a tech, immediately went to work preparing a bottle for him. She explained how crucial it was for newborn calves to receive colostrum within the first 12-24 hours to ensure their survival. Without it, and without a good latch, calves are doomed. We immediately noticed Rudolph’s swollen right knee joint, a sign of septic arthritis, which further confirmed that he hadn’t received the life-saving colostrum.
We also observed a crusty umbilical cord, a weak latch reflex, and his knees were knock-kneed. It was hard to assess his latch instinct since Mr. McAdams had fed him half a bottle already, but the bottle and nipple they gave us were troubling. The hole in the nipple was too large, and vet staff feared that he might have aspirated or struggled to latch because the milk was coming too fast. The doctor confirmed our concerns but offered a glimmer of hope: Rudolph didn’t have a fever, the umbilical cord wasn’t infected, and he didn’t appear severely dehydrated.
With a long list of feeding instructions and things to monitor, we headed back to the sanctuary. Though we had bottle-raised Evan and Yonah, both of whom were almost a month old when they came to us, we now understood the difficult road ahead. Rudolph, at only a few days old, was fragile and required intensive care to get him through this critical period.
Initially, we planned to keep him in the ISO stall in the goat barn, but the vet advised that he couldn’t regulate his body temperature and needed a heated space. So, we created a temporary spot for him in the medical barn, where we gave him his first bottle of colostrum, purchased from the vet. Though he was older than ideal for colostrum, we were hopeful it would help. We worked together to get him latched on, and the tiny victory of watching him drink was a powerful moment. Rudolph was hungry and, most importantly, ready to fight.
Rudolph continued to thrive, but in May 2024, he contracted Tetanus after being surgically castrated. It’s an extremely rare condition, especially in calves, and even rarer for them to survive. But after weeks of lifesaving treatment at the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Rudolph made a full recovery. Now, he’s set to celebrate his first birthday on December 31st.
While Rudolph could technically join our other rescued cows, his digestive system is still affected by the Tetanus, and we need to closely monitor his diet. So for now, he happily lives with our goat herd, and we’re starting to think he believes he’s one of them! Rudolph’s journey has been a testament to the power of compassion, the resilience of animals, and the difference that a little love and care can make. Please consider joining our recurring donor team as a sponsor for Rudolph. He loves his food and this little boy, Porter, right here! Porter is the only one who can touch him most of the time! They are bonded!
