Safe travels Betty – March 2025
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Betty, WCR’s matriarch of cows 💔
As a dairy cow, Betty lived a life that was not her own. For years her body was seen as a commodity, a means to an end. She gave, and gave, only to have her calves stolen from her, time and time again. It is impossible to measure the depth of her loss and the heartbreak she endured before she came to WildCat Ridge Sanctuary in 2015. At WildCat Ridge, Betty finally found peace. She found grass beneath her hooves, warm sun on her back, and, most importantly she finally got the chance to be a mom.
Not long after Betty’s arrival, a motherless veal calf came into our care, a baby who had already been robbed of his own mother. Betty, without hesitation and after all she had suffered, befriended Curly, giving him the love and security that had been stolen from them both. The two became inseparable. Curly never let Betty stray far from his side and although he eventually grew to nearly two and a half times her size, he always deferred to her. Betty, in turn, patiently and good-naturedly endured his constant attention.
As Betty aged, the toll of her years as a dairy cow began to manifest. Arthritis and hoof issues became a struggle, and she took great pleasure in frustrating the keepers by attempting to sift out her daily medications. Despite her stubborn streak, she stood stoically as her hooves were routinely soaked in Epsom salt and chlorhexidine, a testament to her quiet resilience.
Finally, it became clear that her body was failing, and those who loved her made the heartbreaking decision to let her go with grace. Betty was given a gift so few cows ever receive—a peaceful passing, surrounded by those who cherished her, offering comfort and love as she took her final breath.
Betty spent a decade in sanctuary at WCR, living life on her own terms. She had friends, safety, and dignity. She lived out her days knowing love and knowing rest.
On March 18, 2025, Betty left this world, but she leaves behind a legacy. Betty embodied resilience, love, and the quiet strength of forgiveness. Betty was a survivor, a mother, and, in the end, a symbol of healing. Safe travels Betty, you remain in our hearts forever 💔😢
