vegan safe haven for neglected animals
05/09/2025
Anyone who knows me knows how deeply I’ve longed to rescue a cow. It was my dream long before Figgy Farm even existed – big pigs and cows have always held my heart. So when we got the message about Silco, I knew it was finally time.
Silco came to us in rough shape. He couldn’t stand, had been battling pneumonia for most of his short life, and had never received the proper vet care he deserved. Our vets rushed to his side as soon as he arrived, making multiple trips to adjust his treatment and give him every possible chance at recovery.
But despite all our efforts, his condition only worsened, and we ultimately had to make the decision to take him to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Hospital. There, we were given the devastating news that there was nothing more we could do. Without intervention, Silco faced a slow, painful decline, so we made the unthinkable choice to let him cross the rainbow bridge peacefully. My heart has been shattered ever since.
We recently received his necropsy report, confirming what we already feared: Silco’s lungs were riddled with severe, chronic aspiration pneumonia. His spinal cord and brainstem were also severely damaged from an injury when he was born on a local beef farm. What we hadn’t known until now is that his kidneys were chronically inflamed, a silent struggle he endured without complaint.
Needless to say, my heart remains broken. I can’t understand how anyone could let a baby suffer like this, denied professional veterinary care they were in clear, desperate need of. I keep thinking, if only he had come to us sooner, he might still be here...
Sometimes I think about rescuing another cow, but the truth is, what I really want is Silco back; alive, healthy, and full of the light he brought into my world. He was so special. A sweet, loving boy who adored cuddles and gentle kisses. Our souls connected in a way that I can’t put into words.
I ache to bury my face in his soft fur again, to kiss his perfect little face, and wrap my arms around him one more time.
I miss you so much, my baby boy.
I’ll be sharing more about Silco’s fight and what his necropsy revealed on our Patreon, for those who want to know more.
