This little boy would be 4 years old tomorrow. I took this photo at a local university dairy in the fall of 2019. This little boy has been gone from this earth for years now, but I always remember the dates pierced into his ears and will always remember him on this day. He will not be forgotten on his birthday. Though OSU wouldn't relinquish any babies (Sunrise begged for an injured young boy with a broken leg, but they laughed when the president of our board asked). This sweet boy wasn't just number 814. He was an individual. And I will always tell his story.
He was separated from his mom, so humans could use her milk to eat cheese and ice cream in Columbus, Ohio. Ruthless would have been his father's name. He was completely alone in an empty holding barn, crying and crying. He was most likely being sent to their slaughterhouse soon. The agricultural program at the university I attended employed so many of these poor babies as either test subjects or to teach students how to use and abuse them until they slaughter them. They even put holes in their stomachs so people can watch how they digest food. The water buckets in the veal crates were all empty, and when confronted, the school of agriculture said they are self-filling, though none had any attachments. It was 90 degrees outside on this day. It stormed horribly later that night, and all I could think of was those babies alone with only a small hut for protection. Their moms were stuck in barns across the way, standing in piles of feces, up to the middle of their legs. There were hundreds of them. The students also said we edited the images to make them look skinnier than they are. I don't know how to do that. Photoshop is not my specialty. After these images got out to the public, the university put up barriers and ropes to keep people from seeing any of the babies.
It's so important now more than ever to listen to those who can't speak in the same way we can. We can stop these things from happening by the choices we make every day. We can change the culture and the food systems. We can all make positive changes to help little boys like this.
( The first 3 photos are mine. The last one was taken by my friend Amy from Peta on the same day.) My reviews this weekend will all be donated to @peta in honor of his birthday. I'm sorry we couldn't get you out.
tatanka05 I am so sorry little one. You did deserve to live a happy carefree life.
Thank you for remembering him. ❤️9 likesReply
lizmaselli We begged to rescue one, but they laughed.😭9 likesReply
tatanka05 I am so sorry, but thank you for trying. Poor little angel.8 likesReply
beckyyy It’s so incredibly heartbreaking. My grandparents had a dairy farm but retired around the time I was born so I never saw it in function. I shudder when I think about it and have such a hard time rectifying it all. I myself was vegetarian for 20 years before going vegan; it’s so hard to fathom folks not stopping supporting dairy as soon as you actually understand what is happening and how it is 1) crueler than the meat industry and 2) is directly connected to the meat industry. We’re so desensitized to cruelty and unfortunately it feels like that is not getting better in many respects - though many young folks give me some hope with their compassion and way of seeing systems and people for how they really are. 12 likesReply
lizmaselli Oh, absolutely! I was raised vegetarian because we loved animals. Growing up in the midwest we were brainwashed. We saw the truth about the dairy industry 12 years ago and my parents and I all went vegan. We felt like hypocrites!11 likesReply
ksvegan17 I am so sorry. Poor baby! Hugs!4 likesReply
lizmaselli I think about them often, especially when we rescue a new baby at Sunrise. I know there's more born into this university every spring.3 likesReply
animalsvoices It breaks my heart. 💔💔💔💔💔💔4 likesReply
animalsvoices From now on, I will never forget his sweet face. RIP, dear angel. 💔💔💔💔6 likesReply
lizmaselli I'll never let him be forgotten. Thank you for being on his side, too.💚1 likeReply
animalsvoices Thanks to you for letting us know him. He was so beautiful. I wish I could have hugged him. How can people be so cruel? I will never ever understand.Reply
kyu It’s so crazy to me that this is being carried out at a university of all places — I have this misguided hope that our institutions of learning should somehow be better. Also, I’m wondering why the tag says “ruthless?” It seems a bit on the nose, even for them :(5 likesReply
lizmaselli It's actually very popular for many of the Midwest schools that have big agricultural programs. One of their programs is water management for slaughter. So they slaughter these cows (probably him) over and over to test and brainstorm ways they can use less water, and they call it environmentalism. They then sell their meat on campus. 2 likesReply
lizmaselli We rescued a sick cow from Iowa State University. They breed and use around 900 cows for their dairy testing a year.1 likeReply
vforvegan Cruel and unnecessary animal testing is rampant in colleges and universities across the United States. Unfortunately, because of limitations in the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), most of this testing occurs without any federal protections for the animals or public documentation. It’s impossible for us to know just how many animals are being used for this bad science. But using public records, we have compiled a report detailing the use of the small percentage of animals covered by the AWA in order to provide some transparency regarding what’s happening to animals in laboratories. #stopanimaltesting#stopanimalsabuse7 likesReply
lizmaselli Peta knows about OSU. They worked with us on this! The last image was taken by my friend, who is with the organization. The university accused us of altering the images and making them look sick. We tried to go back, but after our images got out, they put up fencing and ropes so people couldn't see the babies anymore.1 likeReply
vforvegan Yes I know , I'm with Peta too but the one in Argentina now, I'm always sharing Peta's activism. They are awesome . Reply
sianski Thank you for remembering this precious life. I wish the button of awareness, that factory farming is hell, had been switched on in me many years ago. I have been one of the wilfully ignorant people who avoid asking the questions about the dairy industry that should make you an instant vegan. But, I found the button and it’s well and truly on, thanks to the reporting of great animal activists. Plant power is underway and there’s no excuse for the suffering of these beautiful beings.4 likesReply
lizmaselli We were all lied to! Not only are we causing great pain and suffering, but we're making ourselves sick and ruining our planet at the same time!2 likesReply
animalsvoices I wonder where do all those sadistic psicopaths come from. People at universities, labs, etc. really enjoy harming animals.3 likesReply
lizmaselli I think people are just brainwashed by a larger system of greed and profit. If people truly opened their eyes to the monstrosity of it all, we'd live in a much better world.1 likeReply
animalsvoices I don’t think it's only for that reason. I mean, we were all brainwashed to some extent since we were born. Unfortunately, most of us are not vegan since birth. But many of us, despite not being vegan, knew deep in our hearts, our minds and our consciences, that harming and eating animals was wrong. And we never enjoyed harming animals. That's for sure. That people are psychopaths. I mean it. They're not like us.Reply
veronicagroen I will never be able to understand how people can be so heartless. Your work don't go unnotice, it's a beacon of light to many of us, people like you help us believe there is still good in this world. 2 likesReply
lizmaselli We all are beacons. The animals are lucky to have all of us on their side.💕Reply
peter-plant-power The last picture summarizes it all. A concentration camp death row for baby animals. How dreadful and heart-breaking.3 likesReply
lizmaselli The students accused us of editing images. We didn't at all. She added a blue filter, but she always does that. She's an artist. I don't even know how to edit an image of an animal to make them look skinny 2 likesReply
lizmaselli It was like 90 degrees out, too. They had no water. The university lied to the public and said those buckets are self filling. They aren't. Nothing is attached to them. One had a broken leg.😔2 likesReply
catherinews This is heartbreaking 😞 Such a precious little one. Thank you Liz for the work you do and for sharing your stories ♥️ 2 likesReply
lizmaselli As much as I wish I hadn't seen this little guy because of the enormity of it all caused a great strain on my mental health, I feel like I was meant to tell his story. Vegans are empaths, naturally. It's so hard for ALL of us and affects us more than others (which is why we are vegan) I feel like we all have this enormous responsibility to peacefully advocate and encourage others to open their minds and hearts. So THANK YOU as well for everything you are doing for the them as well. We're all in this together ❤️ 2 likesReply
catherinews You’re so right, Liz! ♥️ Thank you for your very kind and encouraging words. Take care 🤗🐇1 likeReply
berryveganplanet What a powerful post! Thank you for this beautiful story of precious boy that will never be forgotten! ❤️1 likeReply
lizmaselli I feel bad for making people sad, I try not to post things like this, but I just feel like it's my duty to always tell his story. Maybe it can inspire someone to make a different choice or consumes less dairy.3 likesReply
berryveganplanet It is sad but absolutely can make a difference to inspire others! Plus you get to share this beautiful memory!! 🥰Reply
laurakantor22 Heartbreaking to see these photos :( 1 likeReply
lizmaselli One positive thing is that they knew some people cared about them and were trying. 😔1 likeReply
irmaroman64 I’m so sorry I can’t read no more I’m in tears just reading this …human will always be a disgrace. We are the worst thing happened to animals and we’re gonna pay. God sees it all we will pay slowly may all gentle Animal, rest in peace. 1 likeReply
