Celebrating Cows with RASTA Sanctuary & Toronto Cow Save

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This show is all about cows! We start the show by sharing some of our own perceptions of and experiences with our bovine friends.

Lucie Cerny, RASTA Sanctuary

Our first guest is Lucie Cerny, founder and director of RASTA Sanctuary – a cageless, no-kill sanctuary for animals located in Chemainus, BC. Named after Lucie’s beloved late dog, RASTA is a registered Canadian charity devoted to animal rescue and protection through public education.

Theodore is a bovine residing at RASTA Sanctuary. Born to a dairy cow, he was taken from his mother at just a few hours old, and destined to endure the tragic and short life of a veal calf. After suffering the conditions of a B.C. dairy farm, he developed medical problems which the farmer chose not to address – the veterinary costs would exceed any profits they could make off his flesh. Theodore’s poor health turned out to be what saved his life: after being found discarded on a pile of manure, he was rescued and taken to RASTA Sanctuary. Now 10 years old and nearly three thousand pounds, Theodore is living out his natural life free from harm and exploitation. An ambassador for his species, his presence at RASTA is inspiring compassion, and raising awareness among visitors of the cruelty of cattle farming.

James O’Toole, Toronto Cow Save

Our feature interview is with James O’Toole, an activist with the Save Movement in Toronto. The Save Movement is a network of groups around the world that bear witness to cows, pigs, chickens, and other farmed animals en route to slaughter. The movement started in 2010 in Toronto, and today there are over 130 groups worldwide. James joins us to discuss the lives and experiences of cattle, and what activists with Toronto Cow Save witness when they see these gentle animals on their way to be killed for profit.