On a ranch halfway up the slopes of 10,023-foot Haleakalā, Maui’s massive dormant volcano, a jet-black cow with big brown eyes had slowed down as a milk producer. As is typical with so-called “spent” dairy cows, Dorothy was headed for the slaughterhouse. Steve, a kind-hearted worker on the ranch, had bonded with Dorothy, whom he recognized as a gentle, affectionate soul. He was heartbroken when he heard about her fate and decided he had to rescue her.

Taking his boss aside, Steve offered to pay the same fee that a slaughterhouse would get for a 2,000-pound bovine. His boss agreed but stipulated that Dorothy could no longer stay at the ranch; Steve would have to find another place for her to live. Steve immediately began spreading the word to friends, relatives, farms and ranches, but no one was interested in caring for an aging, financially unproductive cow.

Undaunted, Steve persevered. Eventually, his efforts paid off, and he connected with Leilani Farm Sanctuary. Melody Hofmann, a member of our board of directors at the time, contacted the owners of Gomes Ranch in Kula and convinced them to donate the use of a trailer and the assistance of three ranch hands to transport Dorothy to our farm.

We waited several weeks for a loading chute to be built for Dorothy, all the while worrying that she would somehow wind up at the slaughterhouse. Finally, the big day came. Our team videotaped Dorothy as she was nudged into the chute and onto the trailer for the 40-minute ride to her new home with us. We were thrilled to have saved another precious life!

Dorothy recently celebrated her eighth anniversary as a beloved member of our family. Over the years, she has become a compelling ambassador for our humane education program, which raises awareness about the cruel and rampant exploitation of cows for dairy, meat and leather.

Update: We are deeply saddened to report that Dorothy passed away on June 29, 2024. Her eight happy years at Leilani Farm Sanctuary were filled with love, kindness and freedom.