Thank you!

Adoption allows people like you to change the fate of a cow/calf by giving them a second chance. Our Assisted Rehoming program bring's adopters together with surrending familes to find the best homes for loved Companion Cows.

We know that they will leave hoof prints on your heart! 

Adopting from Companion Cows is an incredibly special experience both for adopters and for the calves/cows you are adopting. 

Making the decision to surrender an animal is a difficult experience for any pet owner. We understand that there are such limited options for people who need to rehome their cows. Our Assisted Rehoming Program ensure they are safely adopted into loving forever homes to live out their best lives as companion pets.

The Assisted Rehoming program would suit an adopter who has room in their herd or would prefer to adopt an adult cow.  Adopters who use our program don't only get the joy of welcoming a new bovine buddy but also the satisfaction of knowing they made a real difference! 

Many of the cows and calves surrendered to us usually share a simiar story to our rescues.

For cows to produce milk, they have to give birth to a calf. 

Calves in the dairy industry do not have many options. They are forcibly removed from their mothers only hours after birth as their mothers milk is to valuable to be fed to them. Males are usually slaughtered at 5 days old and females are destined to live the same life of servitude as their mothers. For dairy cows they are subjected to birthing up to 5 calves in their lifetime, all will be taken from them. As dairy cows have been genetically altered to produce more milk than what is needed for their calves, they are susceptible to many serious illnesses and also prone to lamness with hours spend on concrete milking floors. Their lives are valued  ONLY by the amount of milk they produce and their ability to continue to get pregnant each year. If supply drops, they reach 6 years old or they fail to get pregnant they are sent to the slaughterhouse. We want to change the fate of the calves/cows that come to us and with your help we can. 

By adopting you can give a loved rescue a second chance and give their families the comfort of knowing they will continue to be safe & loved Companion Cows. 

Biosecurity is  designed to protect your property from the entry and spread of pests and diseases. Additionally it is a safeguard for our adopters incase your animals ever get out. The local council will be able to check their ear tags and reunite them with their family! 

We require all adopters to have an active Property Identification Code (PIC). In Australia anyone who owns animals considered 'livestock' including but not limited to cows, horses, alpacas, goats & sheep must be have a resitered PIC as well as NLIS ear tags. All animals adopted through Companion Cows will come with NLIS ear tags and be registered to your property. If you do not yet have a PIC please note that this is required before releasing any animals into your care so an application must be made and a copy provided to support your application. If you have any questions we will happily walk you through the process.

If you want to know more about PIC's and NLIS tages please click HERE

Please note in order to be an approve adopter you will be required to have:

Fencing - Over time cows will put a great deal of pressure on your exisitng fencing, we recommend investing in a offset electric fence so that the cows cannot access the fence. 

Transport - Depending if you are adoption calves/cows you will need appropriate transport. You may also be required to hire a transport company to move multiple cows as it is the safest way for you and the cows. 

COMPANION COWS ADOPTION AGREEMENT

This agreement between Companion Cows the Adopter is entered into wholly and solely for the care, benefit, health, and protection of the animal by the Adopter from Companion Cows.   By ticking & signing the acknowledgement accompanying this contract agrees to be bound by this Contract.

Details of Animal and Parties

A. Companion Cows ABN  18 662 421 481 (‘CC’)  is a dairy calf rescue and rehoming service. Its mission is to make the world a kinder place for dairy animals. CC gains no commercial or other advantage by rescuing and rehoming dairy animals.

Obligations of Adopter

1. The Adopter warrants they are over 18 years of age and  does not sumbit this application on anyones behalf   and have the ability, intent, desire and means to care for the animal/s as required by the   Animal Welfare Act  1993   (‘the Act’).

2. The Adopter agrees that CC have made them aware of their responsibility to record the animal/s movements on and off their property (PIC) via NLIS https://www.integritysystems.com.au/identification--traceability/how-nlis-works/

3. The Adopter agrees to take all reasonable measures to ensure the welfare of the animal/s at all times.

4. The Adopter agrees to take full responsibility for any veterinary costs incurred after the animal/s adoption date unless otherwise agreed.  In the event that an anial becomes sick after collection the adopter must contact Companion Cows within 48 hours. If Companion Cows agrees to accept the financial responsibility to cover vet costs, they have the authority to make all health care related decisions. 

5. The Adopter agrees to care for, treat and raise the animal as a pet, and not as an asset.  Without confining the definitions of ‘pet’ and ‘asset’ as those words are understood in common every day usage, but by way of example, the animal is not to be used for food, research, breeding nor any commercial or financial gain whatsoever.

4. If, for whatever reason whatsoever, the Adopters circumstances change and they are no longer able to keep the animal at any time during the life of the animal, or the Adopter can no longer care for the animal as required by the Act during the life of the animal, the Adopter agrees to contact CC so they can assist with finding a suitable home for the animal. The Adopter agrees that CC will make the final decision in terms of a suitable home replacement.

5. The Adopter has no entitlement to sell, loan, surrender possession of or transfer the animal to any person or organisation without the consent of CC.

6. The Adopter agrees that they will not use their adopted animals for breeding, meat or fur.

7. The Adopter understands that the adoption donation is non refundable when the adopter has a change of heart or circumstances and decides not to go through with the adoption. 

8. The Adopter agrees to organise all transport needs to collect the animal and also agrees to abide by any transport requirements set by Companion Cows. Adopted animals must be collected within 10 days of the donation being made. For cows over 6 months of age, Companion Cows strongly recommends the use of a professional carrier.  

9. The Adopter agrees to maintain ongoing communication with Companion Cows throughout the life of the animal and provide regular updates within a timely manner (7 days). 

10. Companion Cows accepts no responsibility if the animal should become ill or die after being released to the Adopter, or should injure any person or animal or cause damage to the property after being collected. 

11. The Adopter understands that Companion Cows makes no guarantee's about the health of the surrendered animal. 

Obligations of CC

• CC agrees to provide advice and moral support to the Adopter so that the Adopter may comply with their obligations under this agreement.

• If necessary, CC agrees to assist in the successful and safe rehoming of the animal/s by advertising, screening and communicating with potential new Adopters.