Thank you!

Adoption allows people like you to change the fate of a calf by giving them a second chance after being rescued from the dairy industry. In foster care, we ensure they are given the best start to life and a safe space to physically and emotionally heal before they are adopted into their forever homes to live their best lives as companion cows.

Our mission is to be transformative in the lives of dairy cows & their babies through rescue, rehoming & representation. An unwavering voice for the ones we liberate, the ones we lose & the ones we leave behind. Paving a pathway to kindness by keeping the animals at the heart of everything we do.

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

Adopting from Companion Cows is an incredibly special experience both for the adopter and the calves you are adopting. Many of our adopters may know, but for those who don't, the animals we rescue have a devastating reality. 

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 rewrite their stories and give them the happy ending they would have never been afforded from the industry they were born into. 

In order to continue our work, we require an adoption donation for our calves.
Adoptions will not be finalised until the donations have been received.  

Your donations not only save the lives of your new companion calves but also allow us to continue our mission through rescuing and rehoming others and providing vet care, transportation, feed and supplies for our foster carers. 

Adoption Donation

Each calf has been given a health and temperament check, dehorned, wormed and vaccinated, and male calves have been desexed.

• Weaned Calves - $250 per calf
  
  Please note calves must be adopted in pairs unless prior approval has been given for a single calf adoption*
  

Please  CLICK HERE  to view the calves currently available for adoption 

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 have a registered PIC and 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. We will happily walk you through the process if you have any questions.

Please click on the relevant state to find out more and apply for a PIC.

NSW

TAS

QLD

NT

ACT

VIC

WA

Please note to be an approved adopter; you will be required to have the following:

Shelter-  A 3-sided shelter with a roof large enough for all the animals you are adopting. Calves will need protection from the elements while they are young. As they grow, their need for a stable or built shelter will decline. While a stable or shelter large enough for adult cows is ideal, it is not necessary for the ongoing well-being of the animals you adopt. Lots of large shady trees or a one-sided shelter is enough to ensure your beloved bovines have protection from sun, wind and rain.

Fencing -  Cattle-proof or standard fencing with an electric fence system/hotwire.

Note: While strong and bovine-proof fencing is essential, we highly recommend adopters introduce an electric fence or hot wire from a very young age. The earlier you can teach your new companion cows to respect the fence, the less trouble you will have with them damaging structural fencing or escaping as they become adults.  An electric fence system or hot wire is relatively cost-effective and much cheaper than replacing or fixing structural fencing.   

Transport -   We recommend a horse float or a box trailer with high sides, straw or rubber matt for flooring and a tarp overtop. 

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.

Adopter agrees as follows:

No Warranties:

1. Although best efforts have been made to ensure the proper health of the animals, the Adopter understands that Companion Cows makes no warranties or representations (either express or implied) as to the health, fitness, demeanour, or wellbeing of the animals being adopted. The animal/s is adopted 'as is'.

2. Companion Cows accept no responsibility if the animal/s should become ill or die after being released to the Adopter or should injure any person or animal or cause damage to property after being released to the Adopter.

3. The Adopter agrees that Companion Cows does not offer a refund of the Adoption fee if the Adopter has a change of mind about adopting or circumstance change and wishes to surrender the animals to Companion Cows. Companion Cows does not offer trial adoptions.

Other:

That Companion Cows is required to collect your personal information for the primary purpose of providing this service to you. Companion Cows may also use your personal information for secondary purposes, such as providing information about activities related to Companion Cows. If you do not wish to be contacted for any other purpose, you may state a wish to opt out now or unsubscribe from Companion Cows mailing/marketing lists at any time. For a copy of our privacy policy, go to https://www.companioncows.org/privacy-policy

Obligations of Adopter

1. The Adopter warrants they are over 18 years of age and have the ability, intent, desire and means to care for the animal/s as required by the Animal Welfare Act 1993 (Tas.) (‘the Act’).

2. The Adopter agrees that CC has 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 all responsibility for any veterinary costs incurred after the animal/s adoption date unless otherwise agreed.If an animal 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 everyday usage, but by way of example, the animal is not to be used for food, research, breeding, nor any commercial or financial gain whatsoever.

6. If, for whatever reason whatsoever, the adopter's 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 regarding a suitable home replacement.

7. The adopter agrees that if rehoming of the animal/s is needed, the Adopter is responsible for all costs required to successfully and safely rehome the animal/s.

• 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.

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

• 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.

• The Adopter agrees to organise all transport needs to collect the animal and abide by any transport requirements set by Companion Cows. Adopted animals must be collected within ten days of the donation being made.

• The Adopter agrees to maintain ongoing communication with Companion Cows throughout the life of the animal/s, including but not limited to 1 current photo per year or, when requested, showing the animal/s body condition.

Obligations of CC

• CC will ensure a veterinary examination is done on arrival into our care and that the animal/s are in good health and clear of illness.

• CC will ensure the animal/s are wormed and vaccinated.

• CC will ensure male calves are castrated before the day of adoption.

• CC agrees to provide advice and moral support to the Adopter so that they 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.