Reba liberated herself.
She escaped from the farm where she was kept, broke free and refused to stay. Her behaviour led people around her to think she was ‘crazy’. She acted unpredictably, without a clear reason.
But Reba had a very valid reason to run. They just didn’t know it yet.
Who She Was Before
Nobody knew what Reba had been through before she arrived at the sanctuary. What was clear was that she was terrified. She kept her distance from humans and didn’t trust them. She probably had valid reasons.
Whatever had happened on that farm made her feel like she had to escape. Sage Mountain Sanctuary was sensitive to this, and knew they’d have to give her space and patience.
There was no pressure or expectations. She was released on the sanctuary grounds, clearly distressed. She kept her distance as she usually did, and had more room to do so.
The Secret
Reba’s behaviour suddenly made sense.
She had been carrying a secret the whole time. She wasn’t just trying to protect herself. Reba was pregnant. And in a world where cows lose their calves within hours of birth, a pregnant cow who breaks free from a farm and refuses to be settled is not crazy. She is simply a good mother.
Francis was born into the sanctuary with a promise of lifelong safety. Nobody was going to take him from his mother. Her ‘craziness’ had saved them both.
Francis
He has never had a reason to fear humans. Not one day of his life.
From the beginning, he was curious and loving. The world had never given him a reason to be cautious.
He is mischievous, outgoing, and lives a life his mother deserved from the beginning.
Reba Now
Reba has certainly developed a trust in humans, despite her past. She even takes treats from human hands now and doesn’t avoid everyone or see them as potential threats.
She came to the sanctuary as a terrified mother, but was open enough to allow humans in her new home to show her that she was safe with them.
And she was certainly never ‘crazy’. She was a mother in a world that wasn’t safe for her family. She ran from that, which was actually a smart move.
Now she doesn’t run. She has a herd and a baby by her side, relaxes daily and has no reason to escape.
What They Should Have Always Had
Animal agriculture separates countless mothers from their babies. An untold number of individuals are deprived of their families. Spaces like Sage Mountain Sanctuary respect this dynamic and show the world how important they are to individuals like Reba and Francis. No families should be torn apart. Reba’s bravery, which seemed like strange behaviour, was the very thing that gave her a chance at a new life.
This life she has now is something every mother deserves.
