Moose has come a long way – from protruding bones and fear – to health and trust.
One of our Foster Carers first spotted Moose among a group of cattle on a nearby farm.
He was shy and fearful, one of the “wild ones” who stayed back from people. But our carer would often talk to him from over the fence and occasionally offer him little pieces of bread. Slowly, Moose began to recognise that voice.
Then one day, the cattle were brought into a smaller paddock to be loaded onto a slaughter truck.
As they were being moved, it became clear that Moose was desperately unwell.
He was severely underweight, weak, and swollen badly around his jaw and mouth. He needed urgent medical care, but he was already in such poor condition that nobody knew if he would survive much longer.
The other cattle were loaded onto the truck. Moose was left behind.
Our Foster Carer, however, seized this opportunity. Though we wish we could save every animal we meet at times, this simply isn’t possible, especially when it comes to commercial farms.
However, in the case of Moose, we had a chance to fight for him when it seemed no one would.
Every day, our Foster Carer checked on him, spoke gently to him, and tried to help him while asking if he could be surrendered into care.
But the answer was no.
Our Carer would not give up, however, and with a stroke of luck, she was able to show the owners the rescue animals already being cared for, and so they could see the life Moose could have.
This is why we operate with compassion. We never write people off. Farmers are still people, and we know with some education, they can learn there is another way.
With this, the owner had a change of heart, and Moose was surrendered to foster care.
His first day in safety was not easy. He was frightened, stressed, and unwell.
He still has a long road ahead of him. He needs to gain weight, rebuild his strength, and slowly learn that not all humans will hurt him.
In this video, you can see just how skinny Moose was when he entered our care. Though this breaks our hearts, our focus is and always will be his recovery.
Moose is alive. And that means his story is only just beginning. Moose is ready to find his new home as a companion, not a commodity.
Keep reading to learn more about Moose.
Moose is a gentle, sensitive steer with a quiet nature. He can be a little shy at first, but with patience and some hand-fed treats, he comes out of his shell and starts to build trust.
He is not a dominant steer and would do best with a calm, placid herd or a companion steer/cow similar in temperament. Moose can be nervous around strangers, but he settles once he gets to know you.
An old soul, Moose doesn’t run and play like other steers his age. He would be happiest living with older animals or those who enjoy a slower pace of life.
Moose is looking for a quieter home with calm or older animals where he can relax and feel secure. He is sweet-natured and would thrive in an environment where he can simply be himself.
He is well-behaved and does not get through fences.
Moose can be nervous during vet visits or when in a crush, so he will need gentle, patient handling during these times. When stressed, the risk is Moose hurting himself rather than people or other animals.
If you think that you could provide Moose with a loving home, please click the ‘Apply to adopt‘ button below to contact us and start your adoption journey today.
To see Moose’s full journey, click here.
🚚 Transport to be determined upon adoption application. The adopter will need to cover part of the cost of using a professional transporter; the charity will cover 50%.
🌱 Moose’s diet consists of grass and hay, and as he continues to gain weight and improve in condition, he enjoys a chaff and molasses mix for extra calories. Moose has been under veterinary care and is up to date with vaccinations and worming. Moose will need an adopter to continue supporting him as he puts on condition.
