Two Rescued Calves Meet for the First Time at Farm Sanctuary (VIDEO)

Adorable calves Ari and Nik are two of Farm Sanctuary’s recent rescues living out the rest of their days in Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Nik is the sanctuary’s newest rescue who arrived in January after months of living on the run after breaking out of a nearby farm in August 2013. It took Farm Sanctuary’s rescue team nearly two days to finally get Nik aboard the rescue van and into a warm stall for much needed medical attention.

The team even brought Ari along to assist in the rescue effort, but they said, “Not not even Ari’s comforting moos from the safety of our trailer could convince the lost calf to come near us. We didn’t manage to get within six feet of Nik. Each time we approached, he retreated into the brush.”

Nik was 200 to 300 pounds underweight, and terrified of people, even those who only wanted to help him. At the shelter, he is now showered with love and affectionate scratches from Farm Sanctuary staff.

Ari was brought to the Sanctuary a few months earlier, after he was found on the floor of an auction house. His mother was being sold at a “cull auction,” in which dairy cows who can no longer survive constant impregnation to produce milk are sold for cheap beef. These “spent” cows are typically only four to five years old, explains Farm Sanctuary.

Ari was born on the auction floor and his mother was dragged away immediately after, no decency or compassion was shown to her. It was an act of grace that a woman fond Ari, who was left for dead, and spurred his transfer to Farm Sanctuary.

These terrifying ordeals are sadly commonplace in our farming system. Ari and Nik are the lucky ones that finally have a safe haven. In the video below, watch as Ari greets the day with a moo, and comes nose to nose with Nik for the very first time.