Filmmaker Joanna Zelman and her father, Jared Zelman, drove approximately 600 miles [1] to rescue two newborn calves from slaughter.

The rescue highlights the lengths some activists go to intervene in industrial farming cycles to provide permanent sanctuary for animals.

The duo traveled from farms in Vermont to an animal sanctuary located in the D.C. suburbs of Maryland [2], [4]. The rescue was first proposed in June 2022 [5], with the road trip occurring shortly thereafter. The two calves, named Mickey and Moose [4], were only 10 days old [3] when the Zelmans intervened to save them.

By transporting the animals across state lines, the father-daughter team aimed to ensure the calves would have a safe life away from the commercial slaughter pipeline. The journey involved coordinating the pickup from Vermont agricultural sites, and managing the logistics of moving young livestock over a long distance [1], [2].

The experience has since been documented as a film. The project captures the emotional and physical journey of the rescue, focusing on the bond between the rescuers and the two calves [2].

Both Mickey and Moose were successfully delivered to the Maryland sanctuary, where they are now provided with lifelong care and protection from the livestock industry [2], [4].

“The duo traveled from farms in Vermont to an animal sanctuary located in the D.C. suburbs of Maryland.”

This rescue reflects a growing trend of individual intervention in the livestock industry, where activists use personal resources and media documentation to challenge the standard trajectory of commercial farming. By moving animals from production farms to sanctuaries, these efforts prioritize animal welfare over agricultural utility.