Janessa.
In March 2020, we said goodbye to one of the most incredible beings I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. Janessa, the model for our recent valentine’s day enamel pin, was nearing her 20th birthday, when her arthritis progressed rapidly and we had to make the most difficult decision for her. Despite all the daily supplements, pain meds and laser treatments, it was a cold and difficult winter for her, and everything finally took its toll.
As a youngster, Janessa was a show cow at a dairy and then became a dairy cow where she gave birth year after year to over a dozen calves. As horse folks would say, she was “bombproof” and would stand in place untethered for the longest grooming sessions without moving a muscle. She was the matriarch at the dairy and the boss of both Hazel (her first companion at the sanctuary) and later Jeanette, one of her own daughters who we adopted in the Fall of 2019. You could say “the seas parted” when Janessa walked into a field! She was a wise old soul who was resilient and truly a force of nature. There was a rumor that she only liked Jerseys, but we never held that against her. : )
Janessa loved being hugged and brushed. She had the most plush satiny winter coat I’ve ever seen on a cow and the sweetest scent on her neck and face that always distracted me from my barn chores. I took many breaks from cleaning to catch a neck snuggle, burying my face in her thick coat to bask in her gentle peaceful spirit.
We only had her for a little under two years and I knew from the day we met that she would be the one cow who would eventually break my heart more than any of the others. I’m grateful we were able to give her a couple of years of peace, freedom, great snacks, and mostly our love. Her daughter, Jeanette, was both depressed and frantic after her passing, so we worked quickly to liberate another cow from a local dairy as soon as possible.
Janessa, I hope you are somewhere lounging with your old Jersey pal, Hazel, in a field of the sweetest timothy and clover with a million apple trees within your reach. You will hold a huge piece of my heart forever, sweet girl.
Special thanks to Carey and John for all your love and help with Janessa's care and especially on her last day. We thank everyone who helped support her care through the purchase of the beautiful enamel pins we made in her honor and hope anyone who doesn’t yet have one will purchase one to wear in Janessa’s memory, while showing your love and support for dairy cows everywhere. Click here for more info on our Janessa pins.
