Calling all animal lovers! Well-known vegan, animal activist, and Academy Award winning actor Joaquin Phoenix is coming to the rescue of anyone still searching for a heartfelt, last-minute, quarantine-friendly and truly unique Mother’s Day gift. You may remember Joaquin’s somewhat avant-garde, yet socially conscious, tuned-in and gracious acceptance speech last February for his Academy Awards win. (A full transcription of his speech is included below). Among the several social issues he addressed in his speech that included equality for all men, women and beasts alike, he spoke about the plight of cows and their babies used in animal agriculture. The following day, instead of doing press interviews, he rescued a mother cow and her new born calf from a slaughter house. Now, he’s hoping that you will join him, in the spirit of Mother’s Day and mommy cow Liberty and baby Indigo at Farm Sanctuary and adopt them for your mom or mom-figure in your life. 

“Liberty was pregnant when she was set to be slaughtered,” explains Phoenix in a letter. “An incredible set of circumstances, including the birth of her calf and a slaughterhouse owner’s refusal to separate a mother from her baby, led to this beautiful pair being rescued by LA Animal Save and Farm Sanctuary. It’s impossible not to smile at the love that radiates from Liberty for her calf, Indigo, or the marvelous curiosity they share for their new life roaming spacious land in permanent sanctuary.”