Rising to the best within us

Updated November 19, 2024

Life is full of hurdles. Unexpected and often overwhelming obstacles that threaten to ruin our day or throw us off course. And regardless of their source, those hurdles challenge the best within us to rise.

And in the school of life, few beings encounter more hurdles, both literal and metaphorical, than farm animals. Their entire existence is riddled with human-made obstacles, culminating in one final hurdle they will never overcome — their grim fate.

Which is never kind.

But every now and then, one escapes the system. One whose thirst for life cannot be extinguished. One who looks his oppressor in the eye and says, “I’ll have none of this”.

Our brave Hurdles is among that number.

Jumping ship, or rather slaughterhouse-bound “livestock” transport vehicle on a busy Melbourne arterial freeway, seems the most likely reason for Hurdles being hunkered down where he terrifyingly was. Despite multiple reports to authorities, no one seemed equipped or keen to secure a safe outcome for Hurdles. And so, it appeared he may have slammed into his final one.

But then our fearless friends at Vets for Compassion stepped in.

With his grave and justifiable fear of humans legible through his erratic ways, it was a dart of compassion that reined in the young lad. Still groggy from it all, Hurdles was rushed to sanctuary. Here, we seized this golden opportunity to attend to his hooves and other vital intake procedures—delicate tasks that would be otherwise challenging in a fully conscious Hurdles.

Fast forward to today, and we find Hurdles blinking in the sunlight, taking in his newfound world. The bucolic smells of pasture and kindness delight his senses, as does the companionship of his two best new buddies, Fred and Ginger—two stoic, fellow escapees of the “system”.

And, as they cast a glance our way, we strongly suspect there is one thought that collectively runs through their intelligent heads, “It was worth the effort”.

Seeing the serenity that now defines Hurdles, we experience a poignant moment of synchronicity. One that embraces us all as we think back on all we have encountered to get this far—“It was worth the effort”. Hurdles’ journey will always remind us of the challenges we face in advocating for a kinder world for farmed animals. Because, just like this doggedly determined black-and-white sheep, we unearth the best within ourselves when we rise to meet life’s hurdles.