

Sam Simon at a fundraiser benefiting Mercy For Animals at Private Residence on June 8, 2013. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images for Mercy for Animals)

Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons, has devoted his wealth towards animal welfare causes ever since he was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year, and the latest recipient of his charity was a gay bull in Ireland destined for the slaughterhouse.

A Charlerois bull named Benjy was to be turned into hamburgers after the Irish farmer that previously owned him found no use for him anymore. Benjy was fertile but failed to impregnate any of the heifers on the farm he lived on in County Mayo. It turned out he fancied the bull that replaced him much more, according to the AP.

"All animals have a dire destiny in the meat trade, but to kill this bull because he's gay would've been a double tragedy," said Simon in a statement. Simon covered the roughly $7,800 needed to purchase Benjy and transport him to the Hillside Animal Sanctuary in England, which is home to 2,000 unwanted farm animals and horses.

The tale of Benjy received attention through social media when online activists launched a campaign to raise funds to save the bull. Online magazine TheGayUK managed to raise over $6,000 before Simon stepped in to cover the costs.