Members of animal rescue group Hawaii Lava Flow Animal Rescue Network (HLFARN) recently succeeded in their sixth rescue of cows and calves from large-scale dairy farm Big Island Dairy in Ookala, Hawaii—bringing the total number of rescued animals to 249. Big Island Dairy recently closed after battling a longstanding lawsuit filed by community activists, who said the 2,000-acre farm was polluting nearby waterways with urine and feces. In two instances in 2018, the farm discharged nearly 8 million gallons of liquid waste into local waterways. In negotiations with HLFARN, Big Island Dairy agreed to allow HLFARN to rescue as many of the 2,600 cows as they want for a fee of $100 for each calf and $350 for mother cows. Rescue efforts began earlier this year when HLFARN started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the purchase and rescue of the cows, and help fund veterinary care, medications, gas for transportation, and fencing assistance for some of the cows’ new homes, which include sanctuaries and safe pastures. Thus far, the group has raised $51,000 of its $65,000 goal. HLFARN is a Facebook group that was created in 2018 to help those needing assistance with companion and farmed animals after the eruption of Kilauea volcano. The group is in the process of becoming a non-profit to continue its live-saving work.

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