Benjy the gay bull arrived at an animal sanctuary in the U.K. last weekend after activists in Ireland started a campaign to save him from the slaughterhouse
Benjy the gay bull arrived at an animal sanctuary in the U.K. last weekend after activists in Ireland started a campaign to save him from the slaughterhouse, reports The Advocate.
John Kelly, a farmer in County Mayo, Ireland bought the bull for breeding last year but was left disappointed when he he realised that Benjy is more interested in other bulls.
However, when Dublin-based Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) highlighted Benjy’s plight, The UK launched a crowdfunding campaign to save his life.
Many donations were made to save Benjy but his final transfer to the Hillside Animal Sanctuary was made possible by a donation from Sam Simon, the co-creator of The Simpsons.
In a statement, Simon said:
"It thrills me to help [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] and ARAN make Benjy’s fate a sanctuary rather than a sandwich.
"PETA told me about Benjy, and I felt compelled to help. 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."
Kelly said he has learned a lot about "compassion for the bull" and "the concept of homosexuality." He added that Benjy's sexuality is "a part of nature."
Hillside farmer John Watson told the Irish Sunday Independent that Benjy will be castrated on arrival “because we want to rescue animals in need, not breed them and fill up the sanctuary.”
Watch an Independent.ie report, AFTER THE JUMP…
