Apollo
Chianina Maine Anjou Steer
Apollo's Story
Apollo was born on May 14, 2026, but his story began long before he arrived at Rowdy Girl Sanctuary.
His mother, Genisse, was a beautiful Chianina cow who was being raised and shown by a student named Laila through her FFA program at College Park High School. Laila and Genisse had formed a close bond, and the family was eagerly awaiting the birth of her calf. The plan was for Laila to show Genisse and her baby together. At the time, no one even knew whether the calf would be a boy or a girl.
Then Apollo arrived.
He was a boy—and he was beautiful.
But his birth was extremely difficult. Apollo was too large to pass safely through the birth canal, and after attempts were made to deliver him, Genisse had to be rushed to a veterinarian for an emergency C-section.
Apollo survived, but both mother and baby needed immediate care. In photographs taken during those first hours, Genisse can be seen recovering from surgery with her newborn calf beside her while the people around them did everything they could to help.
Because Genisse was still recovering, Apollo had to be bottle-fed from the very beginning. Everyone hoped his mother would heal and that the two of them would soon be able to return home together.
Tragically, Genisse developed a serious infection. She remained under veterinary care for nearly a month, but despite every hope that she would recover, the infection became too severe. The family eventually had to make the heartbreaking decision to let her go.
Apollo had lost his mother when he was only a few weeks old.
In the days that followed, the family rallied around him. Laila continued caring for the calf she had watched come into the world, but Rick quietly became one of the most important people in Apollo’s young life.
Rick is not someone who says a lot about what he feels. He shows his love through what he does.
Every morning before work, Rick went to the barn to bottle-feed Apollo so Laila would not have to go before school. Laila usually returned after school to give Apollo his afternoon bottle. Whenever she could not be there, Rick stepped in again.
Bottle after bottle. Morning after morning.
Apollo learned to recognize the people who had become his family. He especially adored Rick and Laila, the two people who had faithfully shown up for him after the loss of his mother.
The little gray calf with the white tuft of hair on top of his head began to grow. Students, parents, and visitors at the barn fell in love with him. What had begun as an agricultural project slowly became something much more personal.
Apollo was no longer simply a calf being raised for an FFA program.
He was Apollo.
The original plan was to raise him, show him, and eventually sell him. The family even received an offer of $6,800, and there were conversations about how much he might be worth.
But something had changed.
After everything they had endured together—Genisse’s difficult labor, the emergency surgery, her death, Apollo’s bottles, Rick’s early mornings, and Laila’s devotion—the family could no longer think of him only in terms of what someone might pay for him.
They had fallen in love with him.
They had watched Apollo fight to survive after losing his mother. They had come to know his sweet personality, his trust, and his affection. He was not a product or a dollar amount. He was a living, feeling individual whose life mattered to them.
They realized they did not want to sell him.
They wanted to save his life.
Susan began searching for somewhere Apollo could go where he would be protected and allowed to live out his natural life. She first contacted another sanctuary, but they did not have room for him. Thankfully, they gave her the telephone number for Rowdy Girl Sanctuary.
Susan reached out, and we called her back.
As we learned more about Apollo and the family who had raised him, something in his story touched our hearts. We began having conversations with Susan, Rick, and Laila—not only about Apollo’s future, but also about the realities of animal agriculture and the possibility of making more compassionate, plant-based choices.
We are deeply grateful for their willingness to have those conversations and for their openness to learning. It takes courage to question practices and traditions that have always been presented as normal. It takes even more courage to allow what you learn to change the decision you make.
Their change of heart changed the course of Apollo’s entire life.
Instead of being sold, Apollo was surrendered to Rowdy Girl Sanctuary.
Instead of being valued for his weight, his breed, or the amount of money someone might pay for him, Apollo would be valued simply because he is someone—not something.
He would have a place where he could live.
A place where he could grow.
A place where he could be an animal rather than an agricultural project.
A place where he would always be safe.
Apollo’s arrival at Rowdy Girl is not the end of his family’s relationship with him. Susan, Rick, and Laila have entered our Families Choosing Compassion program, which means they will be able to remain part of Apollo’s life for as long as he naturally lives.
They will be able to visit the calf they loved enough to save, watch him grow, celebrate his milestones, and continue nurturing the bond that made his rescue possible. They did not have to lose Apollo in order to protect him. By choosing sanctuary, they created a new kind of relationship with him—one built not on ownership or profit, but on love, respect, and a lifelong commitment to his freedom.
Apollo is now fitting in beautifully at Rowdy Girl Sanctuary. He is the sweetest, cuddliest, most adorable new addition to our family. He loves affection, enjoys being close to people, and has already stolen the hearts of everyone who has had the opportunity to meet him.
We absolutely love him.
When we look at Apollo, we also remember Genisse. She endured so much to bring him into this world, and she will always be part of his story. Her legacy lives on through the beautiful young calf who survived and through the decision that was ultimately made to protect his life.
We are so grateful to Susan, Rick, and Laila for loving Apollo enough to change their plans. We are grateful for the bottles, the early mornings, the muddy boots, and every act of care that carried him through the most vulnerable time of his life. We are grateful that they trusted Rowdy Girl Sanctuary with someone who had become such an important part of their family.
Most of all, we are grateful that they chose compassion.
We look forward to welcoming Susan, Rick, Laila, and their loved ones into our Rowdy family. We cannot wait to see how their relationship with Apollo continues to grow—and how this decision expands the scope, breadth, and depth of their own lives.
Apollo has already changed their family once. We believe he will continue changing their hearts, their choices, and the way they see animals for many years to come.
Apollo’s story reminds us that transformation is always possible. Sometimes an animal enters someone’s life under one set of expectations, but love opens the door to seeing that animal differently. Once we truly recognize animals as the unique individuals they are, the question is no longer what their lives are worth to us.
The question becomes whether we are willing to honor their right to live.
Apollo will never be sold.
He will never be slaughtered.
He will never again be treated as a project or a product.
Apollo is home at Rowdy Girl Sanctuary, where he will be loved, protected, and allowed to live his life on his own terms—with his first family remaining part of his journey for the rest of his natural life.
This is the second chance his family wanted for him.
This is the life Apollo deserves.
Apollo is available to virtually adopt in our Adopt an Animal Program