THE SPECIAL PEACE CORPS
Learn about the Special Peace Corps
at The Life Experience School
which is under the care of the
Peace Abbey Foundation.

Emily the Sacred Cow gained international attention after escaping a Hopkinton slaughterhouse in 1995.

Emily’s story is one of survival, perseverance and inspiration. After hearing of Emily’s escape, Lewis and Meg Randa brought her to live at the Peace Abbey. Emily served as a loving symbol of courage, inner wisdom and survival to thousands of people who came to know and love her. After eight years in town, Emily died March 30, 2003, of cancer. A life-size bronze statue adorned with a blanket and flowers, Hindu signs of respect, stands at her eternal resting place, where Emily the Cow will live on as a symbol of vegetarianism, humanity and nonviolence.Emily served as a loving symbol of courage, inner wisdom and survival to thousands of people who came to know and love her. She encouraged many to embark on the road to vegetarianism and cruelty-free living while inspiring people to appreciate the sacredness of all life.

Emily’s gentle and loving nature imbued us all with a better understanding and respect for all creatures with whom we share this planet. This is her legacy. Emily’s spirit will live on in the hearts of minds of those who were touched by her grace and beauty.Hair clippings from Emily’s markings on her forehead and from the tip of her tail, traces of her blood and a piece of golden thread (placed through Emily’s ear by Hindu priest Krishna Bhatta of the Lakshmi Temple) were released into the holy river Ganges in the city of Benares, India. Abbey members Bram and Elizabeth DeVeer organized and assisted the Temple priest in this traditional sacred cow ritual on the Ganges River in April 2003.

Emily’s Timeline

November 14, 1995 – Escaped from Slaughterhouse

December 24, 1995 – Entered Abbey Sanctuary

March 30, 2003 – Passed to Greener Pastures

April 2, 2003 – Buried behind Gandhi Statue