Joaquin Phoenix saves animals from slaughterhouse

A video filmed at the slaughterhouse confirmed that the visit was unplanned

Joaquin Phoenix is one man who sticks by his words.

The Academy Award winner who rallied for animal rights in his winning speech last Sunday, helped reunite a cow with her calf just one day after the ceremony, reported TMZ. 

The actor headed to a slaughterhouse in Los Angeles, liberated a cow, Liberty, and her newborn calf, Indigo, and brought them to Farm Sanctuary in Acton, California.

A video of him carrying the calf was shared on YouTube by Farm Sanctuary. An animal protection organisation, it was founded in 1986 to advocate for farmed animals and animal rights.

Photo: YouTube

The video provides a disclaimer that the rescue mission was completely unplanned and shows Phoenix talking to Anthony Di Maria, the CEO and president of the slaughterhouse from where he rescued Liberty and Indigo.

"I don’t need really any science to see with my owns eyes and hear how an animal responds to pain,” Phoenix starts off, to which Di Maria replies, "“An animal will perish in less than 60 seconds — it has to. That is the most humane, human harvest process in the country."

The two go back and forth debating the process of 'harvesting' cows for food, or 'murdering' them as Phoenix puts it, before making their way to the area where Liberty and Indigo are kept in isolation.

While Di Maria assures him that he never takes calves away from their mothers, Phoenix interjects, saying that all the cows on his property will still ultimately be “murdered.”

Phoenix is ultimately allowed to take Liberty and Indigo from the slaughterhouse, and taken to the meadow-like fields of Farm Sanctuary where they can roam around freely.

Photo: YouTube

"Although we will continue to fight for the liberation of all animals who suffer in these oppressive systems, we must take pause to acknowledge and celebrate the victories, and the people who helped achieve them," he continued.

He went on to add, "My hope is, as we watch baby Indigo grow up with her mom Liberty at Farm Sanctuary, that we’ll always remember that friendships can emerge in the most unexpected places; and no matter our differences, kindness and compassion should rule everything around us."

Phoenix has long been an advocate for animal rights, making sure to highlight them in major speeches this awards season.

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