The Beautiful True Story of Helga, Harvey, and the Lightning Herd

PETA’s New Book Shows That One Person Can Change the World

Today, someone with a fondness for cows might volunteer or work at a sanctuary – or at PETA! In 1975, they might have done what Helga Tacreiter did: work on a farm. Helga loved the cows and enjoyed feeding them, snuggling them, and singing to them. And while she cried when each new group of calves grew up and got sent away, she made their lives as happy as she could for as long as she could.

Then one day, lightning struck a large tree on the farm while the mother cows were under it seeking shelter from the storm. Six of their calves survived, but they were now orphans. That meant Helga had to raise the babies, including Harvey, who had been temporarily blinded, couldn’t eat on his own, and turned in circles when he tried to walk.

Helga spent long days and nights hand-feeding Harvey and walking with him, pressed against his side. Slowly, miraculously, his vision started to return and he began to chew grass. One day, he walked in a straight line, then ran, then mooed for the first time. Helga was ecstatic. But as she was celebrating Harvey’s progress, she realized something: Soon, he and all the other calves would be sold. After how hard she and Harvey had worked, it didn’t seem fair.

Helga decided to buy the entire group, which she called the “Lightning Herd.” But where could a farmworker get that kind of money? While she was sitting in the barn one night, her back against Harvey, it came to her. Not everyone got to enjoy cow cuddles as she did – but maybe everyone could. Helga raced to the fabric store and back to the barn, where Harvey, seemingly sensing that she now needed his help, stood still for hours while she draped, measured, cut, and sewed soft faux-fur fabric into what would become the first cow-size “cowch.” Word of Helga’s cowches spread, earning her enough money to buy the Lightning Herd and a plot of land where they would spend their lives in peace.

Today, The Cow Sanctuary in New Jersey is home to dozens of animals – many of them rescued by PETA – including cows, emus, horses, goats, ducks, pigs, and geese. It’s funded by donations and, of course, sales of cowches. And now, just in time for the holidays, PETA is releasing the sweet story of Harvey and the Lightning Herd in a children’s book that will help fund more rescues just like theirs.

Be Part of It!

Bring Harvey and the Lightning Herd into your home, library, or school. And keep items cows are harmed for – like meat, milk, and leather – out.

Did Someone Say ‘Pizza’?

DIY, delivery, dine-in: No matter how you slice it, divine pizza without dairy is easy as pie.

Get inspiration for your next homemade-pizza night from the winners of PETA’s 2024 Top 10 Vegan Pizzas. The creative combos include a cheesesteak-style pizza brimming with cashew cheese, garlic, vegan steak, mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions along with a tangy BBQ pie made with meaty seitan, red onions, vegan cheese, cilantro, and barbecue sauce. Find the whole list here.

Nearly every grocery store carries nondairy, so whip up your own tasty combinations using melty, savory vegan cheese shreds, slices, blocks, or wheels in a wide array of flavors from Follow Your Heart, Violife, Kite Hill, MyLife, Daiya, Miyoko’s Creamery, and others. Miyoko’s even makes Pourable Plant Milk Mozzarella just for pizza!

Too tired to cook? Settle in with a slice of vegan frozen pizza from Amy’s, Blackbird Foods, Pizza Oggi, Tattooed Chef, and many more.

If you’re in Australia or the UK, Domino’s delivers with vegan cheese and meat. A growing number of restaurants and takeaways offer vegan cheese and other toppings, but if your favorites don’t, ask for them!