Today we’d like to introduce you to Lakshmi Dove.
Hi Lakshmi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My relationship with cows began when I was three and a half. In 1980, my family moved to a Hare Krishna farm where my father helped care for the cows. I have fond memories of when he took me to the cow barn to help him care for them.
My parents’ spiritual master, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Probhupada, had taught them the benefits for humankind of a vegetarian diet and cow protection. Actually, cow protection was one aspect of a non-violent Ahimsa approach to life that our family learned to embrace. Understanding the cruelty of the meat and dairy industries and the deep philosophical and spiritual benefits of loving all creatures, my parents craved dedicating themselves to a mission grounded in these beliefs. Thus, they incorporated ISCOWP (International Society for Cow Protection) in 1990.
In the beginning years, our family traveled throughout the USA in a simply renovated school bus with a team of oxen, stopping at Hare Krishna festivals and county fairs. We would set up a booth with literature, fence off the oxen, and allow the public to pet them. My father would demonstrate how the oxen understood voice commands. My mother and I would occupy the booth, talking to people about cow protection and distributing literature. We desired to show that the cow had feelings, emotions, and intelligence, and that it deserved not to be eaten or exploited.
Soon after, mostly my father, traveled for 12 years throughout Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, and India propagating cow protection and vegetarianism as the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Ministry for Cow Protection. At the same time, we maintained our farm in West Virginia to show a practical example of cow protection.
I grew up emotionally and practically caring for cows, experiencing their joys and their sorrows, and along the way, acquiring the how-to knowledge to go with my deep attachment to them. When I became an adult, I realized I couldn’t stop loving cows, and life without cows was not possible. I thus decided to dedicate my life to caring for them and, along with my parents, spreading the knowledge of cow protection and dietary change.
My two children, Balaji and Bhima, are also growing up caring for and loving the cows. Cows are so easy to love! And once you love them, it is difficult to imagine anyone eating them. Thus, we feel ISCOWP’s most important message is that the cow deserves to be happy, and that shifting from a meat and dairy-based diet to a plant-based one is extremely helpful in achieving that goal.
We currently care for 22 rescued cows of various breeds at our ISCOWP cow sanctuary in Gainesville, Florida. Through our social media channels, we reach thousands of people with the message close to our hearts. Since my father’s health has declined and he can no longer perform the tasks he used to, I have taken over management of the sanctuary.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
What is cow protection? The concept of cow protection originated in India, where cows were considered sacred by around 300 BC. The first cow protection society was established in 1882 in Punjab, India.
When my parents incorporated ISCOWP in 1990 in the USA, cow flesh was a common ingredient in the American diet. You might say cow protection was and still is counterculture to the American culture.
Presenting the value of cow protection to the Western world has been a most challenging mission and has brought us through many realizations. The world has changed drastically since the first cow protection society was established. The current meat and dairy industries are torturing untold numbers of cows worldwide. Therefore, to truly protect the cow in this age, the consumption of meat and dairy must be discouraged.
ISCOWP is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported by donations. The nature of a nonprofit requires a great deal of faith, as you must depend on the goodwill of others. Therefore, we are so thankful and appreciative of our supporters; without them, we could not have continued our mission for the past 36 years.
Our donor base took time to develop and is ongoing. So much of the time, we took odd jobs to support ourselves so we could care for the cows. Despite the hard work and sacrifices, there is the reward of inner satisfaction that comes when you are convinced of your mission and believe you are doing good for humanity.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My day begins with the question, “How are the cows this morning?” That’s the first thought of the day. Each day, we count the cows and make sure they have plenty of water, and if it’s winter, plenty of hay. Next, we check the fences. If we find a cow in need of help due to illness or an accident, we change plans for the day to prioritize giving her the help she needs.
Throughout these daily chores, we film videos and take photos of the cows as they interact with one another and with the ISCOWP team. These are posted on our social media channels and sent to their adopters who financially support them. We have a monthly e-newsletter that reports “Herd Happenings,” which can include more in-depth stories about the cows, along with other news. These stories, photos, and videos of the cows living their lives at our sanctuary have become the most potent means of spreading the message of dietary change and the importance of protecting cows.
I have a BA in business and accounting, which has been a tremendous help in managing ISCOWP’s finances. Working in the field and in the office has given me a complete understanding of the everyday costs of operating our cow sanctuary, as well as the costs of practical maintenance and expansion. I am always looking for ways to leverage our donors’ generosity to deliver the best practical benefit to the cows.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
This was the original question sent to us by Jennifer
“Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?”
In the early 1990s, we traveled throughout the USA spreading awareness of cow protection and vegetarianism. At the festivals we visited, we collected names, addresses, and email addresses from anyone interested in our message. Then we would send them a newsletter quarterly. This practice sparked initial support for our mission.
As social media developed, we found that the more active we were online, the more support we received and the more people we met to partner with. Developing a website to provide further information and a donation mechanism was part of the formula for building a support base.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://iscowp.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iscowp/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalSocietyforCowProtectionISCOWP/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ISCOWP108
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@iscowp108
