Cow dying in a local pasture. No one is doing....UPDATE on #260

[Red_Barn]

[QUOTE=RodeoFTW;8665223]
Not even remotely the same situation as the op. Especially considering Bison are wild and it’s very illegal to just snatched wild animals without a permit…

That was a very ridiculous comparison.[/QUOTE]
Indeed.

But I guess the joys of a good, spiteful pile-on are just too tempting for some to resist. (Oddly enough, I remember this particular poster spending all her time on TOB huddling in a corner and whimpering because the meanie Liberals were all ganging up on her. Doubly pathetic.)

[poltroon]

[QUOTE=Countrywood;8665331]
I am glad there are people looking out for animals, even if on occasion it is over zealous or misguided. In your case, a simple phone call cleared it up. No harm was done.[/QUOTE]

The flip side though is that harm can be done from these actions.

Here is how I see it. OP saw a thing that concerned her. She called law enforcement (fine) and also posted here about it. People here gave a reasonable interpretation of why the observations she reported might be appropriate care for this animal.

No one sees this first hand. OP damaged her credibility by suggesting that this compromised cow has had no food or water for a week and has survived this long. But, OP could also be correct that the animal is suffering terribly and really should just have been euthanized initially.

None of us know the truth. But there’s reasonable doubt (both ways).

So, going back to how harm can be done.

Actions like this may cause animals to be euthanized that don’t need to be euthanized.

Actions like this can cause harassment and deep pain to someone who is not guilty of neglect, not only the owner of the animal reported but also by creating problems for other animal owners in the area.

Law enforcement isn’t always good at making the right decisions, and I’ve seen situations in both directions (didn’t act when they should have, acted when they shouldn’t have).

Law enforcement actions don’t always end up with the animal better off.

Actions like this can cause things to happen not in the best interest of the animal, like moving it to a place where it is less visible to passers-by when it would be better not to be moved, either for the owner’s visibility or the animal’s comfort and well-being.

And for heaven’s sake, the advice to call the media is exactly the kind of thing that is very likely to cause these sorts of problems.

[Countrywood]

Yes, there can be harm done by over zealous or misguided actions. On the other hand, far more harm is done because of lack of action.

The paucity of funding for animal welfare and weak laws and weak prosecution of those convicted of cruelty and neglect show who we are as a society.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8664754]
She is not fine, but is still alive and still partially paralyzed. I’ve seen her sitting up like a dog and scooting around so that she can reach a different patch of grass. She is standing more, hobbling about with crippled hind legs. [/QUOTE]

Sounds to me like she is improving, albeit slow.

She’s standing more than she was, and is attempting to move around.

@Color of Light;8664754

It looks like there might be tearing, partial prolapse or something isn’t right in her private parts. Too far away to see details.

If you can’t actually see what is going on, don’t make assumptions.

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8664754]

If calving paralysis is not treated promptly, nerves and muscle will degenerate, die, and the damage is permanent. [/QUOTE]

OP, what exact TREATMENT are you wanting this neighbor farmer of yours to do?

Because I’m not aware of any treatment that helps, except giving the cow time.

And yes it is true that sometimes they won’t recover. You’ve just got to give them time to find out what is going to happen, and it usually is going to take at least several weeks before some of them “come around”.

So I have no idea what “treatment” you are talking about?

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8664754]
and eventually subject to a 1500-2000 pound bull trying to mount and breed her [/QUOTE]

Whoa, jump to conclusions much? :no:

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8664754]
Those first 6 days, I never saw food or water. [/QUOTE]

Well that is not what you said in previous posts. You previously stated she DID get food and water on various occasions and you SAW her get food and water … so which is it?

You are completely contradicting yourself.

[QUOTE=Color of Light;8664754]
No where did I say that she did not get ANY water during those 6 days. You might want to go back and read. [/QUOTE]

Actually, you did. (Quoted right above.)

@Color of Light;8664754

I am very aware of what did and did not happen.

Really? You previously admitted:

“I have not seen any buckets of water or food left for her. Maybe someone took her water but did not leave buckets?”

“I must have missed the other sparse waterings all week”

It is physically impossible for you to have seen everything that has gone on 24/7 for the past 2 weeks.

I don’t have a problem with people who are looking out for the well-being of animals.

I do have a problem with people who make assumptions, backpeddle on their story, and create unnecessary drama.

[cnvh]

[QUOTE=beau159;8665458]
I don’t have a problem with people who are looking out for the well-being of animals.

I do have a problem with people who make assumptions, backpeddle on their story, and create unnecessary drama. [/QUOTE]

This, thank you.

[Foxtrot_s]

Is everyone at work today? Having a slow day?

[Where_sMyWhite]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8665370]
a state park [/QUOTE]

Slight nit… Yellowstone National Park is a federal/national park, not a state park. It is also the first National Park

[MoonWitch]

[QUOTE=Countrywood;8665378]
Where is “the line”? In the case of animals and children, who cant’ speak out or escape or defend themselves, we should err on the side of helping, and risk a possible incidence of offending somebody. Is it THAT HORRIBLE to have on occasion a well meaning person mis interpret what they see? Are we traumatized for life because of it? Did your life get ruined because mis guided people removed a grazing muzzle? Those people were wrong to enter the pasture and should have asked you. (if you were reachable) Put up signs on fence what muzzles were for it if happened more than once.

I had gone from visiting a certain dog park when this happened, but was told about it by a reliable person (who was shamed at being one of the silent ones), that a couple kept bringing a severely thin dog to the park, people in the park told the couple to feed the dog more but NOBODY DID ANYTHING about it and it went on for a few months. I assume they did not want to offend the couple by calling Animal Control.

The dog died of starvation at one and a half years old. So what would have been worse, inconveniencing the owners or saving the dog? The line should be in favor of the animal and this kind of aggressive witch hunt against the OP is one of the reasons people keep quiet when there is a need to speak up.[/QUOTE]

I’m not against helping children or animals in need of rescue. Quite the contrary, if any of you know me, you’ll remember the heat I take for standing up against abortion.

Why should I have to post a sign to keep people off of my private property to remove something that could lead to a fatal occurrence for one of my animals? Ruin my life? Probably not, ruin my horse’s life? Possibly so!!

OP did what she should do; call the authorities, talk to the neighbor, etc. She received some reassuring advice here as well. At what point do you (g) decide that what you (g) perceive to be due diligence is not enough and take matters into your (g) own hands until you (g) are satisfied??

I’ve seen it happen, where people are accused of unfounded mistreatment or neglect by well meaning people and it has turned into a nightmare for them.

[sascha]

[QUOTE=OTTB_;8665065]
This animals suffering needs to end… Now. The farmer should go out and just put the cow down. It is a part of farming, its a part of life.[/QUOTE]

Is she permanently crippled? You don’t know.

Is she at this moment in pain, or merely numb? You don’t know.

Will she continue to improve? You don’t know.

There are very clear times to put livestock down. This might not be one of them.

You don’t know. You can’t possibly know from the OP’s story. You can’t know unless you have been with that cow, observed her, and had the input of someone who actually knows about cows. Pretty much all we can tell from the OP’s story is that she doesn’t like what she sees, and she supposedly has some super human surveillance powers. Or she runs a camera on her neighbour’s pasture and then watches them in FF which is even creepier.

[ThreeFigs]

Well, I hope the OP keeps us updated on the cow’s condition. It sounds to me like she is recovering, however slowly, from the apparent calving paralysis.

Some things require time and patience, little else.

[cschattner]

People like the op are why I moved my horses off the land I was purchasing on contract for deed last year and terminated the contract.
I had my horses on 8 acres open land w a shelter, fence, food and water. For months I was harrased by the sheriff because the neighbors kept calling and claiming the animals where abandoned and no matter what I did it was never good enough.
I was there at 4 am before I left for work and 6pm when I finished work. I would feed and water them, check there blankets and any other things that needed to be done.
The neighbors didn’t see me so assumed I was never there even w the water and hay getting refilled every day.

I am not so happy w people pulling surveillance on a person anymore.

[Wirt]

Here is a real story of abuse. Because of their stupidity and carelessness, this animal had to be put down! I think charges should be pressed for animal abuse.

http://madworldnews.com/yellowstone-tourists-buffalo-calf/

[Foxtrot_s]

The bison calf story is pretty sad - not a reason for people to laugh at the tourists who were doing what they really felt was the right thing to do and had no idea of wildlife law. And it has little to do with the OP’s question.

I Googles calving paralysis - pretty horrific and the OP is entitled to be concerned.

Honestly, this has gone over the top and shed a light on quite a few posters -
what happened to kindness and manners - I was sure raised differently and choose different friends.

[OTTB2]

[QUOTE=roseymare;8665120]
If she is improving why? Do you want every injured horse or dog euthanized as well? Let me tell you there are many many people who love their dogs who let them live on a degree of pain. I am sure you can find evidence of that on this board even. How is that different? And before you say it we still don’t know if he has had veterinarian contact.[/QUOTE]

If horse had been on the ground for several days I think it would be hard pressed to be alive. Even though life has no value in money I don’t think every farmer or horse owner can shell out thousands of dollar to save every animal. Hard facts of life.

If I cant provide what the animal needs to heal yes I would put them down, its a moral responsibility IMO.

[sascha]

[QUOTE=OTTB_;8666433]
If horse had been on the ground for several days I think it would be hard pressed to be alive. Even though life has no value in money I don’t think every farmer or horse owner can shell out thousands of dollar to save every animal. Hard facts of life.

If I cant provide what the animal needs to heal yes I would put them down, its a moral responsibility IMO.[/QUOTE]

Horses are not cows though. We need to remember that. Cows are built to spend a lot more time reclining than horses. For dairy cows, a lot of money is spent on researching how to get them to lie down more so that they can be more productive. If they are not eating, drinking, or walking, they should be lying down. If they are not, they are sick.

I know we hear a lot about “down cows.” That is not a reference to how much a cow is lying down, but to her inability to get up.

[ThreeFigs]

Sascha is correct. Cows do spend a lot of time lying down, whether healthy or not. A true “downer cow” needs euthanasia.

I believe this cow is on the mend, it’s just taking a while. There’s nothing a veterinarian can do that would hurry things along. As others have mentioned, tincture of time…

[Color_of_Light]

[QUOTE=cnvh;8664935]
I’m still shaking my head at the thought of OP surveilling the neighbor’s farm 24/7 with binoculars. You don’t sleep? You don’t walk away to prepare yourself a sandwich? It only takes you 2 minutes to pee??? You haven’t left your home at all in the past 2 weeks??? There is literally NO way you are watching this cow round-the-clock with no breaks and no chance for the cow’s owner to have done something you might have missed.

If you’re going to sit here and claim there is NO chance for you to have missed something, then it means you must have security cameras trained at this downed cow for the brief moments you step away from your window. Otherwise, I call bulls***.

Sorry, OP… While I agree that your heart is in the right place, you are really coming off as bit of a creeper.[/QUOTE]

Once again: I was working from home on a big project…sitting at a computer facing a window. I don’t need binoculars to see movement occurring in a field smack in front of my face in my peripheral vision, causing me to glance up from computer.

No more a creeper than anyone else on any online forum.

[Color_of_Light]

[QUOTE=downen;8665275]
I agree. And the jump people are making from the OP watching a poor animal in distress within eyesight of her home and wanting to help, to people taking Bison calves and thinking fat cats are pregnant… just wow. And comparing her to a creeper in a napper van? That is so far beyond the pale it’s mind boggling.[/QUOTE]

Agreed!

[Color_of_Light]

[QUOTE=Kachina;8665155]
Hey OP, you interfering lil busybody. How dare you monitor and care about the well being of a downed critter in a pasture. That critter is that farmer’s property and he can do with it as he sees fit. Who are you to question the treatment of a suffering animal?

And if there were more people like you on this planet, there sure would be a lot less suffering. There’s no excuse for the vile responses you’ve received on this thread. What a bunch of sick whackos.[/QUOTE]

Ha yeah! How dare I CARE about any living creature (human, animal insect), right?

Thank you! I completely agree!

[Color_of_Light]

[QUOTE=Countrywood;8665243]
The nastiness directed at the OP for being concerned about an animal’s welfare is dismaying.[/QUOTE]

Thank you, Countrywood. Completely dismaying.