TESSA: ONE WITH THE HERD.

APRIL 30 2013.  Today, my best dog friend Tessa and I enjoyed the fabulous Spring weather as we often do at Bob'O Link, a dog-friendly walking trail in Boulder CO.  Dogs can run off leash and freely drink and play on this wooded trail along a Boulder creek.  Tessa, a four year old German wire-hair pointer ran ahead, as she usually does.  It was early morning and the path was empty.  

            As I turned a corner, Tessa was sitting on the ground barking softly. Then I heard them.  About twenty black angus Cows were lowing strange gutteral sounds I’d never heard before.  They stood at the barbed wire fence on the other side of the creek watching us.  There was no doubt the magnificent animals were seeking help.  

            Just then, Tessa started to bark again.  She seemed to be pointing out their dilemma.  A cow and her calf had somehow found an opening in the fence and had escaped the field.  They were frantically running back and forth on the other side of the fence in an effort to get back to the herd.
            I stopped a lone runner, then a small group of walkers, then several individuals to ask if they had their cell phones with them.  (I didn't have mine…) Seems people don't carry their phones when out in nature.  Good for these folks!  Good for the cows today.  

            We continued along the path hoping to find someone with a cell phone.  I asked every person we encountered to call the city of Boulder to report what was going on and to request immediate help for the herd.

            About half a mile later, we reached the fork in the path that leads to the Boulder East Recreation Center.  Apparently the cows had moved along with us, and were waiting behind the barbed wire fence at the fork.  The cow and her calf, still outside the field fence, were standing with them.  They had followed us.  They seemed to know I was attempting to help them.  Although they were obviously distressed, I believe I saw hope in their eyes.  

            When I finally found someone with a cell phone, I called the city of Boulder who contacted the appropriate department to get the herd back together again.  The operator told me she has been getting dozens of calls about the cows and help was on its way.  The wonderful people we had stopped had taken action for animals.

 When confronted with a bellowing cow, meat industry consultant and Professor of Animal Sciences, Dr. Temple Grandin noted, "That’s one sad, unhappy, upset cow. She wants her baby. Bellowing for it, hunting for it. It’s like grieving, mourning – not much written about it. People don’t like to allow them thoughts or feelings."

                                         Tessa understood.