the ULTIMATE stray

[zippy-kat]

As fellow animal lovers, I'm sure you can relate to the moral delimma of of picking up/taking home a stray. I've picked up and either kept or found the original home or rehomed numerous animals. I can't help it. A scruffy dog or homely cat just pulls at my heartstrings to no-end! And then of course, if the animal is black or black/white... I'm a complete heart-over-head-over-heels nutcase! However today, may be the first (and hopefully last) day in history that I didn't attempt to rescue a stray....

November 5, 2002.
A brilliantly crisp, surprisingly chilly autumn day. No place to go, no one to see, nothing particular that needed accomplished... I grabbed my keys, slammed the door, and went for a short drive. Headed north on a busier street (that eventually leads out to the country), I spy THE STRAY.

Of course I noticed it-- it's black and white (and definitely not your typical 'stray' material)--but am I really sure I saw that? A look in the rearview mirror confirms the obvious. "How can...?" I don't know! "Where did...?" I don't know that either but... "Oh My Goodness! WHAT am *I* going to do? I can't leave it there...."

I turn the corner and (eventually) find myself face to face with.... *drumroll please*....... a more-than-half grown Holstein busily munching on someone's lawn.

I *paws* to mention, I know NOTHING about cows except they give milk and like to kick. (And I'm only *really* sure about the latter... I've never actually seen a cow give milk, for all I know milk magically appears on the aisle at the grocery store! )

Uhhh.... "Bessie" looked pretty happy, so I left during the middle of her outstanding "lawn mower imitation" preformance to head back home and telephone the police/animal control.

I couldn't help but wonder.... can you imagine the look on Mom's/Dad's face if I would've managed to get it home?! I mean, I've brought home some pretty unusual strays but that one.... that one would've TAKEN THE CAKE!

[Uabassoon]

LOL I could just picture you trying to put "Bessie" in your car. I had something like that happen once. I was in Texas visiting friends and family. I'd gone out dancing with a few friends, I pull up to my driveway at around 3 or 4 in the morning, it was pretty late. And I find a horse in the yard eating our lawn!! He had a halter and a rope attatched and was dragging a tree branch. I guess he broke the branch he was tied to then decided to take a walk. I wasn't really sure what to do, I was a little scared to wake up my dad because then he'd know what time I got home (even though I am 21 when i go home I'm still the baby and they don't like me to stay out late). So I woke him up anyways, it turned out to belong to a guy who lived down the road. So my poor dad at a very late (or early) hour has to walk to horse down the street to return it.

[Cookiebaker]

Originally posted by Uabassoon
LOL I could just picture you trying to put "Bessie" in your car.

Zippy do you live in the country or city??

I was also imagining what your fur-kids would have to say to you if you brought a cow home to dinner.

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by Uabassoon
I was a little scared to wake up my dad because then he'd know what time I got home (even though I am 21 when i go home I'm still the baby and they don't like me to stay out late).

Don't you HATE that?! I can sympathize!!!

Originally posted by Cookiebaker
Zippy do you live in the country or city??

City--- the closest "cow home" I know of is a dairy approx. 15-20 miles outside the city limits!!

[moosmom]

ROFLMAO at 3 a.m.!!! I have only one comment and that is...

MOO!!

Great story!!

[anna_66]

Oh Tonya, that was a great story. I was wondering where you were going with it

[Karen]

Hee hee hee!

Hope she found her way back home ....

[gini]

Gosh, Zippy, why couldn't you just keep her in your room?

[ramanth]

LOL!!!!

You mean you didn't try to tip her over?

I'm kidding!


I've had a few run ins with stray cows and horses, but growing up in the country, it wasn't all that odd. Just fun to help round them up and help get them home.

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

I sure do hope she finds her way home Your post made me smile.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I hear they make great pets PLUS you can sell the lawn mower AND have a renewable source of garden fertilizer!

You've talked of wanting a tuxedo!?!?!?!?!?

[luckies4me]

I was wondering why you wouldn't take it home! That is just too funny. If it was me, I probably would have tied it to th back of my car and walked it down the street til I got home, lol. Just the way I am I guess.

Plus, if the only cow home is a diary, I think it would be better with me, hehe.

Cute story.

[NoahsMommy]

But MOM!!! She followed me home!!!

[sammi]

That is a good story this morning! If you could have got "Bessy" home you might have needed to milk her. Do you take your coffee with cream???????

[zippy-kat]

I'm almost certain she's found her way home.... the PD keeps a list of all dairy/cow owners.... hopefully she was microchipped (can you microchip a cow?) or branded or something!

(psstt sammi... regarding the milk... I'm allergic... non-dairy creamer only please! )