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Pasado's Story
Pasado Newsletter
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Never, a cow
more loved... |
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Four
cows had been shot and killed, in the middle of the night. A week-old calf
had been shot three times in the legs. His mom had been shot between the
eyes. She survived. But barely.
The cattle farmer refused to afford any vet care for the baby or for his
mom, not a surprise to us - farmers commonly don't give needed vet care to
their animals. It's a simple fact of economics - the more they have to
spend on an animal before they ship it to slaughter, the less profit they
make.
The farmer wouldn't allow us to pay for vet care for the calf, he made us
buy him, first. The farmer shipped the calf's mother to slaughter. We will
never, ever forget the morning we loaded the baby in the back of our SUV -
the mother ran after us, mooing and screaming for him. As we sped across
the pasture, despite nearly falling constantly from the bullet still
lodged in her head, she managed to stay on our bumper. She knew we were
taking him - and how we wished we could tell her why - to save him,
to help him. We will remember that moment, to our dying day. |
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We rushed
Tommy, as we named him, to the vet where we found out the worst: because
the farmer hadn't given the calf immediate help, there was permanent nerve
damage. He'd have a problem walking for life, and worse, as he aged and
grew heavier, he may stop walking altogether. Meantime, Pasado's offered a
$1000 reward through the media, seeking who did this to Tommy, his mom,
and the four other cows. The night the reward was announced on the news, a
tip came in: three teen boys had bought firearms off the street and were
using the sleeping cows as "target" practice, in the middle of
the night. All three were prosecuted on First Degree Animal Cruelty
Charges and convicted - they all spent a year in jail. We happily turned
$1000 over to the young woman, who worked with them, who reported what
she'd heard them 'brag' about. |
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In the time
Tommy spent at Pasado's Safe Haven, he became the most beloved and popular
resident. Children, of all ages, fell in love with this gentle cow, who
walked with a limp, and loved his carrots, and apples and especially
(we're ashamed to admit) apple pies. He had a sweet tooth, which we all
loved to indulge. |
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When it became
apparent that his front leg joints, where the bullets did the most damage,
weren't functioning, human orthopedic doctors, as well as vets, all
participated in a potentially life-saving surgery. |
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We were so
worried about how he'd make it through the surgery, but within an hour
after coming out of anesthesia, with legs in casts, he dove into a big box
full of fruit and treats. We were elated. |
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The surgery
made a huge difference in Tommy's life, but eventually he needed more
support for his front legs. Once again, a human doctor stepped forward to
create the first orthopedic leg brace for a cow. (Cows are never afforded
this kind of help because farmers won't invest in it, so no veterinarian
could help Tommy). |
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The brace was
made of titanium, which could endure Tommy's weight. And he took to it the
moment it was fitted on his leg. It amazed us and made us realize that he knew
we were trying to help him. We were drowning in tears watching him walk. |
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Tommy motored
around the farm with his new "leg", as though he'd worn it
forever. We hoped it would offer the help he needed to live forever.
But it did not. |
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After three
years of trying his very best, Tommy finally gave up. The day we faced
euthanizing him was the worst day of our lives.
All of the volunteers who had loved him, talked to him, and spent hours
brushing him and massaging his legs gathered 'round and finally, Tommy was
no longer in pain. He died in our arms, in a sea of tears. |
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We had a
memorial service for Tommy, where dozens of his friends brought carrots,
flowers, and yes, apple pies, too, to lay with him as he was buried. |
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Tommy joins
the animals who didn't make it, in Pasado's Memorial Field. Volunteers
planted a beautiful rose garden, and two weeping cherry trees, that bloom
each Spring and remind us that he is young once again, pain free, running
in the sun, and waiting to see us again. |
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