Surprise! Neighbors cows came to my house...

andalusn

Songster
10 Years
Sep 6, 2009
919
50
191
Ridgefield, WA
On Wednesday evening while I was out feeding my horses and sheep I heard voices out by the driveway and as I look out the barn I see cows running up my driveway and people in hot pursuit... I am thinking UGH! The 2 cows ran around the house and into the back where it's more wooded. Spent a few min catching up with my neighbor who said the cows were from around the other side of the neighborhood, about 5 houses away. They spent the day tearing up her pasture, freaking out her horses and messing up her horse corrals that are single strand hot wire. Now it was the end of the day, she had help and thought she would walk the cows home with a lead rope. Found out nope.. those cows were not friendly, tame or agreeable. They ran down her driveway and into mine. I am the last house on a private road to her Right.

I thought someone was on their way to pick up the cows so was hoping to run them into my outdoor arena and close the gate until they showed up. We turned them around and they came around the house took one look at the people and went into my front pasture where I had left a man gate open. Closed the gate and then wanted the details on how they were going home. Turns out the owners are out of town like multiple states away in Arizona! Care takers were supposed to be feeding but there is some debate on how often other neighbors saw that happening. The managed to get the owner on the phone and she says she will be back on Sunday... that does not make me have warm fuzzy's that they have a plan on how to get them home. I went to their place and picked up hay to feed the vagrants. They don't look like experienced cow people so I am thinking it's going to be a 3 ring circus when they try to take them home. All I know is I am trying to be a good neighbor but at 5 am carrying hay to them in a very muddy, mole hill riddled pasture is making my poor ankle burn like mad and I am now thinking T-Bone when I look them in the eye.
 
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I'm soo sorry for laughing, but that is pretty funny!!!
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Your a great neighbor, I hope you get a reward in the form of a steak
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wow you are a great neighbor and I hope they realize how lucky they are to have you.

Hopefully they'll share some beef with you, and hopefully they'll wise up to cow care a little more
 
Don't know about how others would feel but "if" it was me and my animals were now dependent upon the goodness of my neighbor I would be so embarrassed, worried etc and calling to check ... is everything okay? Can I get a family member to help you? Even if you know they are going to say no. Just check in. Not one word from these owners who do have my cell phone number. The "missing" caregivers are her relatives from about 2 miles away.. Nobody has bothered to check in just to make nice face time and imply they care. Today's episode on feeding was a spa mud bath for me. Should have known better. It rained pretty good last night so I had the great lake muddy at the gate. The pasture they are in is flatter than the side I was feeding from. I thought it looked more solid than it turned out. Pushed the wheelbarrow in and it sank. Pushed it some more and my shoes were sucking into the mud. Then.. down I went. Had a lovely spa mud bath.
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the free kind.
 
What a great neighbor you are. If I was the owner I would be calling the people who where supposed to be taking care of the cows and getting them to help you are figuring out a way to get the cows home. I did laugh at the story. I hope the owners know how much you are going out of your way to help. I hope they send you some meat from those cows. Good luck and I hope your ankle gets better.
 
I'd be tempted, (but wouldn't do it) to load them up and haul them to be slaughtered, and buy a big ol' freezer and keep it out in the barn. Beef for YEARS mannnn....
Take photos of everything they tore up and have the owners pay damages, at the very least. plus board.
 
If you have livestock/animals there is always a funny side. I see the humor too, it helps when I get to thinking grumbling thoughts
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"If" it was me... I'd be calling some friends with good cow horses, I figure 2 or 3 good cutting/team penning cows with riders would have them drove up and into a trailer in a blink. A stock dog is an option but I don't have any friends with dogs that work. Cows are sort of dumb but cagey when it comes to making them do something so who knows what the owners are going to do. That's not my project but theirs.
 
In our neck of the woods, we can call the Sherrif's Department for a stray cow/horse/pig/goat/sheep round up. They impound the animals, then if unclaimed after a length of time, they sell them at auction.

Since you know where these animals belong, you are being a VERY good neighbor to a couple of not so smart folks.
 
I have to fess up and admit that I had a similar thing happen to my cows when I first started with them. The day after I brought them home they were gone..broke through the fence. I searched for hours and gave my name out to everyone. At 9 pm the next night I got a call that they were seen at the transfer station over 5 miles away. Another 10 hrs of trying to capture them was in vain. They were too wild. I finally called someone with a tranquilizer gun and captured them that way. It was a nightmare. In the meantime, one of the cows found his way to a cattle farm. I got a huge earful from the wife on how irresponsible I was because my cows were loose. It really irked me. Her husband on the other hand was very helpful and forgiving once he found out I was new to cattle. I really appreciated him. He even helped me load the bull calf into my trailer. The wife stayed in the house with her nose in the air. Since that time, I have not had any escapees......thank the Lord!

I just want to thank you for being so nice and helping out. I agree the owners should be doing everything to take ALL the burden off of you 'till they get home. Sometimes no matter how much you prepare to own and manage livestock, things unexpected happen. I hope they really pay you back for all your kindness. I made sure to repay everyone who helped me out. Cows can be a handful, but I am addicted to them just like my chicken addiction.
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I appreciate good neighbors! Take it easy though and don't hurt yourself.
 

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