Bonnie, the cow, was just 4-month-old when decided to take fate into her own hooves. Born on a cow farm in upstate New York – the baby cow became a living legend among the locals. It all started a couple of years-ago, when she was just a little calf.
/BECKY BARTELS
Unfortunately, the farm’s owner passed away, so-all the 🐄 there, were about to be sold to a slaughterhouse. But when the herd was being loaded onto the trucks, the little Bonnie run away and disappeared in the forest. For a few-days people have searched for her, but unsuccessfully. The winter came and everyone thought she was gone for good.
/BECKY BARTELS
“Venturing out of the safety of the forest only for occasional sightings, Bonnie quickly became a local celebrity, dividing the Holland community into two groups: those who were (Team Bonnie) and those who were determined to [catch her],” Meredith Turner-Smith at the – Farm Sanctuary, told The Dodo.
“Both groups searched for her-in the woods which stayed buried under 3 feet of snow all winter – but aside from quick glimpses, the ‘babe in the wood’s remained hidden.”
/BECKY BARTELS
Surprisingly, the mystery remained as months after Bonnie escaped, some wildlife cameras captured a young cow hanging through woods around Holland, New York. Turned out the fugitive cow got adopted by a family of wild deer who; raised her as one, of their own.
/BECKY BARTELS
“Since she had lost her first family, they (the deer) helped Bonnie survive and accepted her as their own/ eating, sleeping and running together!” Turner-Smith said.
/BECKY BARTELS
However, volunteers at the Farm Sanctuary knew it would be nearly impossible for a domesticated animal to survive in the wood’s during the harsh winter – But since Bonnie looked like she found the love and comfort she was looking for, they only decided to help out.
/BECKY BARTELS
“A kind neighbor knew the woods were no place for a cow, and helped her survive the winter by trekking through the snow each day, bringing food, water and fresh bedding to her on a sled,” Turner-Smith said. “And after slowly winning Bonnie’s trust, she’ called Farm Sanctuary for help.”
Finally, after a couple of failed attempts, the staff at the sanctuary brought Bonnie at the center to properly take care of her. “Bonnie beat the odds,” Turner-Smith said. “Here, our resilient new-friend will spend her life in peace, surrounded by: caring humans and a loving herd of her fellow rescued cattle.”
H.t: Farm Sanctuary – thedodo
