Journey's Story
Five years ago a friend and I had traveled to an exotic animal auction 7 hours from my home. Looking over the animals, I noticed a small pen crammed with 7 young Zebu calves. They were all filthy and thin and had no food or water. The smallest of the bunch was particularly pitiful. She was skin and bones, had numerous oozing sores all over her and very little hair left on her body. Her tail had been twisted and broken in two places at some earlier date, and had already healed crooked. Saddest of all, her eyes were totally white from an ongoing eye infection and she appeared to have lost all vision.
I managed to find some food and water to put in the pen, but even then she was pushed away from it by the others. She stood and trembled in fear at all the commotion around her and I doubted she would live through the ordeal.
Later that day, the little calf and one other were run into the sale ring. I figured I could get her cheaply, as you would have to be crazy to bid on a calf like that. Apparently the owners friend realized there was a nut that wanted her, and he kept driving the bid up. Well, what could I do? I hung in there and ended up paying $500; my whole savings!
I borrowed some money from my friend to get the medication and a halter for the calf, and we went to load her and head home.
Now this calf was wild and just getting the halter on her was an ordeal. I had terrible visions of the mobile rodeo I was about to endure with this traumatized creature in the back of my minivan! With the help of a stout passerby, we got her loaded, and with my friend driving and me setting next to the calf, we headed out. That's when a small miracle occurred. From the time we left the auction grounds, until we got home 7 hours later, that calf lay perfectly still as I talked to her and stroked her continuously.
Once home, I put her in the back yard with my Anatolian Shepherds. They immediately began to clean her sores and eyes. After about a week, when it looked like she would live, I named her Journey, for the long journey we had taken together and the long journey she would be taking to restored health. Steadily she began to thrive and even regain her sight.
Today this cow is sleek and happy. I'm still the only person she allows to pet her, but she has learned she doesn't have to fear visitors that enter her field. Her vision is perfect and she had a heifer calf in August 2003 that looks just like her and will remain with her for life.
When I look out and see her
contentedly grazing with her daughter, I know it's ok to sometimes be a
little crazy...
