By MARGIE WUEBKER
mwuebker@dailystandard.com
Two pregnant cows took to the streets Tuesday afternoon in downtown
Coldwater, leading police and bystanders on a memorable romp
through the business district and into a nearby residential
area.
An unidentified farmer, reportedly driving a pickup truck and
towing a stock trailer, stopped shortly before 10:30 a.m. in
front of Hibner Jewelers, 106 W. Main St. That’s when
the action began.
Coldwater Police Chief Gery Thobe is not sure whether one of
the two cows inside the trailer kicked the gate open or fell
against it rump first.
Brianna Hibner looked out the jewelry store and saw the bovine
wind up half on and half off the trailer. She immediately called
911 fearing there would be an accident due to heavy traffic
in the area.
A semitrailer reportedly pulled beside the truck and stock trailer,
effectively blocking one escape route. The cow, bleeding heavily
from an injury between the front legs, decided to take off just
about the time police arrived on the scene.
She headed east along the pavement without so much as a switch
of her tail. Hoofing past Santa’s house, the disgruntled
cow headed in the direction of Walnut Street. Unsuccessful attempts
were made to turn the animal back in the direction of the trailer.
“At that point, Bossy was going wherever she wanted to
go,” Thobe said with a chuckle. “She was definitely
not in a good mood at that point.”
Still bleeding heavily, she stomped through the police chief’s
lawn and those of several neighbors, apparently taking no heed
of the following entourage, which included people as well as
her owner’s truck and trailer.
“When the cow got tired of walking around town, she simply
headed to the trailer and got back in,” Thobe added. “But
the roundup wasn’t quite over.”
The other cow, endowed with a touch of wanderlust, apparently
left the trailer at some point and went “tippy toeing”
out of town, according to Thobe.
The department received reports of a cow strolling contentedly
in the area of Mercer County Community Hospital and Briarwood
Manor Nursing Home. Authorities quickly responded, hoping to
bring the “moo-ving” incident to an abrupt halt.
“She was hiding behind a barn with only her head showing,”
Thobe said. “This gal was mild-mannered compared to her
girlfriend.”
The cow nonchalantly headed toward an open garage door and the
farmer backed the trailer into the opening. Apparently tired
of walking and eager for lunch, she daintily climbed into the
trailer as nicely as you please just before 1 p.m.
Thobe says everything settled back into a pre-holiday routine,
although parts of the community still look like a war zone with
blood along streets and sidewalks. He has received no damage
reports or updated information on the injured cow.
The police chief admits the two cows are not the first to pull
off successful escapes and head for greener pastures. Several
years ago one left a veterinarian’s office and led authorities
on a merry chase before being tranquilized.
At this point, Thobe sees no reason to add lasso practice to
the service training for local officers. Although he does think
a mounted patrol would make cattle roundups much easier.
|
