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I was out on a farm , on a public footpath with my dog and his mother.last week  The two dogs were caught against the wire fence by a big aggressive cow.  I ran towards them shouting and she turned on me. I was thrown up in the air and limped home mostly on my knees. 

I have been in hospital ever since and have 10 broken ribs, spinal process fractures and my right pneumothoras ( lung).

I will be keeping away from home for a long while.

Richard & B

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Very sorry to hear that Richard - I hope you make a speedy recovery - you were probably lucky not to have even more serious injuries, as a scared and angry cow can kill.  Trying to protect the dogs was brave of you but as you have found, not a good thing to do.

This is not an unusual occurrence either:

https://www.baldhiker.com/2020/06/05/walking-through-cow-fields-with-dogs-and-what-to-do/

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Richard

that is awful i hope you fully recover.

 

my wife a runner has been chased by a few heifers  and i try and get her to relax around livestock for our own learning 

were the dogs on leads and were there calves in the field as i think this could be a factor of the aggression levels.

 

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The dogs were on leads and we were sticking to the footpath. The following hours were a blur of many different specialists and pain that I have never experienced before. The punctured lung could easily be  a cause of death without the clever chemicals that have been discovered and developed.

The wars of the middle ages must have caused great suffering to thousands. 

X ray today may show that the drain off valve can be removed ?

Richard no Bruno

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My Goodness Richard - wishing you a full and speedy recovery.

There are lots of fields with footpaths around here that have cattle in them - most pretty docile, but some a little over inquisitive, especially the young steers/bullocks that are often put to grass in groups of four to eight and can act like a group of teenage boys.

I've not had a major issue personally - I've put that down to growing up in rural Somerset and working on a number of farms in my youth. I've always found that being confident and making a bit of noise is enough to deter - but your experience Richard may cause me to review....

Did the Cow have a calf near?

Edit - regarding dogs on leads, I have read in the past that if cattle are ultra aggressive then it is safer for the owner to let the dogs go.....

Edited by Rod1883
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          I was walking in the Cotswolds about 15 years ago with my wife and a dog, we were on a well marked Public Footpath and the dog was on a lead. We were surrounded by aggressive cows and calves and my wife was knocked over and the dog was tossed in the air fortunately without injury. I was very aggressive and they left me alone and I told my wife to run for the gate while I held them off. Having spent time on a farm when I was a child I knew to show no fear, wave my arms round and shout, farmers usually carry a stick. We were lucky to get away but it was scary. I reported it to the local tourist office who were not surprised, people are often injured and even farmers get killed! Cows with calves should not be in fields where the public may be walking with dogs.

          Cheers Richard

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Hope your recovery goes well Richard, such bad luck, I frequently walk through fields (with a dog) with cows or horses in, never had a problem, even when calves are there.  I just look confident, & keep as far from them as possible. 

Bob.

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Sorry to hear, an awful injury and could have been worse still.

We've had two incidents with cows in different places in the last couple of years, both times while walking the dog and trying to steer clear of the cows. But both times, by the time we'd been able to release the dog, the cows were all round and very aggressive. Anyone who hasn't experienced that should not take it lightly, it's a very dangerous situation.

Cows and horses are completely different, no horse is going to attack you out of the blue. But cows do that, regularly - several people are killed every year and many more injured. Most commonly the cows are with calves, but not always and also not always with dogs involved. I don't think it's taken seriously enough. On the second occasion it happened to us, a local we mentioned it to thought it amusing.

Ideally cows with calves shouldn't be in a field with a footpath but that's not realistically possible in a lot of places. However I personally think it's negligent if, at least, suitable signs aren't posted. Also, farmers say they are not allowed to temporarily divert footpaths to avoid livestock - they presumably could however do so on an advisory/permissive basis but few seem to do so.

Nigel

Edited by Bleednipple
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That’s so sad what has happened, luckily you were able to make it home and get prompt treatment.

We have given up walking in Bushy Park for the time being due to the danger of deer attacks whilst the mothers look after their young.

Here’s to a speedy recovery and hope you’ll be fit enough to make it to Malvern!!

Nigel, Aydee, Angie and of course Max

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1 hour ago, Bleednipple said:

Ideally cows with calves shouldn't be in a field with a footpath but that's not realistically possible in a lot of places. However I personally think it's negligent if, at least, suitable signs aren't posted. Also, farmers say they are not allowed to temporarily divert footpaths to avoid livestock - they presumably could however do so on an advisory/permissive basis but few seem to do so.

Nigel

Unfortunately they arent allowed to divert footpaths and you can bet if they tried then some do-gooder would kick up about it regardless of safety implications.

Stuart.

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Richard, You are lucky to have survived, cows will attack to kill threats to their calves. I never go in a field with cows, and I dont have a dog. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Peter

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6 hours ago, Bleednipple said:

 

Ideally cows with calves shouldn't be in a field with a footpath but that's not realistically possible in a lot of places. However I personally think it's negligent if, at least, suitable signs aren't posted. Also, farmers say they are not allowed to temporarily divert footpaths to avoid livestock - they presumably could however do so on an advisory/permissive basis but few seem to do so.

Nigel

but nothing to stop them taking precautions such as a suitable electric fence footpath corridor.

 

i would still report the incident to the HSE as they are the enforcing authority for farms and the farmer has a "duty" to protect the public.

i would also be asking for the farmers insurers details and if your household insurance includes legal protection i would be pursuing this avenue as well.

and no its not about the money where there is a blame there is a claim- its often the only thing that gets their attention to make improvements so it doesn't happen again.besides with those injuries you need to future proof yourself.

 

i really feel for you Richard

 

 

Edited by Hamish
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What a terrible experience, Richard.  It must have been very frightening and your injuries sound awful.  Ben and I wish you a speedy recovery and I hope your dogs are ok too.

The question that Hamish asked about whether calves were present is relevant. Farmers do have certain responsibilities where a public footpath crosses their land.  Have you reported the incident to the HSE?  Although we all know accidents happen, learning from them and mitigating against them is very important.  Imagine if that had been a young child walking their dog; the outcome could have been very different, and equally you may not have been so lucky.  I will send you a PM. 

A cow protecting her calf, or a sow protecting her piglets are dangerous animals. Even though they are female, they are still 'entire' animals and full of hormones and when they have young about are much more dangerous than a bull or a boar.  Groups of youngstock are usually only inquisitive, but in being playful, they can still knock you over and trample you.

For anyone out walking, if you are going through farm land or common land where there is livestock, always carry a stick. A long staff is best, as it gives you a bit of reach and if you find yourself being attacked, then use it to protect yourself - a thwack across an animal's nose is where you should aim and will usually make them back off.  If you reach an area with livestock and you don't have a stick, try and pick one out of a hedge before you enter the field. 

If you are walking with a dog, you are particularly vulnerable, especially if you are doing the right thing by having it on a lead and close to you.  It is the dog which is cows tend to feel most threatened by, rather than humans and if you encounter an aggressive cow, it is the dog she will focus her attention on.  It may seem counter intuitive, and goes against everything you are told about having dogs on a lead and under control around livestock, but the best thing you can do if a cow tries to attack is to drop the dog's lead and let them go.  Get yourself to safety as quickly as you can, and leave your dog to make it's escape from the situation.  It is not an easy thing to do, especially if your dog is old and doesn't move quickly as your natural reaction is to protect your pet.  The other difficulty is that scared dogs tend to run towards their owners, so getting yourself behind a fence is a priority.

A wise stockman will always have a stick (usually a length of blue water pipe!) in their hand before entering an enclosure with cattle or pigs.  We had a policy on the farm of getting rid of any animal which had a questionable temperament or had shown any signs of aggression as they pose too much of a risk in keeping them.  Even so, despite all the stock being well handled, friendly and docile, the 'always have a stick' rule had to be obeyed at all times.   Please don't read this and think that farmers go around beating their animals, because that is not what the stick is for!   Carrying a stick is a safety feature, only ever used to protect life, just like wearing a hard hat if you are riding a horse or a bike, or a seat belt in your car.

 All the best,

Vicky

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Very sorry to hear of this Richard - I hope that you will recover fully from a very frightening and painful encounter.

About 30 years ago, we visited the Cheese Dairy at Chewton Mendip (no longer there) to watch cheddar cheese being made, to acquire some cheese and to have a snack lunch.  With Maddy and me, were Alex (then about 10) and an old friend of the Cornish family, a lady in her 70s.  After eating, we went for a walk on a signed route across nearby fields, in one of which were sheep. 

Unexpectedly, a ram started to get very aggressive, dashing at me.  I was able to take the force of his charge on my hands, but a ram has 4-wheel drive and he was large, so was pushing me backwards.   As I reversed towards the stile, I told the other 3 to get out of the field a.s.a.p., whilst the ram made repeated charges.   Finally, with the others out of danger, I managed to get over the stile unharmed.

When we discussed the encounter afterwards, I came to the conclusion that the camera which was hanging down from my neck in its black case, might have made the ram view me as a rival ram (I believe he had a black face), therefore to be driven away from the ewes.

Vicky's advice is excellent and helpful - even for those of us who don't own a dog.

Ian Cornish

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Thanks for the advice.  I seem to be improving faster than the other 4 patients in my hospital wing.Two of them are not allowed to move their legs  at all and have been here for more than two weeks.

The patient opposite me is a member of a local "Mod" scooter group., who are well known from the sixties on Brighton Sea Front., and Madeira Drive. He lost control on a corner and the Vespa and rider somersaulted down the hill causing serious damage to his spine

Next to him is a Harley Davidson rider who was starting off, from a side turning , and bumped into his friend at less than 5 mph., as they were setting off.  The bike fell over on to his leg causing serious damage. He has a weight  on a cord over a pulley, on the end of the leg, pulling the foot away from the hip for over a week.

Neither of these two have any chance of release soon.

The hospital is very efficient and has a large number of staff who are friendly polite and keeping detailed notes on every aspect of the treatment

I have  an electric controlled bed and healthy meals. But the constant pain in the background is making this very boring. I finally made the internet work and can now check out the club meetings which I have been waiting for over 18 months.

The whole experience makes you look at all aspects of life and realistic goals still to be reached. I hope to make it to to the IWE at Malvern.

Richard. { no B. }

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Get well soon Richard it sounds like you have had a terrible time and are putting a very brave face on it. 
I had my hip replacement on 1/6/21 and am feeling your pain. I was kicked out of hospital the following evening after the operation,  with crutches, I could do with that pulley and levers and weight your room mate has to pull my leg away from my hip. 
The hospital staff, nurses, physios, occupational therapist etc are all such wonderfully friendly people and nothing is too much trouble.

I woke up on the operating table while they were still doing prickly things to my leg.

Roger is looking after me very well at home after a couple of hiccups.

We are aiming to be at the International but will not be camping so hope to see you there where I hope you won’t be camping either.

Love to you Pauline and B and take care and don’t rush to leave that hospital too soon.

Sue xxx

 

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Glad to hear you are on the mend Richard, and you too Sue after your Op. Hopefully you will all be able to make it to Malvern in August.

Ian - I worked at the Chewton Mendip Cheese Dairy during a couple of holiday periods from Uni back in the late 70's/early 80's. It was part of the Waldegrave family estate. A few years ago at the Bath Christmas market we were taking to the people that run the Cheddar cheese dairy that uses the caves in Cheddar for storage and they told me that they had bought all the Chewton equipment for their dairy....

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Rod - that explains why, when we went to the site of the Chewton Cheese Dairy more recently, it wasn't there!

However, good to know that the equipment has found a new home, and in Somerset - the county in which I was born and raised (I'm still a Bathonian at heart).

Ian Cornish

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