Wednesday 24 July 2013

Nature Red In Tooth And Claw….

…and hoof and horn.

Familiar enough stuff for anyone reading Mark Wadsworth (and if not, why aren't you?), but the ‘something must be done!’ brigade are running away with it. Closely followed by the ‘I just don’t understand it!’ brigade:
A neighbour saw her and called the emergency services and her parents. "She never thought the animals would attack," she said. "She has a lovely way with animals. "It's just so weird."
I guess the animals didn't realise she had ‘a way with them’? Perhaps she should have had a badge to show them, or something?
"Her life is on hold for a year at least, we've been told," said Mrs Moody. "She's sustained life-changing injuries. Emma is a very experienced, dedicated midwife and hopes to return to her job."
She said the law should be changed to keep cattle with calves out of fields with public access and require signs to warn of the danger.
So, there were no signs?
"There was a standard NFU sign at the entrance to the field informing walkers to keep dogs on a lead and to let the dog go if chased by cattle, exactly what Emma did," said Mrs Moody.
Errr, right. And? I mean, it was advice, not a magic talisman that would halt all further attacks.
"If only there had been a warning sign that cows with calves could be dangerous, then Emma wouldn't have entered the field. "
But…there was a warning sign! What do you think ‘chased by cattle’ meant?

8 comments:

ivan said...

What do you think ‘chased by cattle’ meant?

But Julia you must realise that education standards have been falling for quite some time and as I understand it thinking and comprehension were the first to go.

The results of this is that we now have a large proportion of the population that expects someone else to do the thinking for them. We may even end up with many of them expecting to have their arses wiped by someone else because it is too dificult to do themselves.

Anonymous said...

"If only there had been a warning sign that cows with calves could be dangerous"

ALL animals with young are dangerous!

Stupid cow. (couldn't resist.)

SadButMadLad said...

Now I understand the problem. There weren't any signs telling the cows to avoid the stupid humans

johnd2008 said...

I often walk my dog through fields with cows, with or without calves. The dog is never on the lead as she keeps well clear of the cows. I also carry a stick and on the odd occasion the cows have shown an aggressive nature have given them a good smack on the nose with it. It works every time

Anonymous said...

Bunny

Darwin in action (not the town in Lancashire I hasten to add, now being chased by a town in Lancashire would be really scary).

Anonymous said...

Good God.
And she's a midwife ? Really ?

Anonymous said...

@johnd2008

I too have walked my terrier through fields with cows with or without calves. More or less every day for over a decade as the neighbouring farm is cattle whilst mine is sheep.

Despite having been brought up a townie in London and Sydney even I have never had a single problem with "chasing" cows. Just turn and face them (like a man) and they give up. They are more curious than anything. Even with their calves.

Sadly the connect between rural reality and city dwellers is becoming further detached. I know which cluster folk is the more stupid.

JuliaM said...

"... education standards have been falling for quite some time and as I understand it thinking and comprehension were the first to go."

Sadly true but, as anon says, she's a midwife!

Though if she turns out to have been one of these midwives, it'll just be poetic justice...

"There weren't any signs telling the cows to avoid the stupid humans"

:D

"Just turn and face them (like a man) and they give up."

It's not like she hadn't walked there before, either.