Georgia farmer considers retirement after rabid cow attack
Farming is tough business.
Area cows have donated a nice recliner for the farmer's recovery. (Unrelated AP Photo)
Droughts, weeds and bugs all conspire against the modern husbandman.
And don’t forget the threat of 900-pound rabid farm animals. The Associated Press reports a Georgia farmer “in his early 70s” is considering retiring from his ancient profession after being attacked by a rabid cow.
Raymond Parks, of the Maysville area, located about 60 miles northeast of Atlanta on I-85, said he feared he would not survive the assault — a violent head-butting that threw him into a barbed wire fence.
Parks suffered broken ribs, but told WXIA TV he was still able to blast the unnamed and unarmed cow three times with his shotgun. Still, the animal didn’t die and a veterinarian was called several days later to put the animal out of its misery.
How did the animal contract rabies? The AP reports Parks’ Jackson County farm is near the spot where a rabid bobcat was recently discovered.
Cows rarely contract rabies, but 19 other animals in Parks’ herd have been placed in quarantine for six months.
Parks’ wife of more than 50 years, Pauline, said despite recent events that her husband will never retire.
In other farm animal news: Inmate adds pig image to Vermont police cruiser decals
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75 comments Add your comment
Kl jacket
February 3rd, 2012
11:44 am
I agree that this reporting was done in bad taste. For one it should not have made the news and for another it shows the ignorance of the reporter. The cow was rabid…that is a significant reporting detail. I must ask, did this reporter “cry” when Atticus Finch shot the rapid dog in “To Kill a Mockingbird”? I did not….my suggestion is to delete this news thread to “mitigate” the AJC’s embarrassment.
BK
February 3rd, 2012
11:47 am
Ummmm…we are talking Maysville here, nearest hospital is what Commerce, possibly Gainesville? Healing time for 70 yr old is increased, myriad of possible deterioration issues, your right he should have promptly worried about a cow that attacked him and called a vet. Also not to rain on your parade but pigeon’s were more of a WWI and II deal, the wild west actually had telegraph and mail delivery systems…
Ummmm....
February 3rd, 2012
11:49 am
@ML – I too was being facetious by asking. But to comment on your statement, remember we are human beings so yeah, we all miss “sarcasm” at some points in our lives.
Ummmm....
February 3rd, 2012
11:56 am
I didn’t say anything about HIM calling a vet. I surmised others helped get him medical attention. And as far as the pigeon carrier, I was making a point on slowness. Hell, I could have said Pony Express.
Ummmm....
February 3rd, 2012
11:57 am
@BK – I have no idea where Maysville is, nor do I know where Commerce or Gainesville is. Ok? OK!
BK
February 3rd, 2012
12:01 pm
That’s the trouble with surmising…to help I am going to promptly race my pigeon and pony. Just kidding, I see your point, I just have trouble placing human life under that of a cow, I am such a bad Hindu.
Ummmm....
February 3rd, 2012
12:06 pm
I already stated that I wasn’t putting the cow before him. Well, glad you at least see my point.
Perry
February 3rd, 2012
12:44 pm
If the farmer was able I’m sure he would’ve done something about the cow. He wouldn’t have wanted it to have infected the rest of his herd. He was obviously busy. Yes, I grew-up on a farm.
rn
February 3rd, 2012
12:51 pm
He had every right to shoot the cow in self-defense, but to let it suffer for several days is just wrong. He and the other people who knew about it should be charged with animal cruelty.
jc
February 3rd, 2012
12:56 pm
the old man will be suffering a lot longer than 3 days…so who gives a crap about what the cow had to go through? besides, that cow probably didnt even know what was going on (rabid out of his mind and all). i think we should test all those people who feel for the cow with rabies and see if they know there were even shot…