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
you're all idiots
February 3rd, 2012
2:10 pm
Vets cost money!!! A couple shot gun blasts ought to do the trick, but obviously this guy wasn’t close enough or that cow has really tough skin. Either way, any self respecting farmer should own a rifle… for coyotes, coons, and other pests you can get close enough to with a shotgun. You realize of course, at some point in the not too distant future, this cow would have been killed… and eaten…by YOU! Farm life isn’t a pretty picure at times, but us farmers have brought alot more life into this world than we’ve taken. I can assure you, most posting here can’t say the same…
MB
February 3rd, 2012
2:27 pm
I saw the headline and immediately thought of my ex, which also reminds me of a joke. Q – Why do they call PMS? A – Because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.
Hmmmm
February 3rd, 2012
2:40 pm
How many of you have had cracked/broken ribs? Obviously not many of you animal rights folks have because you would know that it is very difficult to breath with them. He probably shot the cow in self defense since most farmers carry a shotgun or rifle to ward off varments, and other threats. He was faced with a 1000 lb rabid cow charging at him, he was already injured, so he shot the cow and left it for dead as he sought medical attention. He probably came back a few days after he was recovered enough to assess how to get rid of the carcass and found the cow still alive. He could have taken the less expensive route of getting the shotgun and finishing him off, but no that cruel, injured fool chose to call the vets to finish the job. He should have loaded the rabid cow on a truck and let him loose at PETA HQ so they could show him how to humanely euthanize a cow while running from it.
Political Mongrel
February 3rd, 2012
3:04 pm
Several days later? What, do you clowns think that a 75-year-old man who’d barely survived a near-fatal encounter with a rabid animal that broke several of his ribs was walking around immediately afterward? Is the idea that he had to have several days to recover from his injuries beyond you?
lynn
February 3rd, 2012
3:45 pm
You people sounding off about him waiting a few days to put the cow down are idiots. This guys had big injuries for a 75 year old. He could have had a punctured lung, concussion, etc. I wouldn’t doubt if he was hospitalized for a bit. See how quick you are to respond after a 900 pound animal has its way with you!
Hmmmm
February 3rd, 2012
4:05 pm
@Dave in Marietta 10:35 am…How do you know the ammo was buck shot? Buckshot from a .410 gauge shot gun is different than buckshot from a 12 gauge (much more stopping power). Most farmers are not walking around with buckshot for standard ammo….it’s over kill and inaccurate for raccoons, foxes, or coyotes…the normal varments encountered by farmers.
Greg S.
February 3rd, 2012
4:15 pm
It was an oddball story right up until the cow was not euthanized immediately. Then it just became cruel.
On My Way
February 3rd, 2012
4:39 pm
With each day I’m grateful to be a vegetarian.
Bob
February 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
I imagine he didn’t call the vet because he is 70+ years old and sent to the hospital with broken ribs you idiots. I wouldnt call the vet either
farmgal79
February 3rd, 2012
10:45 pm
Just what would you do when attacked by a rabid animal? Pet it and say awww poor thing? I vote you would shoot it too before you were foaming at the mouth right next to it! And I am sure you would not return for round 2 to finish it off! Idiots!