"Chewin' the Cud" is an online journal written by Chenoa Manor's Executive Director Dr. Rob Teti

One of Chenoa Manor's newer residents is not only settling in just fine, he's enjoying something that he never knew previously: companionship.   Andrew, an eight-year-old steer, arrived with the help of Best Friends Animal Society from his former home at Pets Alive Sanctuary in New York.

From what I had been told, he lived his life at the former sanctuary in solitude.   He certainly had human companionship, but did not live with the other cows because they picked on him.   Although he may not have shown this, he must have been stressed being away from others of his own kind, as cows are such intensely social herd animals, developing extremely close bonds with each other.

Andrew's arrival was met with extreme curiosity on the part of Chenoa Manor's resident cows, especially the two males, Atticus and Teacake.   After watching Andrew carefully from the confines of their own pasture, Atticus and Teacake bellowed a few greetings throughout Andrew's first days.   The girls seemed unaffected and unimpressed with Andrew's presence.   Andrew was introduced to the rest of the herd in a "neutral" pasture, after his two weeks of quarantine ended (which included deworming and vaccinations).

Introductions went extremely well....again, the girls seemed accepting and could have cared less about the new addition.

Atticus initially rushed to Andrew, and after some mutual sniffing and head rubbing, they began to graze side by side, which is what they continue to do daily.   Teacake was a bit more leery, but he seemed very much at ease once he sensed Atticus' acceptance.

After years of living on his own, Andrew (who is affectionately referred to as "Brutus" because of his size) has finally found a herd of his own, demonstrating what Ralph Waldo Emerson must have meant when he wrote: "A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature."

It is examples like Andrew's and Atticus' instant friendship that continues to impress me about the animal residents of not only Chenoa Manor, but of this world.   How much we can learn from the animals about living with each other, accepting each other, and coexisting with relative ease.

Posted: 8/28/2007