By Randi Rossmann
The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, Calif.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Volunteer Sonoma County firefighters worked through the night to save a family’s pet cow perched precariously in a steep ravine after she apparently fell from a trail at a longstanding resort west of Calistoga.
Mountain, Glen Ellen and Kenwood firefighters used specialized equipment for large animal rescues and spent hours in the ravine early Tuesday to get the cow, named Tiny, to safety, Kenwood firefighter Lisa Hardy said.
“This is more than a cow. This is our pet,” said an emotional and grateful John Fouts late Tuesday morning. “She’s just been a part of the family for over 18 years.”
Six Mountain volunteer firefighters initially responded to an 11:20 p.m. call for help to Mountain Home Ranch on Mountain Home Ranch Road near Petrified Forest Road. They hiked down to the cow, lying on the ground and at risk of slipping further every time she tried to stand.
The firefighters secured the 18-year-old bovine and at about 1 a.m. members of the county’s large animal rescue team were dispatched to help get her out of the ravine.
The growing countywide team includes Glen Ellen and Kenwood firefighters, who have easy access to the necessary equipment. Sleds, tackle and strapping to hold a large animal are kept at the Atwood Ranch in Glen Ellen and Hardy and a Glen Ellen volunteer, grabbed the gear and headed for the distressed cow.
Initial estimates was that Tiny was about 100 yards down the ravine in an area of mostly dirt and brush.
“She was in a really precarious situation. She had gone down and kind of settled on a little bit of a shelf. Every time she tried to reposition herself it caused her to slip even further,” said Hardy, describing about a 10-foot spot holding the cow. Below the shelf was a further drop.
The Mountain firefighters had already gotten the cow ready for rescue by securing her legs and setting up a rigging and pulley system. When the valley firefighters arrived, they hooked up the sled to the pulley system and the firefighters eased Tiny on board, strapped her down and began hauling her up.
By about 6 a.m. the firefighters had gotten the cow up most of the way. They stopped at a more secure area along the ravine side and used pieces of wood to stabilize her position. A worried Fouts sat with her, awaiting a veterinarian to evaluate her for injuries.
Tiny didn’t have any obvious injuries but was clearly exhausted. She was given pain medication and was sleeping when firefighters left.
“They were wonderful. We are very grateful,” Fouts said of the rescue effort.
Training for large animal rescues has been supported by the Halter Project with an aim to provide emergency response for large animals in distress. Firefighters throughout Sonoma County have attended trainings in the last two years. Glen Ellen resident Julie Atwood, who founded the program, helped the fire department purchase the equipment and is stored at the Atwood Ranch, a central location for several area fire departments.
“It especially became quite apparent we might need something with the Valley fire,” Hardy said, referring to last fall’s tremendously destructive Lake County fire.
Firefighters need to know “how to deal with animals when a fire is coming,” Hardy said. “There are a lot of cattle and horses around here.”
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(c)2016 The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.)