The cow named Winona had been crying incessantly for several hours, and the shelter staff couldn’t figure out what was causing the animal’s distress. Her cries had grown louder, and concerned neighbors had alerted the staff. Winona’s friend, Honey, had been trying to comfort her, but to no avail.
One of the shelter workers, Axon, initially suspected that Winona’s crying was due to Jenny, a coworker who had fed the cows before breakfast. But Jenny had given Winona treats, and the crying had started much earlier than the cow’s interaction with Jenny. Everyone was at a loss to explain Winona’s unusual behavior.
It wasn’t until closer to lunchtime that Axon remembered something crucial. The previous day, she had put away Winona’s favorite toy, a ball that the cow had received from a girl who had helped her escape from a farm where she had been mistreated. Axon had put the ball by the barn to allow her to drive through the pasture. Although Winona had seen the ball, she couldn’t reach it from behind the fence.
When Axon returned the ball to Winona, the cow’s crying transformed into joy. Winona had become extremely attached to the toy, and its absence had caused her distress. From that day on, the shelter staff learned not to take Winona’s toy away from her.
In summary, the cow’s cries had been a plea for the return of her treasured possession. It took some time to identify the cause of Winona’s distress, but once the ball was back in her possession, she returned to her happy self. The story highlights the importance of understanding animals and their needs, even when they can’t communicate in a way we understand.