‘Rookie’ cried loudly as if to say: “Please don’t separate us…”
Cue the sentimental music and get your tissues ready because this one is a tear-jerker. It has been proven over and over that animals have personalities, feelings, and emotions, just like humans do. Quite often, animals have more empathy than humans do.
One family noticed that their energetic little dog Rookie had formed a powerful friendship and bond with one of the cows on their farm. The cow was like the puppy’s mother – she would nuzzle him and groom him. He would run around and play with the cow, and he could often be found sitting or sleeping on her back.
The unlikely duo formed a powerful bond. Despite their size and species difference, they considered each other family. They did just about everything together, until one day they were separated. The cow’s owner couldn’t afford to take care of the cow, so he decided to sell her.
Rookie watched as his friend was led out of the barn. He was visibly distraught, and tears welled up in his eyes. He stood in the empty stall and howled miserably. Rookie’s cries are heartbreaking.
Rookie was beside himself with grief. He howled and barked, and you could see the despair in his eyes.
As the cow was led away, she heard little Rookie’s howling and began to moo in response. Rookie listened to the familiar voice and took off running in the direction of the sound. His paws flew down the town’s street in search of his friend. Despite his owner’s call, the only voice Rookie heard was the cow’s.
To Rookie’s joy, he located the cow in a barn across town. In relief and pure joy, Rookie jumped all over the cow and licked her. Unfortunately, Rookie’s owner came and carried him back home. Rookie desperately whined and howled as he was separated from his friend once again.
Separated from his family, Rookie became very depressed and refused to eat. The sorrow on the poor pup’s face is heart-wrenching as he stands in the empty stall where he and his friend had spent so much time together.
With his head down and tail between his legs, Rookie sadly started to walk away. Suddenly, a head appeared in the barn stall’s doorway behind him – it was his cow! The family decided that they would figure out how to afford the cow since Rookie was so attached to her.
When the cow mooed, Rookie’s head whipped around in shock – there stood his friend! He couldn’t contain his excitement and joy. The reunion was so heartwarming. He didn’t want to be separated from the cow that raised him and showed him, love, treated him like her own.
This incredible bond and display of affection between Rookie and his cow are so touching. You must have a heart of stone if this doesn’t move you. A family is a family pure and simple, no matter who you are.
51 DOGS RESCUED FROM THE DOG MEAT TRADE IN VIETNAM
Dr. Katherine Polak, Head of Stray Animal Care Southeast Asia for FOUR PAWS
The dog meat trade is big business in Vietnam and threatens the lives of millions of dogs every year, many of them pets. Every day, pets are violently snatched off the streets, from yards, and even while out on a walk with their owners. These unlucky dogs make a brutal journey to slaughterhouses, markets, and restaurants, where a gruesome death awaits them. But times are changing, and the brutality and illegality of pet theft is no longer being tolerated by Vietnamese authorities.
In a landmark case, police in Thanh Hoa Province received a tip off regarding a gang of dog thieves believed to have stolen thousands of dogs since the beginning of the year. On September 15, 2019 the police successfully carried out the largest ever bust of a dog theft ring in Vietnam, resulting in the seizure of 51 dogs. According to the police, the gang carried stun guns and other sharp weapons, and rode motorbikes through residential areas late at night shooting dogs roaming outside. Police arrested a total of 16 suspected gang members and questioned more than 40 suspects. The gang not only brutalized neighborhood dogs, but also caused outrage among local people, particularly pet owners.
Following the interception, Police struggled to properly care for the confiscated dogs given their limited capacity for animal care, so the Asia Canine Protection Alliance (ACPA), of which FOUR PAWS is a member, stepped in to offer assistance. There were 13 dogs in need of immediate medical care due to severe wounds sustained during capture. Dogs with painful open wounds were anaesthetised, treated, provided pain medication and antibiotics, and housed in a temporary shelter for ongoing treatment.
The Asia Canine Protection Alliance is an international alliance of four animal protection organizations committed to ending the illegal trade of dogs in Vietnam: FOUR PAWS, Animals Asia, Humane Society International, and Change for Animals Foundation. ACPA is working to build collaborative relationships with the governments throughout Southeast Asia where the dog meat trade is prevalent, and has already secured a moratorium on the trade in dogs between Thailand and Vietnam.
Following the confiscation, the police publicised the bust throughout the province using local media so that stolen dogs could be reunited with their families.
Over the course of 2 weeks, all 51 dogs were successful reunited with their owners, who were devastated by their pets’ disappearance.
This bust pets a major precedent as dog theft is rarely treated as a criminal offense in Vietnam unless the canines are valued at more than VND2 million ($86).
“These arrests will hopefully go a long way in deterring future dog theft in Thanh Hoa Province, and potentially throughout all of Vietnam. While the dog meat trade is often defended as ‘culture’ or ‘tradition’, the reality is that there are significant health and societal impacts associated with the trade and these are becoming of ever-growing concern within Vietnam and internationally.”
Earlier in the week, the Food Safety Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City urged locals to stop eating dog meat in an effort to improve Vietnam’s national image with tourists. They also warned the local community of the health risks posed by consuming the unregulated meat. This followed a similar call by the Hanoi People’s Committee last year.
In addition to membership in ACPA, FOUR PAWS also runs a ‘Cats Matter Too program‘ in Central Vietnam with local charities PAWS for Compassion and Vietnam Cat Welfare to improve veterinary training, animal welfare education, and provide free spay/neuter services.
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