Macclesfield CFA firefighters came to the rescue of a curious cow named Dora on Monday evening, 16 June, after she wandered out of her paddock and ended up stuck in the mud at a dry dam on a property in Bayles.
The call came in at around 5.40 pm, with CFA brigades from Bayles, Macclesfield, and Lang Lang all responding to the unusual rescue mission.
Bayles Fire Brigade was the first on the scene and immediately called for support from Macclesfield, known for its expertise in large animal rescues.
Macclesfield CFA captain Sharon Merritt, who oversaw the rescue, said that Dora’s size posed an added challenge.
“She was quite a large cow, and she was really deep in the mud with only a bit of her head and back showing. It made it quite tricky, especially in low light,” she said.
The team worked quickly, setting up ropes and using specialist equipment to carefully extract Dora from the mud.
“The real challenge was getting the ropes underneath her, as she was so deeply stuck,” Ms Merritt said.
“But with the right tools and a lot of manpower, we were able to carefully pull her out.”
A local vet was called to the scene to ensure Dora’s comfort throughout the process.
The vet sedated her to help keep her calm, allowing the team to work efficiently.
“She wasn’t too bad. She was calm, and once sedated, she didn’t react much to everything we were doing,” Ms Merritt said.
“But, I imagine it was a stressful day for her.”
After about an hour of careful work, Dora was safely back on solid ground. Her owners were there to greet her with relief, and a bread offering to help her settle.
Ms Merritt said the risks posed by drought conditions and dry dams are becoming muddy traps for curious animals, like Dora.
“With the lack of rain, these areas that are usually wet have turned into muddy pools. Animals can easily mistake them for solid ground,” she said.
“If you can, it’s best to keep these areas fenced off.”
Despite the challenges, the rescue ended on a positive note, with Dora in good spirits once back on her feet.
The owners were relieved to see their beloved cow safe and sound, and hopefully, Dora’s “exploring” days are now behind her.
