Two Alberta farm dogs were recently inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame for saving their owner from an attacking cow.
Missy, a border collie, and Scooter, a blue heeler, received the award at a special ceremony in Toronto, along with their owners, Glenda and Gary Moser, and their family.
“I am extremely proud of the dogs. I always have been,” said Glenda Moser of Cherhill, Alta., after returning from the ceremony.
The Mosers are convinced a neighbour’s cow that got into their herd of purebred Angus would have killed Glenda if the dogs hadn’t jumped in and bit the cow on the nose and heel.
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“I would have been killed. The animal charged right into me. It was like a two tonne truck,” said Moser, who had all but two of her ribs broken or cracked, her skull fractured and jaw broken.
“A couple more rolls and I would have been killed. They totally saved my life,” she said.
“Clearly that cow wouldn’t have stopped until I was a pulverized mess of blood and bone.”
Moser has been unable to return to the corrals to work with the cattle since the accident March 27, 2010.
“I’m too scared. I have tried. I can’t make myself go out there. It’s had a huge impact on our life.”
The Mosers have sold most of their cattle since the accident.
Gary, Glenda, their grandson, Travis, and the two dogs were separating the cow and two calves from their herd when the cow attacked Glenda.
Before Gary, who was about 20 metres away, could react, the blue heeler bit the cow’s nose and the border collie bit the cow’s leg, eventually chasing it away.
“The dogs didn’t just stand there, they intervened,” she said.
Moser was taken to University Hospital in Edmonton where doctors performed reconstructive surgery on her face. The only lingering issue is numbness in her lower lip and sometimes a slurring of words.
Both dogs were honoured at the ceremony, although Scooter, 12, died in April from a combination of old age and a bad heart.
“I’ve always been an animal lover all my life and how animals can read your moods and feelings,” she said.
“I feel very lucky and blessed I had those dogs with me that day. It’s an indescribable feeling.”
The Mosers’ accident received national attention after Glenda was interviewed by the local Barrhead newspaper.
An Edmonton television station picked up the story, and then CMT’s Pet Heroes came to the farm to do a story. The Purina Hall of Fame saw that story and the dogs were recognized for their heroism.
It started as a simple thank you and went from there.”
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