Maggie the cattle dog was just doing her job helping to drive the cows on their annual run when some turned the safe activity very scary. The incident unfolded during the annual cattle drive by the Reader Ranch, when the ranch’s cattle are driven from Pike to the high country. For unknown reasons someone passing by the run turned his Jeep on the cows and had the cow hands who were on horseback in his sites. The riders were able to get to safety but poor Maggie who was just trying to get order back to the herd was not as lucky. She was run over and severely injured requiring hours of surgery and weeks of round the clock vet care.
Because of her injuries both internal and external it is still unclear if Maggie will ever be able to going back to herding the cows a job she loves. For now though they are taking one day at a time and are very happy she was released and is able to go home. Hopefully she will be able to make the run again next season even if she needs the help of another dog or two. It would be so sad if because of what happened she could never do what she loves so very much.
The person responsible for Maggies massive injuries was in court for a pre-trial conference Wednesday morning at his time he remains in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
For more information: http://www.theunion.com/article/20110707/NEWS/110709902/1007&parentprofile=1053
This is appalling.