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The moo-ving story of how a Jersey cow took a deaf and blind bovine friend under her hoof has taken New York by storm.
Jersey lady Ms Clover and her offspring Sunny, who were born and raised in a rural corner of New York, have inspired TV news audiences across the state by showing that guiding isn’t just for dogs.
The pair acquired the titles of ‘seeing eye cows’ after giving fellow grazer Ollie a helping hoof for nearly 10 years.
Blind and deaf Ollie, who has been described as a “gentle beef cow”, had a tough start in life after being rejected by his mother.
Video: Sunny, a Jersey cow, and Ollie, who is blind and deaf never leave each other's sides.
But Ms. Clover soon filled that maternal gap, with disabled Ollie following in her every step to avoid getting lost in the pasture.
Sadly, Ms. Clover eventually made the journey to where the grass is greener. But when she passed away, she left Ollie with a very special gift: a new friend in her daughter, Sunny, who never left his side.
That special relationship was threatened, however, when their farm was sold.
Owners feared that the pair would have to be split up, and sent out an urgent plea for a new home where they could stay together. If a home couldn’t be found, Ollie would have risked being sold off and sent to the slaughterhouse.
Luckily, they didn’t have to wait long before receiving some good moos.
Tracy Muscatello of Hearts Herd Animal Sanctuary – a place for abandoned animals in Buskirk, New York – jumped at the opportunity.
Pictured: Sunny and Ollie at Hearts Herd Animal Sanctuary, where they'll spend the rest of their days.
Having seen the duo’s special bond, “I couldn’t say no,” she recalled to News 10 ABC.
Eight months later, the bond between Ollie and Sunny is stronger than ever. Whenever Ollie gets lost, he knows that Sunny is never more than a moo away – day and night, she comes running for her friend.
“She never fails him… She truly is his seeing eye cow,” Ms Muscatello said.
#SpecialReport: Meet Ollie, a blind and deaf cow with a 'moo'ving story. @Anyaon10 has the story of Ollie, and his "seeing eye cow" Sunny. https://t.co/UYjWIjSpK0 pic.twitter.com/UpzL2X1sZP
— NEWS10 ABC (@WTEN) March 9, 2018
They’ll now live out the rest of their days in the grassy sanctuary among other furry and feathered friends.
The story has since touched hearts and swept news channels across the state, including News 10 ABC, FOX 4 News and KSAT before going national via CNN.
One Virginia-based news anchor commented that he "loved" the "spectacular" story so much, the channel aired it twice in one day.
See the original news report, which has been viewed thousands of times, here.
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