Animal lovers have been left in awe at how a farm dog saved the life of a young calf, without any help or guidance from her owner.
Bethany Hoornstra, 28 and from Michigan, runs a farm with the help of her livestock guardian dogs, Great Pyrenees breeds she affectionately refers to as her “polar bears.”
Now one of her dogs, Honey, has become an online sensation after she saved the life of a newborn calf, born unexpectedly early, overnight and in freezing temperatures.
In a video to her Instagram account @bedbeth.beyond on February 9, Hoornstra began by showing her outside in the snow, getting on her knees and enveloping her dog in a hug, along with the words: “Honey saved a life today.”
She explained that as dawn broke that morning and she stepped outside to start her chores on the farm, Honey immediately alerted her to the fact that a calf had been born overnight—and was “hypothermic.”
Hoornstra showed the calf, lying in deep snow in the field, surrounded by the other cows. Despite having never faced this situation before, and her fiancé being six hours away, Hoornstra knew she had to act immediately.
She bundled the calf up in blankets and brought him into her car with the heating on “full blast,” and used a hairdryer to help warm up his tiny body, until finally, his temperature was “back to normal” some hours later, and he started to “perk up a little.”
Finally, the calf was strong enough to stand up and walk, and Hoornstra brought him back outside, where—after the dogs had a curious sniff of the new arrival—she reunited him with his mother.
But while his mother was “interested” in the calf, and friendly towards him, she didn’t want to allow him to nurse—and so Hoornstra took on the task of staying with him all day and night, hand-feeding him and trying to keep him warm.
While it was uncertain how things would play out with the calf, Hoornstra was determined to do everything she could for him—and she finished the video by sharing how “grateful” she is to Honey, “because if it wasn’t for her, I don’t think I would have seen him.
“She is truly such a smart, special dog, and I love her so much,” she said.
Thankfully, Hoornstra told Newsweek: “I’m happy to share that the calf is doing great and is back with his mother, healthy and happy!”
Honey’s incredible rescue, and Hoornstra’s determination to get the calf to pull through, had a major reaction on Instagram, as users awarded it more than 100,000 likes.
“Extra kisses for Honey. The goodest girl,” one impressed commenter wrote, as another praised: “Honey is the best and you’re doing an amazing job keeping the calf alive!”
“Good dog and a great protector,” another agreed.
The Great Pyrenees is a popular choice as a working dog, particularly as a livestock guardian, as it was originally bred to protect livestock in harsh mountain climates. The breed is known for its independent nature, gentle disposition and devotion to its family, as well as its strong guardian instincts, according to the American Kennel Club.
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