PICTOU – The county is promising its bylaw control officer will have whatever help she needs if the “wild cows” of the Caribou area escape again.
Several years ago, the county faced an issue when 21 cows belonging to Greg Murray escaped. At the time the county built a fence around the property fearing the cows would escape and cause an accident with ferry traffic.
Now the problem is back. In early October, Murray was injured in a tractor accident on his property. During his absence the cows escaped because they had no food or water, said Coun. Ed MacMaster.
Several neighbours have been left with significant property damage because of these roaming cattle. Neighbours have stepped into help feed the cattle and have fixed portions of the fence, however, he said these people will eventually want to be paid, and there is no word where those dollars will come from.
One place it won’t come from is the county. Council’s message was loud and clear Monday night.
The county has spent thousands of dollars on these specific cattle.
“There comes a time in your life you’ve got to give up farming,” said Coun. Leonard Fraser. “It’s time for the SPCA to come out and paid what they’re paid to do.”
The agriculture department now has a new act with more teeth that will given them more opportunities to address barnyard animal abuse, said Coun. Bob Parker.
Although the cows are now contained, MacMaster fears the first morning the cows’ drinking water  is frozen will see them escape again.
“We can’t have a re-run of what happened before,” said MacMaster. 
The county has agreed to contact the agriculture department to ask them to look into the situation. But Warden Ron Baillie said the county will be prepared to act if the cattle escape any time soon.
“Our bylaw control officer will have whatever she needs when these cattle get out again,” Baillie said.