A cow that was saved from the river after a major rescue operation has died.
We reported on Saturday how fire crews from Selby, Snaith and Malton had responded to the animal being stuck in the water at Carlton on Friday night.
Specialist animal and water rescue units were also called in.
The cow, called Toffee, was eventually brought onto dry land. “She had been missing for five days so I’ve no idea how long she had been in the river,” Toffee’s owner Sue Shears told YorkMix.
“She was absolutely exhausted and unable to stand when they got her out.
“We managed to get her home, but sadly she died. The vet said her prognosis was never good because she seemed to have been in the river for so long.”
Sue had a plea for people to keep their dogs away from cattle.
“I have several times heard of dog owners saying ‘my dog is only playing’. But it’s not playing when the cattle end up in the river because someone thinks their dog is just having fun.
“We have had three cows end up in the river in as many weeks and none of them have got out safely.
“Then this morning another has appeared on the next piece of river bank, all wet and muddy. So again he’s been in the water, but luckily managed to get out again.
“These animals know the river bank. Many have been born on it and they have plenty of water and so do not need to go near it.”
She said we need to get the message across to people “that it’s not just sheep that lose their lives due to being chased”.