By Julia Train
On March 20, the local community came together to rescue a 2,000-pound steer after he spent over 12 hours stuck in the mud at Funny Farm Rescue in Mays Landing.
The night before, Yogi, the nine-year-old steer, found himself in a dire situation when he became stuck, lying flat, in a mudhole that had turned into quicksand beneath him.
“Every time he was digging, he went further and further down into the mud, because he’s 2,000 pounds, so he was 3 feet down in a hole with one leg, the other leg wasn’t as deep,” said Laurie Zaleski, owner of Funny Farm Rescue.
Zaleski and a volunteer, Karen, attempted to pull him out themselves. Karen packed down some wood shavings and straws and put blankets to keep Yogi warm through the night, as the temperature dropped into the 30s.
The next day, they tried straps and a tractor to get Yogi out, a method Zaleski had successfully employed 100 times before.
“We tried and tried and tried with no avail,” she said.
So, Zaleski then asked a friend, who’s a farmer, for help.
The crew of helpers get Yogi up with the crane.
“He came over and he goes, ‘He’s done Laurie,’” she said. “So he leaves and then I started to cry because I started to lose hope because we were trying for so many hours.”
Large animals like horses and cattle aren’t supposed to lie flat on their side, as it compresses their organs.
Yogi’s prolonged time in this position put him at risk of severe complications, including organ failure. Recognizing the urgency, Zaleski called upon the community for help.
“We need help! Anyone who is strong to help roll a cow. If you can come, we will meet at 3:30 p.m. at the farm. Yogi can’t get up. If anyone has any good ideas, please call Laurie,” the rescue posted on Facebook.
Within 45 minutes of the social media post, more than 30 volunteers, including farmers, machine operators, government workers and even a detective, had gathered to assist in the rescue efforts.
Despite their best efforts, Yogi’s legs, deprived of circulation from hours of immobility, failed to support him.
It wasn’t until Jared Pagano, owner of JPX Excavation & Tree Service in Egg Harbor Township, arrived with a crane that hope was restored.
Pagano was at work when one of the secretaries, whose husband is a volunteer, asked him if he’d be able to help.
“I actually had previous experience, because my mom owns a farm, and we had a horse with problems getting up, so I was familiar with the rigging,” said Pagano. “So I left work and grabbed my truck, and I went over there.”
He also brought his wife and two daughters.
When Pagano arrived at the rescue, he attached slings to the steer and the knuckle boom crane, a machine used for its precision in tree work, repairing storm damage and putting air conditioners on roofs.
The crane carefully lifted Yogi to his feet, but, even then, he struggled to move due to loss of circulation from lying down for so long. Volunteers immediately massaged his legs, patted his back and encouraged him.
In a moment of triumph, Yogi suddenly leaped from his support straps and began to walk.
Cheers and tears filled the air as the volunteers celebrated.
“Nobody just left… Everybody hung around to make sure he was okay,” said Zaleski. “Some even gave me their phone numbers in case we needed help again.”
Today, Yogi is back to his usual self, soaking in the affection of his many visitors, who shower him with treats and attention.
His recovery has inspired the Funny Farm Rescue team to implement changes to prevent such an incident from happening again, including adding more drainage solutions to his enclosure and a trail camera so Zaleski can keep an eye on him.
Julia is a recent Rider University graduate, where she studied multiplatform journalism and social media strategies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, photography and the beach. She can be reached at juliatrainmedia@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
