Tuesday, November 28, 2017
HAPPY that her cattle are back, Marcia Tutbury says the traumatised animals are now hiding on the other side of the hill.
Photos Sven Carlsson
OB4049-01
Sven Carlsson
OPAPE resident Marcia Tutbury says fast work on the telephone by her son Stafford saved her cattle from being sold in the nick of time.
“He spent four hours on the telephone, contacting cattle trucking companies and ringing stock yards,” she said.
“When he finally found them in Hamilton they were just about to be sold.”
The drama started last Tuesday evening when Mrs Tutbury came home from a hui at Wairaka in Whakatane.
Going up to check on her cattle at the pens and land at Hinanui Road, she saw the depression left by a truck at the pen gate.
“I had seen a cattle truck nearby when I left to go to Whakatane, but I didn’t really take any notice,” Mrs Tutbury said.
“When I saw the mark from the truck I knew they were gone.”
Sure enough, Mrs Tutbury’s 27 animals had disappeared.
“There were cows, bulls, steers and heifers.”
Now quite distressed, Mrs Tutbury dialled 111 to speak with the police.
Mrs Tutbury said a police officer from Opotiki had come out to investigate the incident, but now the animals were back the only potential loss was the cost of the transport.
“I’ll probably end up having to pay for getting them back,” she said.
Mrs Tutbury said it was a “real relief” to see the cattle being unloaded at their home address on Thursday morning.
“Since coming back, the cattle stay away from the pen area, they didn’t really want to see me,” she said.
“I don’t think they are impressed.”
Opotiki police Sergeant Dale Allison said police were investigating the matter.