Yellow Lab Stays by Sick Calf's Side

Yellow Lab Stays by Sick Calf’s Side

Six months ago, a yellow Lab named Bosko found a calf nearly dead from hypothermia on the ranch where he lives.

“His mother was too weak to care for him, and the cold and wet had nearly taken him,” wrote Imgur user Oakenboken, whose photos of Bosko watching over the calf are going viral.

After being wrapped in a blanket and carried into the house by Oakenboken’s mother and grandmother, the calf’s “nose was frozen stiff and his eyes looked dead, but he was breathing … if barely,” Oakenboken wrote.

They placed blankets and heating pads on the calf, gave him antibiotics and hoped for the best.

“Bosko would not leave his side,” Oakenboken wrote. His photos show his dog curled up near the calf.

Four hours later, the calf started to move and breathe with more regularity. The next night, they placed a space heater near him along with more blankets and stuffed animals.

“Bosko reluctantly came inside, and his brother, Duke, took up the night shift,” Oakenboken wrote.

The next morning, the calf had a bit of an appetite. By the third day, he was able to walk and eat normally.

“After a few weeks of bottle feeding him and keeping him warm in our old chicken coop, we put him back out with the rest of the cows,” Oakenboken wrote.

“Six months later and he’s doing just okay. He’s a little smaller than he should be, but that’s to be expected from his experience.”

According to Oakenboken, Zeke is “one of the friendliest cows you’ll find.”

We’re thinking some of Bosko’s compassion definitely wore off on the calf.

PHOTO: Oakenboken

Laura Goldman

Laura Goldman is senior social media writer for i Love Dogs, Inc. She does love dogs. And elephants and turtles. Along with writing about the loves of her life, Laura likes to play with her two pound pups and tell anyone who’ll listen just how awesome Pit Bulls are.