Crime Woman dies after she was attacked by a sheep while volunteering at a farm, police say - Be ever vigilant against the sheep menace

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Woman dies after she was attacked by a sheep while volunteering at a farm, police say​

Anoushka DalmiaKim Ring
Telegram & Gazette
and
Published 2:11 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2021

BOLTON — A Massachusetts woman who was volunteering at a farm was killed Saturday after a sheep attacked her, police said. Kim Taylor, 73, a retired nurse, was feeding livestock alone in a pen at Cultivate Care Farms in Bolton, around 27 miles west of Boston, when a sheep repeatedly rammed her, according to a Police Department news release.

Police and medical workers responded shortly after 9 a.m. and found Taylor suffering from cardiac arrest. Taylor was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

There were no witnesses to the incident, according to the farm.

Kim Taylor

Kim Taylor Submitted Photo

Cultivate Farms is a nonprofit farm that focuses on therapy, wellness and community outreach. The organization's website outlines its approach: "Through physical work and connection with the animals, clients gain insight into their own abilities for positive change within themselves and in relationships with others."
The farm has a range of animals including goats, sheep, alpacas and rabbits. Goat yoga is among its offerings. Some programs, such as a support group for teens, are headed by case managers.

“Kim was beloved by all who worked with her during the 14 months she volunteered at the farm," Megan Moran, farm director, said in a statement. "I, along with the Cultivate Care Farms Board and the entire team, wish to express our deepest condolences and our heartfelt love and support to Kim’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

Cultivate said it was working with investigators to sort out the circumstances of the case. Safety measures are continuously reviewed, the farm said.

Cultivate Care Farms

Cultivate Care Farms Telegram & Gazette/File

Taylor's family, in a statement distributed by Cultivate Care, said she enjoyed her work at the farm.

"Cultivate continually gave our mother so much joy through her volunteering, and we take solace in that,” Taylor's family said.
Taylor was a nurse at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston. She leaves two daughters and two grandchildren, according to her obituary.

Bolton Animal Control Officer Phyllis Tower is working with Cultivate Farm to determine the fate of the sheep involved in the attack, according to police.
Injuries caused to people working with livestock are not uncommon, according to Dr. Mark J. Ledoux, a large-animal veterinarian based in Massachusetts.

"I probably know of someone killed by every kind of livestock," Ledoux said. "You have to be careful with all livestock."
 
I mean, yeah, WILD animals are called WILD animals for a reason... and I've heard of healthy fellas being killed by goats before, but let's look at the real issue here. The lady was 73 years old. A 70 year old woman can be killed by a stiff breeze. Sheep are no real danger to anybody with reasonable training who aren't 100 years old and frail. Tragic? Sure. Preventable? Absolutely. Don't let elderly people volunteer with wild animals.
 
You never see this problem in Wales.
That's because they're always at the other end of the sheep.

Not too surprising but for a place doing this sort of business fairly damaging. They're going to have all sorts attending and any sort of safety concern can be a killer. I'm honestly torn on the sheep too, while a strong enough impact might have caused the impact I think it's far more likely she did not have a great heart and the shock of it set her off than the animal caused it.

Or maybe it was on a rampage.

Shame for the family, hopefully they'll see the funny side of it one day. Or they'll be on mutton for Sunday lunches from now on.
 
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