A22—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 4,1983
She’s a 5-lb. Guardian
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
WILLOW STREET - The herd
of Holsteins stretch across the
sloping pasture land. Some munch
the lush meadow grass; others
rechew their earlier breakfast
eaten in the barn.
Overhead, fluffy clouds drift
across the blue.
Nearby, a swollen stream laps
softly against eroded banks.
Then, all of a sudden, you hear -
rather than see - something that at
first appears completely foreign to
this pastoral serenity.
A stacato frenzy of yipping and
yapping erupts from amidst the
flotilla of black and white in the sea
of green.
Looking closely, you spot a small
head that appears for a split
second above a clump of grass.
What is is? Who is it?
Why it’s the “Guardian Angel”
of Holstems along Gypsy Hill Road
off Rt. 222 south of Lancaster.
This guardian angel of bovines
makes up for in sheer guts and
bravado what she lacks in size.
This canine caretaker who has
adopted an entire herd of Holsteins
and protects their safety round the
clock appears to be a mixture of
terrier and chihuahua that tips the
scales at about one-twentieth the
weight that some of her charges
milk in a day.
And the herd that she has taken
under her tiny paw is that of Roger
Mills, 1343 Gypsy Hill Road,
Lancaster.
“She just came walking in off the
street about five years ago and has
stayed ever since,” Mills said.
“As soon as we turn the cows out
in the morning, she’s with them.
“And she stays with them every
minute out in the pasture.
“The only time that she comes
back to the bam is if it is raining
real hard.”
The Mills family has named the
Holstein house mother "Suzie.”
And she takes her self-assumed
job very seriously.
“Two years ago, Paul Welk of
Peach Bottom bought one of our
heifers at the All-American,’’ Mills
explained.
"We brought her back to the
farm and Paul came up one
Sunday morning to get her while
we were in church.
“Well, Suzie wouldn’t let him in
that stall for some time.
“That particular heifer seemed
to be a favorite of hers.
“And when the truck drove off,
Suzie followed it all the way to 222
before coming back.”
Ever since, Suzie hasn’t picked
another favorite but she appears to
take her total responsibility of the
entire herd more seriously.
“Ask the vet or anyone, Suzie
lets you know when you walk into
her bam.
“Suzie will bury herself in one of
the box stalls and even when I
••fit « -
This is where Suzie is most at home -- right in the middle of
her adopted Holstein herd.
Can you notice anything unusual hidden in this pastoral and those Black and Whites and almost swallowed up by the tall
peaceful dairy scene. Likely not. But camouflaged among lush meadow grass is the Guardian Angel of Holsteins.
might come out at night to check that’s about the only thing that can But after Suzie accepts her no^wolatebrfte^iseoins
on a cow, she sounds the alarm.” coax her awav from the cows ’’ sweet it’s rieht back to her u cn ocoiate bribe is going to affect
Thus, Suzie’s alarm emits from ner away trom me cows. sweei its right back to her her duty and responsibility as
beneath the bedding and ‘ Guardian Angel of Holsteins.
newcomers don’t know what to
make of these sounds that come
from a feisty five pounds of
feminine fury whose adopted
family towers over her.
The hock-high sentinel even
stops traffic along Gypsy Hill
Road
It’s not unusual for passing
motorists to stop at gawk at the
dog that’s stretched out on the
back and neck of a lounging cow in
the pasture.
And, Suzie is truly a cow dog -
not a people dog.
“We have two other dogs, but
Suzie rarely comes even close to
the house,” Mills said.
“The barn and pasture are her
domain.”
Suzie eats right on the job,
preferring to pilfer a little of the
snacks left for thebarn cats.
But doesn’t this Guardian Angel
of Holsteins sound too good to be
true.
After all, where can you get a 24-
hour-a-day herdsperson who asks
for nothing in return other than to
be with her “family. ”
Well, to be truthful, Suzie does
have one vice.
“She really likes candy and
Suzie comes out of the herd to acknowledge Roger Mills, whose herd of Holsteins
has its own fulltime canine caretaker.
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If you look closely (arrow). Suzie the sentinel stands guard along Gypsy Hill Road in
Lancaster County.
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