Perryopolis farmer searching for about 30 missing cows, calves

PERRYOPOLIS, Pa. — The search is on for about 30 cows on the loose after escaping a Perryopolis farm Sunday.

Stormy Gower, who runs Thundering Hill Farm, said her horse, Beetle, and donkey, Olaf also got away.

“It’s pretty stressful,” Gower said.

While Channel 11 doesn’t know the full story about how they all wandered off, Gower believes it happened when West Penn Power crews were working on the telephone pole on her land over the weekend and left the gate open.

“This is definitely not what we needed right now,” said Gower.

It’s been a tough summer for the farmer. She said a fire forced her and her three young kids out of their home in June. Since then, they’ve been staying at a nearby hotel. Then, fierce storms early Friday morning damaged her home even more.

“The chimney cap’s off and the backside of my roof came off,” Gower said. “We haven’t been able to work much since all this happened because we don’t have a lot of power.”

But those elusive cows, moms and their babies, are her livelihood.

“It’s going to be pretty devastating. This might be what pushes us over,” said Gower. “We just had the fire. We’re not sure what the insurance is going to cover, not going to cover. Our electrical system for the house and barn needs to be replaced.”

Gower was able to track down Beetle and Olaf at her friend’s farm along Route 51 five miles away. The horse and donkey are staying there for now. Those farmers told Gower it took some effort but eventually, they were able to catch them.

“The donkey’s super friendly, and the horse is, too,” Gower said. “They had a little trouble getting the horse in...so they were able to get her to follow the donkey into the field after they figured out they were best buds.”

Gower has been working with state and local police but is hopeful the cows will be able to find their way home.

If you spot the cows, Gower is urging people to call Thundering Hill Farm at 724-323-3762.

Channel 11 News reached out to West Penn Power and is waiting to hear back.

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