While I was out running this morning I noticed a calf getting out of the field where it was supposed to be. It was stuck about 60% of the way through the fence. I stopped and wondered if I should help it. In my mind I thought, “it must weigh 300 pounds and if I approach it will be scared and unpredictable.” I started to leave, but I just couldn’t. I thought of waiting until someone came along, but then the calf freed itself. I started towards it and it hopped right back through a larger opening in the fence. Problem solved.
Later I realized, as I looked at other cattle on my run, that it was probably only 200 pounds. Still, it was an interesting dilemma – to help, or to abandon the calf to its fate.