SUMTER, S.C. — Not every day, you get a 911 call about a stray bull in your neighborhood. That happened on Thursday in Sumter, South Carolina.
“The caller states that a bull is in their front yard,” was the message received by Sumter County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) dispatch around 10:41 a.m. from a homeowner near Highway 15 North. Not a BULL-dog, a full-grown BULL.
Deputies arriving at the scene discovered the bull—they later learned it was named Rowdy—grazing in a yard.
According to the SCSO Facebook page narrative, "When deputies approached, the bull was not aggressive, and except for his horns, the bull was unarmed.
"One of the responders began to call the bull and was pleasantly surprised when it followed his voice. Continuing to keep a safe distance from the bull, deputies returned to their patrol vehicles, with the bull slowly following.
"The bull stopped near the passenger window of a patrol car, and a deputy introduced himself and told it that it had to go home. The bull was so calm the deputy stepped out of the car and gently patted it on its head. The bull liked this and leaned towards the deputy. Not sure of its motives, the deputy quickly moved to the other side of the car.
"With coaxing and calling, the bull followed one responder slowly down the road while other deputies followed it.
"After the livestock procession traveled several hundred yards, the primary deputy returned having found the bull's owner. Soon, the bull followed his owner home and back inside the pasture."
Rowdy's owner thanked SCSO for safely delivering him home. In response, one of the deputies said, “He is almost like a pet—almost. We are careful; after all, he is still a bull.”