Retreat Farm is mourning the loss of its beloved Carlos, the nearly-2,000-pound, 7-foot-tall ox who was born on the farm where he became the iconic greeter for thousands of visitors over his lifetime.
So are dozens of Carlos's human friends in the area.
"If you don't live here, you may not know just how many people love Carlos and what an institution he has been," wrote Allyson Wendt on Facebook. "He will be sorely missed."
Wendt added: "To echo another friend's sentiment, I truly love living in a place where the passing of an ox results in a social media feed full of tribute posts."
The sad news came from the Retreat Farm in a news release and social media posts on Tuesday.
"Today we made the impossible decision to say farewell to Carlos the Ox," said Retreat Farm Executive Director Kristin Sullivan on Jan. 2. "As a beloved family member, his departure leaves a hole in our hearts and in our community."
"Carlos lived a long and storied life enriched by the thousands of visitors who showered him with love and affection," wrote Lindsay Fahey, the farm's managing director of communications and finance in a press release announcing his passing. "Carlos sparked awe and wonder, instantly providing a calm and grounding effect to those who had the privilege of standing in his magnificence."
Calling Carlos's longevity "a testament to the high level of care he received from dedicated caregivers throughout his life," Fahey noted that during the past year Carlos has received weekly health evaluations to monitor his mobility, weight, appetite, and responsiveness.
"Though Carlos was initially in great shape going into winter, as the weather got colder, we noticed a dramatic change in his overall demeanor, comfort level, and mobility due to old age and severe, debilitating arthritis," Sullivan said, adding that Farm administrators held many discussions with veterinarians from Green Mountain Bovine & Equine Clinic, based in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire.
She wrote that the parties considered all possible options for Carlos and tried a new medication to reduce his discomfort and pain.
"Ultimately, his quality of life was the most important factor, and he showed us it was his time," Sullivan said. "We chose to have Carlos pass peacefully and comfortably in his pasture at the home he loved for 18{1/2} years."
Carlos was born at Retreat Farm in April 2005. His mother was one of the last generation of dairy cows here, a red Holstein/Brahma cross.
"While we will continue to mourn the loss of Carlos for years to come, we want to reaffirm our commitment to building an animal program that honors Retreat Farm's long agricultural history, showcases local producers, and connects people to the land and regional food system," Sullivan said.
One of many special connections
Mark French has known and loved Carlos for years.
"I wish I had pictures of the reactions I would see on people's faces when I told them that my best friend was a one-ton ox named Carlos," he said Tuesday. "What made it even more special was when I told them that his favorite food was a donut."
French first met Carlos in the summer of 2016.
"I had stopped in at Retreat Farm to see the animals at their petting zoo inside the main barn," he said. "While the kids were all attracted to the rabbits or baby chickens, I had an instant connection to Carlos."
French remembers that the ox's head "was sticking out of a hole in the wall that had been made for him so people could see him and feed him hay - provided they stayed outside of the yellow box that had been taped on the floor."
"From the moment I made eye contact with this huge beast, something told me he would never do anything to hurt me," he says. "This was something that held true for the years I knew him."
French approached Carlos with a handful of hay and, as he began to eat, he broke the yellow line rule to pet and talk with the gentle giant.
"People were shocked that he was so peaceful, and that I was so bold," French said.
This pattern of visits would repeat until one day an employee at the Farm told French that Carlos's favorite food was a doughnut.
"Once I knew that, I was continually bringing him doughnuts to eat. He would either let me feed them into his mouth, or he would use his lizard-like tongue to take them straight from my hand," he says.
"Over the years as people would watch, some would ask if they could feed him as well," French continues. "The joy that he gave to adults and children alike was beyond measure. The laughter and smiles that he received when being fed his doughnuts melted away anyone's problems, even if just for a few moments. And to see Carlos interact with his pen-mate, Pipp the goat, was even more endearing and lovable."
French started to share his videos of Carlos and in 2018 wrote and published a children's book, Donuts for Carlos.
The ox "made the world a better place," he says. "I will miss him eternally."
A celebration of Carlos's life will be held in April to honor his birthday and legacy. Retreat Farm invites you to share photos and memories of Carlos for inclusion in the celebration, along with ideas and input to inform the creation of a permanent memorial for Carlos. Send questions, ideas, photos, and memories to Sullivan at [email protected].
This News item by Virginia Ray was written for The Commons.