The Cow

So, after our trip to the ER, since it was past dinner time we decided to go to BK to get some burgers and fries for the kids b/c they were so good (and BK has a nice $1 menu). We rounded the corner of the building after paying and picking up our order, and this is what we saw across the parking lot in the grass at the edge of the parking lot.



Yup, a beef cow had gotten out from the neighboring pasture and made it's way into the BK parking lot.

I called the Sheriff's Department (b/c Animal Control only deals in dogs and cats) and the conversation with the Dispatcher went something like this.

Dispatcher: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department, how may I help you?

Me: I'm calling to report a cow loose at McIntosh and I-4.

Dispatcher: You're saying there's a cow loose?

Me: Yes ma'am.

Dispatcher: Is the cow on McIntosh or on I-4?

Me: Well, actually, it's in the Burger King parking lot there at McIntosh and I-4.

(I heard silence and then some snickering in the back ground. It appeared as though the Dispatcher lady couldn't decide if this was some sort of prank call or not)

Dispatcher: There's a cow loose in the Burger Kin parking lot?

Me: Yes ma'am.

Dispatcher: Seriously?

Me: Yes ma'am. I took a picture with my cell phone.

Dispatcher: (laughing hysterically by this point)

Me: Well ma'am, I guess the burgers are going to be fresh tomorrow! (laughing hysterically too by this point)

Dispatcher: (cracking up and roaring with laughter by this point because of the sheer irony of the situation: a cow wandering around the parking lot of a Burger King) Oh My GOSH!

Me: Yes ma'am. This isn't a joke. I am calling you because Animal Control apparently only deals with dogs and cats and not live stock, so I figured calling you would be the best choice since you could send the appropriate people out to handle the situation before the cow makes her way into McIntosh or worse, I-4.

Dispatcher: Thank you for your call, we can handle the situation and I'll send someone out right away.

That was the end of our call. So, when my children ask me to explain irony to them when they're older, I'll simply tell them: a cow getting loose and making it's way into the Burger King parking lot to graze.