On Tuesday Retreat Farm announced the death of a treasured resident, who for years served as the “official greeter,” welcoming visitors to the property.
Standing at 7 feet tall and weighing nearly 2,000 pounds, Carlos the Ox was a fixture of the historic Brattleboro farmstead. Born at the farm in 2005, he featured prominently in the property’s now defunct petting zoo and, according to his caregivers, greeted thousands of visitors over nearly two decades.
“He was just magnificent. He was such a gentle giant, and it was amazing how he would always come to the fence to greet people,” said Kristin Sullivan, executive director of Retreat Farms, in an interview Tuesday. “He was just a fantastic part of the farm that’s going to be missed.”
A Red Holstein/Brahma cross, Carlos was the last descendent of a dairy herd that was formerly kept at Retreat Farm, which is now a nonprofit that primarily hosts community events and fundraisers.
In recent months, the 18-year-old ox received medical care for arthritis and general discomfort due to aging, according to a press release issued by Retreat Farm on Tuesday.
“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 in the release.
After multiple consultations with veterinarians and another attempt to alleviate his pain with medication, “we chose to have Carlos pass peacefully and comfortably in his pasture at the home he loved for 18 and a half years,” the release stated.
Retreat Farm is planning a ceremony to honor Carlos’s life at some point in April, Carlos’s birthday month, and hopes to eventually install a memorial for the ox on the premises.
The farm is also seeking input from the community on how best to memorialize Carlos and is accepting photographs to be displayed at the celebration of his life.
“I’m just overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from our community,” Sullivan said. “It’s amazing the number of emails and social media comments we’ve received from people that clearly loved Carlos and whose lives Carlos had an impact on.”
