The owner of a beloved Huon farm sanctuary has been hospitalised after being “attacked and trampled” by one of the sanctuary’s rescue camels.
Brightside’s Emma Haswell was rushed to the Royal Hobart Hospital with injures last week.
Taking to social media, Haswell said ‘Cutie’, the camel responsible for the attack, has never shown any aggression towards her in the past.
She believes the attack may have been triggered by the recent euthanasia of Albert, another camel at the sanctuary, a few days prior.
“I had been medicating Albert with 50ml injections for a week and each time I had to inject him he yelled and bellowed at me and got very upset as he hates needles more than anything,” Haswell said.
“It was horrible. Cutie watched from the paddock.”
“I’m certain Cutie thinks I took her friend’s life. Animals understand death.”
Haswell said Cutie has come along was since the “terrified and shaking” camel she rescued.
Posting from the hospital prior to being discharged, Haswell had a message for the “incredible, kind, thoughtful and compassionate” staff who had looked after her.
“They made a very, very traumatic event so much easier for me to cope with,” she said.
“I also want to express how amazed I am at how they cope with unstable, angry, confused, demanding, difficult, rude or manipulative people.”
“As someone suffering from extreme burnout caused by my job at Brightside dealing with similar people I felt upset for the hospital staff who were so caring and wonderful.”
