“TAME/HOUSEBROKEN BUFFALO COW,” the Craigslist ad read.
Who could resist? Not the dozens of interested buyers who contacted Karen Schoeve after she posted the ad in March, reluctantly putting her beloved bison Bullet — all 1,100 pounds of her — on the market for $5,960.
The Argyle, Texas, woman even received an offer from someone saying they were willing to pay $10,000. But Schoeve told CNN that money wasn’t a factor. She wanted a buyer who would give Bullet the human interaction she needed.
Schoeve said her 7-year-old bison has a special bond with humans, because she was imprinted with humans since her birth.
Even though Bullet lived outside she was known to make her presence inside Schoeve’s home whenever she wanted. The bison sometimes came in through a door that the wind blew open and roamed around the house. Bullet never relieved herself inside, though, she said.
“She was just being curious,” Shoeve said. “She just loved to smell everything.”
Schoeve had a dream of opening up an animal education center with her husband when she bought Bullet two years ago. But the couple separated, and with the divorce her dream came crashing down. She had to downsize to a 3-acre home, leaving Bullet with not much room to roam.
“I wanted to keep her, but I knew I needed to let go of her,” Schoeve told CNN. She also has had to sell several horses. “I am starting over completely and I am just trying to dig myself out,” she said.
After months of searching, Schoeve found a new home for Bullet only a few miles away. It feels like a perfect fit: The new owners — who wish to remain anonymous — have a big pasture for Bullet to play in and a few new roommates: two cows.
“When they met, one of the cows picked up a branch with leaves and laid it down in front of Bullet,” said Schoeve. “It was a peace offering.”
Bullet was introduced to her new home on Saturday. Schoeve has become friends with Bullet’s new owners, who gave her a key and have urged her to come visit whenever she wants.
Schoeve said when she went to leave on Saturday, Bullet came running all the way across the pasture to say goodbye.
“She walks around the pasture then she looks back at me,” she said, fighting back tears. “It was like Bullet was asking if it was OK.”
