‘I’m sorry you’re angry with me Cutie’: Animal-lover tries to win back rescue camel who attacked her

Brightside Animal Sanctuary owner Emma Haswell was attacked and tramped last week by rescue camel Cutie. But could the attack have been masking a profound grief? WATCH THE REUNION >>

The owner of an animal charity whose rescue camel attacked her has had an emotional reunion after being released from the trauma ward of Royal Hobart Hospital.

The owner of Brightside Animal Sanctuary Emma Haswell was attacked and trampled by rescue camel Cutie last week in the Huon Valley.

Ms Haswell was admitted to the trauma ward of Royal Hobart Hospital where she received treatment for a range of injuries, including damage to one eye.

But within days of the attack the animal-lover was back on her farm and keen to re-establish her friendship with Cutie — a rescue camel who had come into her care “shaking and traumatised” a year earlier.

The owner of Brightside Animal Sanctuary Emma Haswell

“I got home from my stay in the trauma ward in hospital yesterday and one of the first things I did was walk up to visit Cutie in her paddock,” Ms Haswell wrote on her Facebook page.

“I couldn’t wait to see how she felt about me. I love her and I didn’t want our friendship to be over because of her decision to attack me.”

Ms Haswell said Cutie had never been violent before. The attack, she suspected, was masking grief after Cutie’s camel friend Albert was euthanized days earlier: “I’m certain Cutie thinks I took her friend’s life. Animals understand death.”

“It was a weird walk [to the pen] because ever since the morning after the attack I’ve had double vision which is also quite blurry,” Ms Haswell said.

“The problems with my vision were caused by the blow to my head from Cuties front leg…

Whether we can be friends will all be down to Cutie. All I can do is try.”

Cutie the rescue Camel from Brightside Animal Sanctuary FB

In two videos filmed of the reunion Ms Haswell is pictured stroking Cutie’s head through a fence and whispering kind words to the animal.

“I’m sorry you’re cross with me. You liked carrots and apples though, didn’t you?” Ms Haswell says to the camel. “I’m sorry you lost your friend.”

Hundreds of people responded with well-wishes to Cutie and Ms Haswell, offering their best wishes for the friendship of the pair.

“Grief and trauma are so complex. Profound sadness and despair easily present as anger. Cutie is so loved to be given the grace to safely process all these big feelings.” wrote one woman.

“Would you consider wearing a bicycle helmet until your poor noggin recovers?” suggested another person.

“If things don’t go as well as you hope it would protect you from multiple concussions or other injuries”

Brightside Animal Sanctuary was contacted for comment.

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Originally published as ‘I’m sorry you’re angry with me Cutie’: Animal-lover tries to win back rescue camel who attacked her