This is the reality of having a remote/out of touch police force. 2-3 decades ago, there'd have been local police based in rural areas who'd know their "patch", know most of the local farmers, etc., and would have been accustomed to dealing with escaped animals, which is a very common thing. A rural PC coming across an escaped animal would probably have a very good idea as to whose farm it was, and either get the farmer out to get it, or enlist the help from another nearby farmer, etc.
Now, the PCs who attended probably aren't even local to their own police station - let alone local to that particular rural area. So many commute from miles away, even surrounding counties, and probably never bother to leave their cars to actually talk to normal people in normal life, so will only ever come across criminals and victims.
Same when there is ice/snow and the police are dumbfounded as to what to do about stuck vehicles etc. Go back 2-3 decades and they'd just ask nearby farmers to bring a tractor and tow the stuck vehicles out of the way.
I honestly despair at how the UK has thrown away so many good things and the way we're heading towards being a run down third World country where nothing works, no one knows how to deal with pretty simple problems, etc.