A pregnant dairy cow was extremely agitated and seemingly out of control, when California police gunned her down at a California state fair yesterday morning. The cow had escaped from her restricted quarters and not only bolted through the fairgrounds at the state fair, but also knocked down a police officer on her rampage.
This cow, posed to be a great threat when storming the California state fairgrounds, weighed approximately 1,200 pounds. Brian May, deputy general manager of the fair shared with the press that when the cow became agitated and escaped, she ran approximately 500 yards toward a tunnel connecting to the midway.
Authorities feared that the cow was not only a threat to thousands of employees at the California state fair, but also to excited children who were caring for their own livestock that they were to display at the fair.
Although they were not pleased about their decision of what to do about the mad cow, veterinary professionals and police officers concurred that the cow should be put down. This was after an hour and a half of chasing the cow around the fairgrounds.
W. David Wilson, director of the veterinary medical teaching hospital at the University of California was the one who was in charge of caring for the cow. He stated, "Obviously, we're in a caring profession and the last thing we want to do is see an animal euthanized.A very difficult choice had to be made."
Neither the cow, nor her baby survived the shooting. University of California, Davis veterinarians brought the cow to the fairgrounds, where she was to give birth to her calf. The birth of the cow's calf was to be one of the main attractions at the California state fair. This was supposed to be a part of the long-standing Livestock Nursery program.
The cow put up a very good fight at the California state fair. According to May, veterinarians tried many times to calm the cow down with food and hay, but that didn't work. Although they didn't want to, they reluctantly had to tranquilize the cow. That didn't work and after several failed attempts to calm the cow with tranquilizers, they finally made the decision to shoot the cow. It was a very sad situation.
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
Comments
#1 pregnant cow
Shame on you Ca. state fair, Does anyone know what a rope is and there are people that can handle cows. who wouldn't become agitated being chased by an suv, shame on all of you for being stupid.
So you'er saying shoot the mother and kill the baby, "whats it called abortion for animals,," Watch out you mothers who are pregnant , and become agitated by being chased by an suv , you'er next.. remember, people who abuse animals are likely to commit crimes against humans
#2 Murdered cow and her baby!20
it just pisses me off that they did this! I refuse to attend the fair unless they stop this murdering act!
#3 State Fair Massacre
Let's get real here, people! That poor cow and her calf were MURDERED. Look at the video. She certainly did not appear to be "agitated" (though she had every reason to be) or "rampaging." Indeed, it was the veterinarians and the cops who were "rampaging." Shame on all concerned. There were hundreds of cowboys, ranchers, farmers and stock handlers on site at the time. Why wasn't the cow simply roped and led back to her enclosure?
These "birthing" exhibits should be banned. Expectant mothers need/deserve quiet and solitude, not a bunch of voyeuristic gawkers. I was at the fair all day on Monday and saw 4 new-born calves separated from their mothers, causing great stress to all. Why, pray? Not to mention those horrendous metal farrowing crates, with sows so cramped they could barely move, unable to turn around. Their piglets were put at risk of being crushed. And again, with people close enough to touch them. NOT ACCEPTABLE. Nor should we forget "Big Al," the "world's biggest alligator, confined to a shallow box barely larger than himself.
WRITE CALEXPO GENERAL MANAGER & CEO NORBERT BARTOSIK, AND THE FAIR BOARD, DEMANDING THAT THESE ABUSIVE EXHIBITS BE BANNED: Email - nbartosik [at] calexpo [dot] com.
We've been urging CalExpo to ban the birthing exhibits since 2004, when a rodeo bull was killed in that stupid "Cowboy teeter-totter event." And now the chickens have come home to roost.....
x
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland
#4 cow killing
I am apauled by the killing of the pregnant cow at the Calif. State Fair. I was outraged when I read one of the original news articles that ended, "no one was hurt . . ." I said outloud, EXCEPT THE POOR COW AND HER CALF!! I can see NO reason that this situation couldn't have been handled in another way. I think the State Fair just jumped the gun (pun intended) due to their liability concerns. A cow is NOT a ferrel, dangerous animal. Geez - I might get a little agitated too if I had an SUV pushing me from behind and I was had just been moved to a new, unknown location and was about to give birth. For all WE know, the cow was in labor!! The behavior of the cow was CAUSED by the folks at the Fair who think it's appropriate to have animals give birth/nurse/care for newborns while being gawked at by hundreds and hundreds of human beings. SHAME ON THE ORGANIZER'S OF THE STATE FAIR!!
#5 Unbelieveable
I can't believe that they cage up a naturally wild animal and expect it not to EVER escape or charge at anyone in an attempt to escape to freedom. I think there are so many other options they had and shooting her was NOT the best option they had. Animals are ment to be free and when you cage them up that's what happens sometimes. I was at the fair on Sun and watched a cow give birth to twin bulls and it was an amazing experience, too bad she didn't live to give birth. I would love for the officer that shot her to be caged up for life, force to have babies that are taken from you after 10 minutes, milked multiple times a day, and not try to escape. I am so ashamed of the human race.
#6 MURDER AT THE FAIR
I can't believe that they cage up a naturally wild animal and expect it not to EVER escape or charge at anyone in an attempt to escape to freedom. I think there are so many other options they had and shooting her was NOT the best option they had. Animals are ment to be free and when you cage them up that's what happens sometimes. I would love for the officer that shot her to be caged up for life, force to have babies that are taken from you after 10 minutes, milked multiple times a day, and not try to escape. I am so ashamed of the human race.
#7 Shame on CA State Fair
This cow was shot 17 times. It was reported, on KCRA channel 3, that one of the officers got excited and shot her in the abdomen. A spokesperson told a reporter this on camera! It is an unbelievable, cruel, inhumane act that this poor animal went through. She was being chased by and SUV, horn blaring, and she was terrified.
With all the "livestock friendly" people that were in the area when this atrocity was going on there had to be other options than telling the officers to open fire. She was not a mad bull with a massive rack, with the scent of blood in the air. She was scared and confused with people chasing her.
There should be a through investigation of this incident because the officers should have been able to dispatch her in under 17 shots.
#8 pregnant cow shot
Well, maybe suicide by cop? No! Gun happy cops...as usual. I'm getting really sick of humans randomly killing animals without accountability. Animals have rights, but its us other humans are the only ones who can battle animal hating humans. We must stick together to overcome cruelty and brutality against all animals. May the cow and her calf rest in peace.
#9 pregnant cow shooting
One more thing. I have a suggestion for the stupid people. Next time, maybe staff your fair with cops that carry tranquilizer guns? THAT might solve any future problems.
#10 the cow
fresh burgers.........YES!!!!
#11 COW KILLER
THE ORGANIZATION AND STAFF AT THE STATE FAIR SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. FIRST OF ALL THE STAFF THAT WORK AT THE LIVESTOCK PAVILION, SHOULD BE EXPERIENCED AT HANDLING THIS SORT OF MATTER, THAT'S WHY THEY WORK THERE. OKAY, THEY BROUGHT IN THE COPS, THAT HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO HANDLE SUCH ANIMAL, BY BLARING A HORN BEHIND A COW ESPECIALLY IN A S.U.V., HOW RIDICULOUSLY STUPID. THEN A VET COMES FROM U.C.DAVIS WITH EXPERIENCE, TRANQUILIZING A COW, OKAY, WOW!!!! CAN'T BELIEVE IT. MR. VET. IN YOUR PROFESSION HAVE YOU EVER READ HOW TO HANDLE A COW!!! WELL LET ME REFRESH MEMORIES. 1. COWS ARE SENSITIVE TO HIGH-FREQUENCY SOUND (HORN)
2. A COW HAS A 320 -DEGREE PERIPERAL VISION, (DO NOT APPROACH FROM BEHIND) SUV FROM BEHIND CHASING THE COW, REAL SMART
3. WHEN A COW IS STRESSED, IT WILL TAKE 20 TO 30 MINUTES FOR HER HEARTBEAT TO SLOW DOWN.
4. YELLING AND WHISTLING CAN INCREASE AN ANIMALS HEART RATE MORE THAN A SLAMMING GATE.
5. CATTLE ARE SENSITIVE TO CHANGE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY PREGNANT ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH, OK COP THAT SHOT COW, STAFF ANF ORGANIZER OF THE FAIR HOW PROFESSIONAL IS THAT!!!!!!!!!! FROM READING AND HEARING ABOUT THIS SITUATION IT IS KNOWN THAT THE COW AND BABY WAS NEVER AT ITS BEST INTEREST.
#12 This is ridiculous
this is soooo stupid and i thought CA cows were supposed to be happy???? grow up!!!!