Pregnant Cow Shot at State Fair

How many times are we going to hear about cops apparently losing their minds — and quite a lot of bullets — when they encounter an animal? And it doesn't just happen with dogs.

In Sacramento, the California State Fair is taking place. This event, advertised as "big fun," found itself under scrutiny from animal rights groups in the area when it decided to have a Livestock Nursery attraction. This would include a live cow giving birth in front of large crowds. This, the animal rights groups asserted, was inhumane; birthing mothers need calm and quiet.

The fair may not have been pleased with the negative press from such groups, but they couldn't have imagined what was to come next.

On Tuesday, the pregnant cow was brought to the fair to be put on display. In the unloading process, she was somehow let loose, and wandered off to explore the area. Police spent over an hour chasing the cow around the fairgrounds. The cow, probably quite nervous after being chased by a car, became very alarmed after a tranquilizer gun misfired, and she allegedly charged one of the policemen. Their response? They pulled out their regular guns and shot her. Not once. Not twice ...  a full eleven times. The cow, and her calf who was due to be born the following day, both died.

Brian May, the expo duty director, tried to defend the extreme action by claiming that thousands "feared for their safety." Seriously? From one pregnant cow on the loose, and yet firing a gun into the crowd is considered safe? A video shot by a vendor on the scene shows the cow wandering through a nearly empty area, and only appearing agitated when the car following her got too close; something that ought to be expected of any animal.

The animal rights groups planned a new protest for the following day, marking death instead of birth.

When police use extreme action in the face of animals (and in the midst of a crowd of people), it is always tragic. How many people hoping to see the cow give birth witnessed her getting gunned down instead? And, at an event like a state fair where livestock are on display, where were the experienced handlers to help get the situation under control? David Wilson, the director of the University of California Davis veterinary teaching hospital is calling for a review of the animal handling policy, as well as better procedures for emergency response and handling large animals in public places and roadways.

However, they still plan to go ahead with live birth performances at the fair in the future, which is particularly disappointing since just last week, Sacramento had taken a step forward with a new ordinance to protect animals forced to perform in traveling exhibitions like circuses and rodeos. It's unfortunate that there's more concern for the welfare of visiting elephants than resident cows.

Photo credit:  HAM guy