Guest guest Posted February 2, 2004 Report Share Posted February 2, 2004 > Downed Cow > This Story Will Change Your Life > > The truck carrying this cow was unloaded at Walton Stockyards in Kentucky on > a September morning. After the other animals were removed from the truck, > she was left behind, unable to move. The stockyard workers beat and kicked her > in the face, ribs and back. They used the customary electric prods in her ear > to try to get her out of the truck, but still she did not move. The workers > then tied a rope around her neck, tied the other end to a post in the ground, > and drove the truck away. The cow was dragged along the floor of the truck > and fell to the ground, landing with both hind legs and her pelvis broken. She > remained in this state until 7:30 that evening. > > The cow lay in the hot sun crying out for the first three hours. > Periodically, when she urinated or defecated, she used her front legs to drag herself > along the gravel roadway to a clean spot. She also tried to crawl to a shaded > area but could not move far enough. Altogether she managed to crawl a painful > 13-14 yards. The stockyard employees would not allow her any drinking water; > the only drinking water she received was given to her by Jessie Pierce, a > local animal rights activist, who had been contacted by a woman who witnessed > the incident. Jessie arrived at noon. After receiving no cooperation from > stockyard workers, she called the Kenton County police. A police officer arrived > but was instructed by his superiors to do nothing; he left at 1 p.m. > > The stockyard operator informed Jessie at 1 p.m. that he had obtained > permission from the insurance company to kill the cow but would not do so until > Jessie left. Although doubtful that he would keep his word, Jessie left at 3 > p.m. She returned at 4:30 p.m. and found the stockyard deserted. Three dogs were > attacking the cow, who was still alive. She had suffered a number of bite > wounds, and her drinking water had been removed. Jessie contacted the Kentucky > State Police. Four officers arrived at about 5:30 p.m. State trooper Jan > Wuchner wanted to shoot the cow but was told that a veterinarian should kill her. > The two veterinarians at the facility would not euthanize the cow, claiming > that, in order to preserve the value of the meat, she could not be destroyed. > The butcher eventually arrived at 7:30 p.m. and did shoot the cow. Her body > was purchased for $307.50. (Usually animals who are bruised or crippled or > who are found dead are considered unfit for human consumption and are used for > pet food.) > > When the stockyard operator was questioned earlier in the day by a reporter > from The Kentucky Post, he stated, " We didn't do a damned thing to it, " and > referred to the attention given the cow by humane workers and police as > " bullcrap. " He laughed throughout the questioning, saying he found nothing wrong > with the way the incident was handled. > > This is not an isolated case. It is so common that animals in this condition > are known in the meat industry as " downers. " After PETA brought much-needed > attention to this issue, the Kenton County Police Department adopted a policy > requiring that all downed animals be immediately euthanized, whether they > are on the farm, in transit, or at the slaughterhouse. Sadly, other > law-enforcement agencies don't have such policies and downed animals continue to suffer > everywhere. It is up to the public to demand change, and it is up to > consumers to refuse to purchase the products of this miserable industry. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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