The calf that was mown down

Germanshepherdsmum

David49

It wasn’t a calf it was about half grown and shown actively chasing pedestrians on video, what was needed was tranquilizer gun, whether one could be found quickly I doubt.
Cattle getting out of control happens on farms regularly, several farmers or workers are killed every year.

Probably a police taser gun would have incapacitated the animal but nobody thought of that.

Are you serious?

Yes, just like a human that is out of control and dangerous, are you really saying an animals discomfort is more important than a humans injury or life.

JenniferEccles

Honestly though what were the police supposed to do?
They had apparently spent several hours attempting to capture the animal, and I’m sure if it had been possible to lasso it, they would have done so.
Presumably they had also tried to contact a farmer or vet during those hours, whilst trying to ensure it didn’t cause a nasty road accident.

Of course nobody likes to think of a creature being deliberately rammed by a car, but after a number of hours, the police were running out of options weren’t they?

Their main priority was to ensure the safety of humans.

I agree. The police had been trying to capture the cow for hours. No vets had responded to their pleas for help and people were complaining that the cow was running at them. I saw a video of a man running away from the cow.
The police were running out of options. It's the usual damned if they do and damned if they don't.
If a child had been mown down by the cow and killed everyone would say the police should have done something.

But they hit it twice times with the car.. If all engines had been shut off I think the calf could have been led out. After hours of being chased it was obviously terrified..
surely common sense could have prevailed.. I think the policeman must have panicked. I hope he is given more training..

Another farmer agrees JenniferEccles (BBC News) he said their options were limited, the police had tried local vets and to contact the owners. He also said if anyone had been hurt by the cow it could have been serious.

Honestly though what were the police supposed to do?
They had apparently spent several hours attempting to capture the animal, and I’m sure if it had been possible to lasso it, they would have done so.
Presumably they had also tried to contact a farmer or vet during those hours, whilst trying to ensure it didn’t cause a nasty road accident.

Of course nobody likes to think of a creature being deliberately rammed by a car, but after a number of hours, the police were running out of options weren’t they?

Their main priority was to ensure the safety of humans.

The calf is under 12 months old so is a calf

David49

It wasn’t a calf it was about half grown and shown actively chasing pedestrians on video, what was needed was tranquilizer gun, whether one could be found quickly I doubt.
Cattle getting out of control happens on farms regularly, several farmers or workers are killed every year.

Probably a police taser gun would have incapacitated the animal but nobody thought of that.

Are you serious?

Yes, herds of cows can be dangerous, David1949

However, this was a lone heifer and the policeman's actions were both deliberately cruel and stupid.

It must have run towards pedestrians because it was terrified.

There is usually a vet on duty somewhere in the area or a local farmer would have known what to do, calmed it down and caught it.

I'm glad he has been suspended.

David49

It wasn’t a calf it was about half grown and shown actively chasing pedestrians on video, what was needed was tranquilizer gun, whether one could be found quickly I doubt.
Cattle getting out of control happens on farms regularly, several farmers or workers are killed every year.

Probably a police taser gun would have incapacitated the animal but nobody thought of that.

What a ridiculous remark

I wouldn’t like to try to calm a half grown heifer , they aren’t very cuddly !

pity help all of us if police like that man were ever armed. No good at all in a crisis

The calf is not safe yet, she could still die from stress. FGS she is just a baby. Her name is beau lucy

The calf is recovering well, with no serious injuries, thankfully.

I’m pleased to hear that the policeman has been suspended. I hope he is dismissed. He clearly lacks the capacity to think in a challenging situation.

a 10 month old calf, all it needed was couple of calm people to shepherd it onto a bit of grass and hopefully someone could have got a rope. It did not look at all wild and it would have calmed down in no time. I saw the video, it was awful

I couldn’t bring myself to view the footage. Reading about it was sickening. Considering the length of time the incident continued they had ample time to ask assistance from a farmer with a trailer . Instead they chased and terrified the poor thing and could have caused it to run into a pedestrian and cause serious harm.

Totally unnecessary!
It was obviously terrified and exhausted, a farmer with a dog and a bucket of calf nuts would have dealt with it calmly and quickly.
Roaring car engines and flashing lights were totally uncalled for, poor animal, no wonder it was spooked.
It sounds as though the big bold policemen were frightened of cows.

It wasn’t a calf it was about half grown and shown actively chasing pedestrians on video, what was needed was tranquilizer gun, whether one could be found quickly I doubt.
Cattle getting out of control happens on farms regularly, several farmers or workers are killed every year.

Probably a police taser gun would have incapacitated the animal but nobody thought of that.

A rope around its neck and possibly drag it to an enclosed front garden was all that was needed.

What I don’t understand was where was the peoples’ sense?

It doesn’t take much to sort it out.

We were cycling down the Camel trail not long ago and came across an adult cow loose. The two of us simply chivied it into the nearest secure field. Then toddled into the local police station for them to contact the farmer. It isn’t exactly hard - and we were OAPs!

It was so upsetting, barbaric and unnecessary! Idiotic and cruel action!

He's been suspended. Quite right too. What a dreadful and stupid thing to do.
Poor distressed cow.

The topic is being discussed on Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 right now.

It’s a miracle the cow wasn’t more seriously injured. Karma should catch up with the unspeakable police officer who made that decision.

Absolutely shocking and it wasn’t a cow,apparently it was a calf 😢

The report said that the calf was loose for several hours. Surely the obvious thing to do would be to contact the nearest farmer. It didn't say whether the animal was on its way to slaughter. They can't kill it now...it's a celebrity.