Today, the ‘Prospect Park Cow’ Ran Away With Our Hearts
The New York City borough of Brooklyn (and the internet) were gripped Tuesday morning by the harrowing escape story of an animal who came to be known as the “Prospect Park Cow.” After escaping death at a local slaughterhouse, the baby “cow” (who is actually a male bull calf) ran through the streets of Brooklyn before winding up in Prospect Park, where a crowd of curious onlookers, police, and media gathered and surrounded the animal before he was successfully recaptured.
Often, when animals who escape slaughter are caught, they’re shipped straight back to the killing floor. But the Prospect Park Cow’s story has a happy ending.
Kudos are in order for Mike Stura of Skylands Animal Sanctuary & Rescue, who worked diligently to ensure that, instead of being needlessly killed, this young bull would live in peace and quiet at the New Jersey sanctuary.
Like clockwork, every few months, a terrified animal manages to escape slaughter and run through crowded, unfamiliar city streets. Early last year, in neighboring borough Queens, a bull named Freddie (also later rescued by Stura) made a run for it. Later in 2016, a lamb was loose on the streets of Chicago.
All animals, including humans, long to be free. The Prospect Park Cow, having shown ingenuity and determination, rightly was granted his freedom. But no bull deserves to be hacked apart for brisket or burgers, and we’re hoping everyone who’s moved by his story will see him as an ambassador for the 30 million cows who will be killed for food this year in the U.S.
What You Can Do
No one wants to die in a slaughterhouse. You can help put an end to the animal suffering, environmental devastation, and ill effects on human health that come with using animals for food by going vegan today. Order PETA’s free vegan starter kit for tips and recipes to help you make the transition to a cruelty-free eating today.
