"Are You Kidding Me?" Moments
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Robert Cohen, NotMilk.com
July 2010

[Ed. Note: Take action - Stop Live Birth Exhibits at State Fair - Cow Was Shot to Death.]

Stunning and revolting.

Shocking and perplexing.

I call them "Are You Kidding Me?" moments.

There are multiple examples in this story: How many can you find?

The following story was reported by KCRA television in Sacramento, California on July 28, 2010:

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Cow Death At Fair Prompts Call For Emergency Protocol - Ornery Animal Shot To Death

Sacramento, CA

The fatal shooting of an ornery, pregnant cow at the California State Fair has led to a call for a complete review of handling procedures for all animals intended for public exhibition at the annual event.

David Wilson, a veterinarian and the director of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis, has also requested that a university team develop a plan to prepare public safety officials at the fair and other large venues for incidents involving unrestrained large animals in public places or roadways.

Meanwhile, about a dozen protesters gathered outside of the fair gates Wednesday calling for an animal birthing area to be eliminated. The dairy cow that was shot Tuesday was scheduled to deliver her calf in public view.

The cow broke free at about 9:30 a.m. from a livestock area, where it was being displayed in a birthing area, and got to a tunnel by the main gate.

The Holstein, which weighed about 1,400 pounds, stampeded through the midway area and many other parts of the fair.

Cal Expo police corralled the animal and tried to get it into a trailer, fair spokesman Corey Egel said, but the cow freed itself again and dashed toward the Golden 1 Stage.

May said the veterinarians from UC Davis tried tranquilizing the cow, but the gun didn't fire.

The supervising veterinarian at the fair said the animal was angry and upset. The veterinarian, who observed the incident, gave the permission to shoot the cow.

Nobody was hurt during the incident, and the fair remained open for business.

The cow's carcass was taken away from the fairgrounds.

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