A runaway bull was shot and killed by police after it injured two people on the outskirts of Waterford just before 3 pm on Monday afternoon.
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“The farmer must not have latched the gate on the back door of his trailer proper,” said Steve Miedema, co-owner of Townsend Butchers, who were called to the scene on Old Highway 24 just north of the town.
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“The beef actually got it open and as (the farmer) was slowing down to come into town, the beef actually stepped off the trailer and took off,” Miedema said.
A second bull in the trailer didn’t run off, Miedema said.
The bulls were on their way to Townsend Butchers for slaughter, which is why the butcher was called to try to ensure everything was done in the interest of public and animal safety.
Police said one person was taken by ambulance to a Simcoe hospital with injuries described as moderate.
“(A woman) basically stood in front of this thing and held her arms out,” Miedema said. “It charged right at her, head-butted her and tossed her aside. The beef kept running, so it actually stepped on her as it went over her. I wasn’t left on scene yet when that went down.”
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Miedema said the woman was told by three people — including two of his staff — to back off but she did not.
“Unless you know how to handle livestock it’s not a situation you want to put yourself in,” he noted, estimating the bull weighed between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds.
“The animal was put down by an officer due to public safety concerns after it had injured two members of the public,” said Norfolk OPP Const. Andrew Gamble.
Miedema said the other person injured was the farmer who declined to go to hospital.
“I spoke with him this morning and he’s pretty stiff and sore.”
Miedema said he feels a conversation needs to be had with police to manage a situation like this in a better way.
“Cattle like to be with other cattle,” he explained. “There are beef farms close enough that, if farmers or someone with livestock experience would have guided (the bull) toward another farm, let it show up there and let it in with other cattle, then it would have just calmed right down.”
Townsend Butchers also issued a public safety message on social media about dealing with loose livestock.
“We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that for your safety and the safety of others, if there is a loose animal be it a horse, pig, cow or bull, to PLEASE leave all efforts to those who have proper training and are livestock professionals.”
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