Idaho Cow Escapes - Who wants beef? At least two 1,000 pounds heifers still remain at large after escaping from an Idaho meat processing plant this week.
According to Pocatello police, officials are working with the city's Animal Services personnel to recapture the animals, whose escape have gone viral on social media.
The meat processing plant, Anderson Custom Pack, has also gained worldwide recognition after news of the cows dramatically escaping imminent slaughter went viral on the Internet.
Reports indicate that at least 5 cows have escaped from the plant in just three days. Some of the cows jumped the fence of the slaughter house as they made their escape.
On Friday afternoon, an agitated heifer reportedly lead police on a chase, it rammed an animal service truck before it was shot by police officers. The cow continued to run despite being shot twice. It was later killed by a third shot.
According to local sources, on Monday afternoon one cow was shot and killed by an Anderson employee in a residential community, about a mile from the processing plant.
Around the same time, another cow was caught and taken back to the Anderson Custom Pack after it were found lurking behind a construction equipment store.
"It was not a very long time, although when you have a thousand pound animal that's running in the streets it can sure seem like a long time," Pocatello Police Chief Scott Marchand said.
He added that the cows were shot because they posed a threat to the general safety of the public.
An investigation into why and what is causing the cows to flee the Anderson Custom Pack is underway. Preliminary investigations have revealed the cows escaped after pushing through an unlocked corral gate.
The management of the processing plant said when they discovered the animals were missing they never thought they had escaped, but may have been stolen.
Reports indicate that dozens of cows have been stolen in Southeast Idaho in recent weeks. Officials suspect that the theft of cattle may have to do with the rising price of beef.
