Criminal Investigation Sought After ‘Cow Shot Repeatedly In Head’

Campaigners are calling for a slaughterhouse probe and criminal investigation after a cow was shot repeatedly in the head causing an ‘agonizing death’.

A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report reveals the incident at Tyson Fresh Meats outside of Dakota City.

Now vegan charity PETA has written to the Dakota County Sheriff requesting they investigate the slaughterhouse and, as appropriate, file criminal cruelty-to-animals charges against the facility and the worker responsible.

‘Bellowed and thrashing’

According to the USDA report of the incident the SPHV (Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian) saw the animal enter the knock box and go past the primary stunner with the pneumatic stunner before the second team member attempted to knock the cow with the handheld captive bolt gun (HHCB).

It says: “On the first attempt with the HHCB gun, the gun was placed on the animal’s head and discharged…but the beef remained conscious and was bright, alert, and responsive…Leading up to the second stun attempt the beef became agitated attempting to avoid contact with the HHCB gun by swaying its head. … [T]he gun was placed on the animal’s head and discharged (the SPHV heard the gun discharge in a normal sounding manner).

“The beef bellowed and was thrashing its head back and forth, eyes still tracking its environment, still remaining in a standing position but moving around in the knock box. The animal continued to show an agitated behavior, as the stunning employee removed, with some difficulty, the bolt that had lodged in the animal’s forehead. A third attempt with the HHCB gun resulted in rendering the animal unconscious ….”

‘Agonizing death’

PETA Senior Vice President, Daphna Nachminovitch, said: “These disturbing revelations show that this cow suffered a prolonged, agonizing death at Tyson Fresh Meats.

“PETA is calling for a criminal investigation on behalf of the cow who suffered at this facility and the members of the public who care about him or her.”

Plant Based News has contacted Tyson Fresh Meats for comment.