Injured cow rammed by police offered 'idyllic' home

An injured cow that was repeatedly mowed down by a police car has been offered an “idyllic” retirement home at a nearby animal sanctuary.

- EMMA GUINNESS

The shocking incident took place on Friday night in Staines-upon-Thames when the cow was repeatedly hit by a 4x4 police car from Surrey Police.

Officers claimed that this was done to protect the public after they spent two hours trying to capture the animal following its escape from its grazing field around five miles away from where the incident took place. But witnesses and animal rights activists have argued that the cow presented no danger to anyone, and that the situation was completely mishandled.

Now, The Retreat Animal Sanctuary has offered to rehome the 10-month-old breeding heifer named Beau Lucy, who was left with a “large gash” on her leg and superficial wounds.

While she is now being cared for at her home farm and has received veterinary treatment, Billy H Thompson, the sanctuary’s founder and director, said that they would like to offer Beau a full life at a sanctuary after her ordeal. He said that he could “absolutely” take in the calf and offered an insight into the life she could have at the sanctuary.

“We’ve got long, lush grasses of pastures and shady pastures under mature oak trees – it’s all very idyllic,” he said of the Kentbased establishment. “We have 18 cows that live with us. They’re two separate herds, and they’re all terribly individual with incredible personalities just like dogs and cats are.