Pregnant cow in ditch for days, then shot
Sacramento, CA (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Jan 13, 2007
County: Sacramento
Disposition: Not Charged
Case Images: 1 files available
Person of Interest: Jim Bennefield
Sacramento County animal control officers say they will investigate whether animal cruelty took place when a man shot a cow that had been stuck in a ditch for several days.
Vanessa Martin, a spokeswoman for the county's Department of Animal Care and Regulation, said Tuesday that the investigation could take a few weeks. If officers determine that owner Jim Bennefield violated regulations, the department will recommend the case to the District Attorney's Office, she said.
Bennefield shot the cow several times in the head with a .22-caliber rifle, with officers recording the event.
When the cow appeared to still show signs of life, Supervising Animal Control Officer Ruben Hernandez persuaded Bennefield to have a veterinarian euthanize the animal.
"It's inhumane to shoot a cow seven times without killing it," Hernandez told Bennefield.
A veterinarian arrived about 45 minutes later and administered the lethal injection.
"It's up to the veterinarian to determine whether the animal was in pain," Hernandez said later. "But I do not think he effectively euthanized the animal."
Hernandez said the cow had fallen into the ditch off Mayhew Road, near Fruitridge Road, while trying to cross it.
Jeni Beckham found the beef cow stuck in the ditch Friday afternoon. The county construction inspector was checking creeks for illegal discharge from nearby construction. She contacted the county's Department of Animal Care and Regulation.
She said she was "horrified and angry and sad."
Hernandez said the department had received a call about the cow Thursday. The department gave Bennefield until Friday to rescue the animal, which was pregnant, or ask a veterinarian to examine it and decide if it was best for the animal to be left alone, rescued or euthanized, Hernandez said.
Bennefield told officers his veterinarian had looked at the cow four days earlier, but Hernandez said the vet reported last visiting the property in early January.
When approached Saturday at his home on Bradshaw Road, Bennefield said he was taking care of the situation. He could not be reached Tuesday.
John Madigan, who heads the veterinary emergency response team at UC Davis, said he'd received a call from firefighters, but the owner had declined help Friday night.
Veterinarians said a downed cow remaining in a fixed position for a period of time could suffer nerve and tissue damage. Veterinarians treating Bennefield's cow said they could not comment on its condition specifically, citing confidentiality of medical records. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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