A cow on the loose created havoc along Abbotsford streets on Sunday morning and ended with the animal being shot dead by police.
The incident began at about 10:15 a.m., when the Abbotsford Police Department began receiving reports of a cow loose in the area of South Parallel and Whatcom roads.
Police who were dispatched to the area followed the cow in their vehicles and tried to block it off, but the animal ran on to Highway 1 and headed west in the eastbound lanes.
Const. Paul Walker said the cow then crossed the highway, made its way onto DeLair Road and headed toward Sumas Way.
Meanwhile, attempts were made to determine from where the cow had escaped and who owned it.
The cow then ran along Sumas Way. Officers on foot were able to catch up with the animal just north of South Fraser Way, and they shot it – 30 minutes after the incident began.
Walker said the decision to kill the animal was made because of the risk of a driver or pedestrian being injured or killed if they collided with the cow.
“You have a 1,000-pound-plus animal running full tilt down our streets,” he said.
Walker said police do not carry tranquilizer guns, and conservation officers deal with wild animals, not farm creatures.
He said with the animal barreling down a busy traffic corridor, officers had to act quickly and do what they felt was best for public safety.
The area was blocked off for about 20 minutes while the cow was moved off the road. A local farmer then transported the animal away.
On Monday, police were still trying to determine who owned the cow.