When a cow escaped a Queens slaughterhouse Thursday, the ending was bleak.
Cows who make escapes like that are usually pardoned. That did not seem to be the case for this cow.
In the nick of time, Mike Stura, who works at Skylands Animal Sanctuary and Rescue in New Jersey, stepped in to rescue him, according to PIX11.
But he wasn't able to get the cow right away.
"I was able to get the owner (of Archer Halal Live Poultry) on the phone right away and at first he was pretty receptive," Stura said. "But he said the animal was promised to a family that had some big event coming up and he would call them."
The New York Daily News reported that Stura was able to convince the owners to give him the cow because they were drained from dealing with protesters.
Stura slept in his car overnight after making the trip from Wantage, New Jersey, to Queens.
"I impressed upon him several times that 38 billion cattle go to the food industry," he said. "It's nice if one lives once in awhile."
So after some waiting, Stutra was able to get the cow, whom he named Freddie after Freddie Mercury, the late singer.
Freddie is currently being examined by a veterinarian and, if cleared, he will be with 18 other cows in the sanctuary.
Skylands is accepting donations to go toward Freddie's care for the remainder of his life at the sanctuary.
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