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Farm Sanctuary Offers Shelter to Renegade Cincinnati Steer

1,000-Pound Steer Bolts from Slaughterhouse, Gains New Lease on Life

Cincinnati, OH - January 29, 2008 - Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading farm animal protection organization, offered today to shelter a renegade steer now being pursued through the outskirts of Cincinnati, OH. Provided authorities can capture the animal and the owner relinquishes him, the steer will find lifelong refuge at the organization's flagship sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY.

The approximately 1000-pound Black Angus steer escaped from Stehlin's Meat Market on Colerain Avenue early yesterday morning. The animal's owner allegedly left a gate open while moving other livestock off his truck, leaving a space wide enough for the steer to escape. The animal evaded certain death by high-tailing it through the streets and into a nearby wooded area.

Farm Sanctuary has informed local authorities of its intentions to come to the animal's aid and relayed a message to the owner, requesting that the steer be placed in the organization's care. Right now, the animal remains on the lam-reportedly last sighted on Dry Ridge Road around 9:30 p.m. last night.

"The steer's courageous act is inspiring, but actually quite common among cattle-who have the same innate desire for self-preservation as we do," said Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary's national shelter director. "We are excited by the prospect of giving this willful animal the second chance he deserves and hope people who hear his story will be moved to make a difference for his species as whole."

In the past decade, Farm Sanctuary has rescued many other brave slaughterhouse escapees, including Cinci Freedom - a cow rescued after a dramatic 11-day chase through Cincinnati in 2002- and Maxine, a spirited Hereford found on the streets of Queens, NY last September. The group also rescued a slaughter-bound veal calf in California just last week after the young male fell from a truck.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.