'Bulls in Custody,' Baltimore Police Say

BALTIMORE, MD — A pair of bulls escaped from a slaughterhouse in west Baltimore Friday morning and wandered into a neighborhood, putting residents on alert for several hours.

At approximately 10:15 a.m., Baltimore Police released a video of the animals being carted off with the message: "Bulls in custody."

The bulls got loose from Old Line Meat Company, according to WBAL, which reported that police closed the 2600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue around 7 a.m. to try and contain them.

Old Line Meat Company is located in the 1600 block of South Monroe Street, meaning the bulls ventured more than 3 miles north after escaping.

By 9:30 a.m., police said both bulls were confined in a parking lot at the Penn Square apartments.

Because the barriers used to fence in the animals were not secure enough to hold them, the area was cordoned off for public safety. From a distance, residents could watch the bulls grazing in their neighborhood.

"The kids had a good time seeing the bulls running in their community. Fortunately, no one was hurt," Baltimore Police spokesman T.J. Smith said. "It's been a strange week in Baltimore. We have people chasing Pokémon in cars, and we have bulls running down the streets of Baltimore..."

By 10:30 a.m., the animals had been loaded up and were being taken from the residential area by truck.

"Hopefully this is it for running of the bulls, Baltimore edition," Smith said.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) hopes that it is not the end of the line for the bulls and is working to help them continue their journey away from the Monroe Street slaughterhouse.

"These bulls have shown ingenuity and determination and should be granted their freedom," PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement. "No bull deserves to be hacked apart for brisket or burgers..."

Three sanctuaries have offered to take the bulls, according to PETA, which has committed to arranging transportation for the animals.

Attempts to discuss the bulls with Old Line Meat Company were futile Friday afternoon, according to PETA.

"We have not been able to negotiate with anybody there," PETA Associate Director of Campaigns Danielle Katz told Patch. "Somebody did answer [the phone] but would not give a comment or tell us who they were."

The director of Skylands Sanctuary — one of the three that offered to take the bulls — planned to contact the meat company directly, according to Katz. He stayed overnight with his trailer to free "Freddie the cow" from a slaughterhouse in New York City.

See Also:

• Police Shoot Steer Roaming Streets in Baltimore City
• Driver Playing Pokémon Go Hits Police Car: VIDEO

This is not the first time authorities have had to deal with a loose bull in this part of Baltimore City.

A steer jumped a fence from another Baltimore slaughterhouse in the area in June 2014 and was fatally shot by police after trotting around near the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and the University of Baltimore.

It appeared different tactics were being used Friday morning with the two bulls — trucks were brought in to corral them.

Still pictures from Baltimore Police video.