A Hamilton County SPCA official trained to use tranquilizer equipment planned to spend Saturday night in Clifton's Mount Storm Park in hopes of collaring the cow that has eluded authorities for more than a week.

Decoy cattle are penned in Mount Storm Park as part of the search for a cow that escaped from a Camp Washington slaughterhouse. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        SPCA officers spotted the cream-and-brown cow about 9:20 p.m. Friday standing outside a corral, complete with live decoys and feed, set up against the wood line in the park.

        No sightings were reported Saturday.

        The cow escaped Feb. 15 from Ken Meyer Meats, a Camp Washington slaughterhouse, after it jumped a fence and found refuge in the park, about three miles away. Since then, it has grabbed national headlines.

        “I was amazed to see her standing there because we've been looking for her so long,” SPCA Officer Denise Joyner said Saturday. “She kind of glowed in the dark because of her blond hair. Then she just ran away. She's too smart for us.”

        SPCA officials were encouraged Saturday because overnight the cow ate a lot of the feed left out to entice her.

        “That's a good sign,” said Andy Mahlman, SPCA operations manager. “She is calming down a bit and is more comfortable going in that area. We are not going to be running around chasing her. Hopefully we'll spot her in the pen and can close the gate on it.”

        SPCA Sgt. Todd Manzer, who is qualified to use a tranquilizer dart to subdue the cow, was dispatched to spend the night in the park in case the cow emerged from the woods again, said SPCA General Manager Harold Dates.

        Bred and raised in Lexington, the 1,200-pound cow is worth about $840, or 70 cents per pound, Mr. Mahlman said.

        Police and SPCA officials played down the cost of the nine-day cow hunt by foot, horse and helicopter. The search hasn't required any police overtime, said Lt. Kurt Byrd, Cincinnati police spokesman.

        “We don't see (the cost) as an issue,” Mr. Mahlman said. “It's not like we're putting men there 24 hours a day. We are able to continue with our regular duties without any problem.”

        At 4 p.m. Saturday, a dozen people roamed the park hoping to catch a glimpse of a cow.

        They included Mark Offutt, 25, a University of Cincinnati graduate student, who said curiosity drove him to visit the park with his girlfriend and see what the the fuss was about.

        “I don't know what to think about this whole thing,” Mr. Offutt said. “Either Cincinnatians need to get a life, or they really have a good sense of humor.”

       Enquirer reporter Jim Hannah contributed.
       

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