Runaway bull in Upper Franconia: Police end chaos with a shot!

Runaway bull in Upper Franconia: Police end chaos with a shot!

A bull is causing unrest in Upper Franconia

What can happen if a bull breaks out of his enclosure? This question is currently being asked in Kronach, Upper Franconia. Loud frankenpost.de a bull escaped from his stable. The owner of the animal was at the end of his strength and could neither calm nor catch the animal. The veterinary office then cleared the bull for shooting, and a police officer finally hunted down the escaped animal. It remains unclear how the bull was able to escape and whether it was in the village or just on agricultural land.

The situation is completely different in Peiting, Bavaria, where a bull made worrying headlines not long ago. On October 27, 2023, 67-year-old Werner Hechenrieder defended his life against the angry animal while his grandson Jonas Mandl, who had just come to the farm after school, tried to save his grandfather. Hechenrieder had made the plan to drive the animals from the pasture back to the farm when the bull suddenly attacked. A race against time began.

Instinct and courage

Jonas Mandl reacted quickly. While his grandfather was knocked to the ground, he jumped onto a barrel of water and distracted the bull by throwing two poles. So he managed to get Hechenrieder behind an electric fence, where he finally felt he was safe. But the danger was not yet averted. An emergency call was made, but the rescue helicopter was unable to land due to the terraced terrain. Mandl then transported his grandfather 800 meters on a tractor until they finally arrived at the Murnau accident clinic.

Hechenrieder's injuries were serious: almost all of his ribs were broken, a ruptured lung, numerous fractures and even a crack in his earlobe. Despite these painful experiences, Hechenrieder was able to report a quick recovery after three and a half weeks in the hospital and noted that the bull had not acted with malicious intent. For his heroic efforts, Jonas Mandl was awarded the Christophorus Medal by Prime Minister Markus Söder, which makes the whole family aware that one must always exercise caution towards animals.

Legal and animal welfare

In this context, the question of animal protection and legal requirements also arises. According to that Animal Welfare Association Special regulations in the Animal Protection Act apply to animals, including bulls. Animals are not things, they are viewed as fellow creatures that can feel pain and suffering. The law seeks to protect animals from avoidable pain and suffering, and appropriate action can be taken in the event of violations under both the Animal Welfare Act and the Criminal Code.

The current debate about animal protection in agriculture shows that, despite existing regulations, there are still deficiencies in the law. Many animal rights activists are therefore calling for a right of action in animal protection so that animal protection associations can teach lessons when animals are exposed to mistreatment or poor keeping conditions.

In the case of the runaway bull and the dramatic rescue story, people prove what they are willing to do when it comes to the lives of animals and people. The fact remains: the issue of animal welfare is of great importance to society, and it is important that all necessary steps are taken to ensure that both animals and people can live together in a harmonious environment.