Our Farm Sanctuary family recently lost a very dear friend, Frank steer. Today, we honor his memory by sharing the story of this beloved ambassador for farm animals everywhere.
When Frank ran for his life in 2016, he captured hearts nationwide. Named after Alcatraz escapee Frank Lee Morris, this courageous steer fled from a transport truck just before he would have wound up at a live market in Queens, New York.
Desperate to cling to freedom, Frank ran through the busy city streets and found himself on the campus of York College. Authorities believed he was aggressive and tried to tranquilize him, but Frank was really just frightened.
As he tried to remain free, Frank and the help he got from caring people like Jon and Tracey Stewart made national headlines. His story inspired countless pleas that he be spared from slaughter. Thanks to these cries of compassion, Frank was released into Farm Sanctuary’s forever care.
In his nine years at our New York shelter, Frank grew into a happy, playful steer and a respected leader of his herd. He was especially close to Savic, who came to us when a former beef farmer had a change of heart and spared his life. Frank and Savic bonded deeply—two friends who knew what it was like to find a second chance.
Frank was always most comfortable among his cow companions, although he would occasionally accept being gently brushed by trusted humans. It was up to him. After all, Frank found the freedom he was once looking for and had always deserved.
At Farm Sanctuary, Frank never had to run scared again—but had all the freedom in the world to romp through his pastures with joy, surrounded by nothing but love.
