Update: Sheriff says decision to shoot loose steers was 'to ensure public safety'

Hours after the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office alerted the public to keep an eye out for a runaway steer Thursday, the operator of an area animal sanctuary in a Facebook live stream claims he found a skinned and butchered carcass in the Dixboro area.

Sheriff's officials Thursday afternoon said they were looking for a runaway steer in Superior Township, warning the public not to approach the animal because it might have been aggressive.

A message seeking an update or confirmation that the animal was killed was left with spokespeople for the sheriff's office Thursday evening.

Daniel McKernan, who founded the Barn Sanctuary devoted to rescuing farm animals in Chelsea, broadcast multiple Facebook videos of his search for the runaway cow Thursday. He went to the area hauling a horse trailer to try and offer assistance rescuing the animal.

While searching near some fields in Superior Township, a passerby told McKernan they saw a dead and skinned steer not far away. McKernan says he learned there were actually originally two runaway cattle, but one had already been shot and killed.

During his first video recorded about 5 p.m. Thursday, McKernan encounters a sheriff's deputy in a parking lot.

"Hi, you need to go. From what I've been told, you've been told that already," the deputy tells McKernan, who responds that he hasn't spoken to any sheriff's officials.

"Are you shooting the animal?" McKernan asks.

"Yes, we are," the sheriff responds, and says "have a good day," twice when asked, "why," by McKernan.

McKernan indicates there was a second cow that he believes had already been shot and "skinned alive."

"I didn't do anything. Have a good day," the deputy says sternly. "We have something going on here, I don't have time to talk to you."

A sheriff's department helicopter can be heard hovering above. McKernan said it was hovering in the area for at least an hour.

Posted by Daniel McKernan on Thursday, January 4, 2018

More than hour later, McKernan began broadcasting again, this time claiming he located the second, skinned steer in a wooded area.

"Hey everyone, so ... I went on a trek," McKernan tells viewers. "The first thing I found was a blood stain, blood drops.

"All I've got to say is these cows are fighting for their lives right now. They just want to be free. They want to be in a forest like this, and the fact that Washtenaw Sheriff's Department just goes out and hunts them when they find out they're lost, instead of calling animal rescue groups to take them in, that's unbelievable."

McKernan warns viewers before panning his camera to the gruesome scene showing a butchered steer in bloody snow.

"Look at this," McKernan says. "It's like a murder scene."

MLive attempted to reach the Sheriff's Office by email and phone for comment and was awaiting a response.

"The sheriff's office gets called and they pull out their rifles and go hunting," McKernan said.

After ending his second live stream near 6 p.m. Thursday, McKernan said he heard gunfire near a residential area along Tanglewood Drive, at least five gunshots, he told MLive.

He believes it was the runaway steer being killed, but because it was dark and on private property, McKernan said he didn't investigate further.

"I want to create a positive relationship with the sheriff's department so that when cases like this happen, they have someone to call," said McKernan, "so there is a way to catch (the animals) humanely."

McKernan didn't have any guesses where the cattle may have escaped from, but said at least one of them was tagged.