Cow That Got Loose In Niles Senior Prank Has A Name: Humane Society

NILES, IL — Hilda. Angel. Moodini. Runaround Sue. Those were just a few of the names being suggested for a young female cow that got loose in Niles last month. In the end, Cynthia Glensgard, executive director of Hooved Animal Humane Society, tells Patch the cow's name is Blossom.

Hooved Animals asked those suggesting names to donate $5 to the nonprofit organization, and more than $800 was raised during the nearly two-week campaign. The winning name was drawn on Monday.

Glensgard, who calls the heifer a "sweet girl," and the staff at Hooved Animal have been caring for the animal at the Woodstock shelter since a senior prank went horribly wrong locally. During the early hours of April 27, residents in a Niles neighborhood awoke to a cow running in the streets and local police trying to chase her down for more than six hours.

Students at Northridge Prep School had bought the cow and other animals via Craigslist as a senior prank. Police responded to the 8300 block of Ballard Road at around 2:56 a.m. for a report of suspicious people in the area, who were later identified as students from the school. Following assistance from the Park Ridge Police Department and a representative from nearby Wagner Farm in Glenview, the cow was secured at around 9:15 a.m.

According to police, the animals were purchased via Craigslist by the students involved. A pig was purchased near Dixon and the cow was bought from Winneconne, Wisconsin. Chickens belonging to the students were also brought to the school. Police said the school was conducting an internal investigation, but will not pursue any criminal charges.

Police issued Village of Niles ordinance citations to the students, including curfew violation, disorderly conduct, animal feces accumulation and possession of prohibited animal species. The students were also due to appear in court.

RELATED: Loose Cow Captured Following Senior Prank In Niles

Wagner Farm was unable to take the cow in, so it was instead taken to Hooved Animals. Founded in 1971 the Hooved Animal Humane Society is a non-profit organization, founded by concerned and committed citizens. According to the organization's website, its mission is to promote the humane treatment of hooved animals through education, legislation, investigation, and if necessary, legal intervention (impoundment). In addition, Hooved Animal provides physical rehabilitation to animals that have endured severe neglect and abuse and adopt them out to loving forever homes.

In a recent Facebook post, Hooved Animals shared a video of Blossom and said she is "doing great, and her personality is starting to shine."