WWTBAM Bored

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas ... 574224.php

Bevo XIV, a longhorn steer and the live mascot of the University of Texas Longhorns ('natch) has died. He didn't go to the Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma last week end after they discovered he had Bovine Leukemia Virus. He was thirteen years old (not sure if that's old for a steer or not) and had been the mascot since 2004.

Unlike Bevo I, the subject of one of my Millionaire questions, Bevo XIV won't be slaughtered and barbecued. RIP, all the Bevos.

Wow, that was fast. His illness just became public last week. I'm guessing he was euthanized, but the article doesn't say.

TheConfessor wrote:Wow, that was fast. His illness just became public last week. I'm guessing he was euthanized, but the article doesn't say.

Maybe it's been edited since you read it, but the first line currently reads, "Bevo XIV, the iconic orange-and-white longhorn mascot of the University of Texas at Austin, died Friday in his sleep."

Estonut wrote:

TheConfessor wrote:Wow, that was fast. His illness just became public last week. I'm guessing he was euthanized, but the article doesn't say.

Maybe it's been edited since you read it, but the first line currently reads, "Bevo XIV, the iconic orange-and-white longhorn mascot of the University of Texas at Austin, died Friday in his sleep."

I assumed that an animal could be euthanized while sleeping. And whenever is pet is euthanized, it is often euphemistically said to be "put to sleep." And any press release from the U. of Texas about their animal mascot is sure to be motivated more by public relations and image than by an aim for full disclosure.

TheConfessor wrote:

Estonut wrote:

TheConfessor wrote:Wow, that was fast. His illness just became public last week. I'm guessing he was euthanized, but the article doesn't say.

Maybe it's been edited since you read it, but the first line currently reads, "Bevo XIV, the iconic orange-and-white longhorn mascot of the University of Texas at Austin, died Friday in his sleep."

I assumed that an animal could be euthanized while sleeping. And whenever is pet is euthanized, it is often euphemistically said to be "put to sleep." And any press release from the U. of Texas about their animal mascot is sure to be motivated more by public relations and image than by an aim for full disclosure.

I was told by someone who works at A&M's small animal clinic that she was told by someone else that a friend who worked at the large animal clinic (where Bevo was diagnosed) looked at Bevo's chart and saw the recommendation that he be euthanized within 48 hours. Not the best chain of custody for information, but I was told this Wednesday night. 36 hours later the news breaks of his death. It makes sense.

And saying "he died in his sleep" while not entirely false softens the blow to those who are overly sensitive to the purposed deaths of animals with names.

The A&M clinics have a very strict policy that no photos are to be taken of animals in their care, for obvious and good reasons, I think. I was also told Wednesday night that a 3rd year vet student placed his Aggie ring on the horn of Bevo (while Bevo was sedated) and tweeted a photo. I don't know what the caption was but the UT president contacted the A&M president immediately upon learning of it, the student was kicked out of the vet school (after 3 years and $70K) and the media machine at A&M worked to get all versions of that tweet off the net. Again, 3rd and 4th hand info.