1 Scottish steer is found; 2nd shaggy animal released after fire still missing.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: George Barnes

ATHOL - One big shaggy boy is back wandering the highlands of the Green Mountain state, but his brother is still among the missing.

Justin and Jen McNary, owners of the Sleeping Dog Farm in Whitingham, Vt., said one of their missing Scottish Highland steers was found recently in the woods of Athol, but the other is still at large.

The Highland breed is big and shaggy and sports a long set of horns that would fit in nicely on a Texas ranch. They may look ill-tempered, but their owners say they are just the opposite. The one on the loose is likely to be afraid of strangers, they said.

"At home he acts like a big friendly dog," said Mrs. McNary.

The owners would just as soon get their steer home in one piece. They say they are praying for its safe return and hoping that anyone who sees it will ask questions first, and not shoot.

The missing steer has been gone more than two weeks. He and his brother disappeared Dec. 19 after being released from a barn at Adams Farm when the slaughterhouse there burned to the ground. The steers, which were awaiting slaughter, were set free by the Fire Department onto the Adams' fenceless land.

Mrs. McNary said they learned today that Adams Farm does not have insurance to cover the loss of the animal. She said the loss of the steer would be a financial blow to their small farm. The beef has already been committed to customers, she said.

The steer that was found over...