“It was quite a big surprise,” mentioned Reiman, with the Norfolk Police Division. “We were all kind of expecting it to be a smaller animal, like a calf, that would actually fit into a vehicle, not the large animal that we actually discovered there.”

The animal was Howdy Doody, a 2,200-pound, 9-year-old Watusi-longhorn combine steer who’s extra dog-like than fierce preventing bull. His proprietor, Lee Meyer, mentioned Howdy Doody enjoys happening walks on a leash, getting treats and, sure, feeling the wind rush previous his face once they go on rides. Howdy Doody additionally is aware of some instructions, corresponding to “back up” and “come here.”

In Neligh, Neb., the place the Meyers stay, Howdy Doody has turn out to be a little bit of an area celeb by means of his appearances in parades — throughout which he’s typically perched subsequent to Meyer in the modified Crown Victoria. But in Norfolk, a metropolis of some 24,000 residents, authorities thought of the duo’s experience to be a security hazard. After Meyer was stopped by police, he was issued a warning for imaginative and prescient obstruction and unsecured load. He was additionally requested to drive Howdy Doody house.

“I mean, there weren’t a whole lot of options,” Reiman mentioned. “What would you expect me or anybody to do with an over 1,500-pound animal in the middle of a downtown in a city? It’s not like I could take him to the dog pound. There was only one option, and that was to let that gentleman drive back to his home.”

How did a large steer wind up inside a Crown Vic? That’s the results of what Meyer described as an “aha moment” he had about seven years in the past whereas enthusiastic about how he might drive round with his beloved pet.

“My granddaughter thought it was a bad idea and that it’d never work,” Meyer instructed The Post. “So I said, ‘Well, Grandpa can do anything, but it might take me a while.’ I wanted to prove her wrong.”

The 63-year-old retired machinist tinkered with his car, an previous police cruiser, for a few months. He bolstered the ground, suspension and body. He put a gate on the aspect and added a plexiglass barrier. Then got here the ending touches: miniature horns adorning the hood of the car and a plate studying “BOY & DOG.”

Since then, Howdy Doody — whom Meyer purchased when he was about 6 months previous from a breeder in Ohio — has ridden shotgun to spots round Neligh. On longer journeys, the steer rides in a trailer, however Howdy Doody “likes the car better,” Meyer mentioned.

“Howdy Doody is probably the most spoiled steer in all of northeastern Nebraska,” mentioned Meyer’s spouse, Rhonda.

Meyer makes certain the climate might be good earlier than every drive, she mentioned: “It can’t be hot and it also can’t be during winter when it’s too cold. Like I said, he’s spoiled.” Sometimes, Meyer even stops at the fuel station to purchase Howdy Doody ice cream — although treats often encompass cattle cubes or pressed alfalfa pellets.

Meyer started caring for Howdy Doody, together with one other longhorn named Maybelle and 6 bison, after he retired and his youngsters grew up. “Everybody’s got to do something, right?” Meyer mentioned. “I just got a little land and a little time and this is what I decided to do.”

While Howdy Doody was already recognized regionally after his parade performances, his celeb has now reached new heights after the video of his experience in Norfolk went viral. Clips taken by News Channel Nebraska have racked up greater than 11 million views on the X platform, previously generally known as Twitter.

Meyer mentioned the visitors cease received’t stop him from driving his beloved steer round, although he nonetheless has beef with Norfolk and possibly received’t carry Howdy Doody there once more.

“We were going to go to Norfolk’s Oktoberfest — that’s why we were doing a trial run there,” Meyer mentioned. “I don’t think we’ll be coming back. But … it will take a lot more to stop a man and his steer.”

And as for the granddaughter he tried to impress by determining learn how to drive Howdy Doody round: “She thought the police stop was funny but won’t admit I won. She says that I’m not a movie star, I’m just a chauffeur.”