A cow that sparked protests and petitions at an East Setauket farm has been "moved," the farm's owner says, adding that the farm will not take any more questions about her.

As News 12 has reported, people were upset over the farmer's plans to slaughter the cow, named Minnie.

Bob Benner says he bought Minnie two years ago to use as a meat cow. He says he's never considered her a pet.

But protesters argued that cow was well-loved by the children who visit the farm. They were calling for the cow to be sent to an animal sanctuary in New Jersey instead. A petition on Change.org to save Minnie has more than 5,100 supporters.

In a statement released Saturday, the Benner family called the uproar over the cow "unfair." It said they moved Minnie away from the farm on Friday, and added that they wouldn't answer any additional questions about her.

The statment said the family has been "inundated with harassing phone calls, Facebook posts, bad reviews, and threats all aiming to change our mind," but said they also received a steady stream of support from people who helped the family "stand in the midst of this firestorm and remain steadfast in our resolve."