Brooklyn kids cry over cow-ardly school theft

Call the sheriff! Some low down varmints are rustling cattle in Brooklyn's Wild West.

A life-size Fiberglass cow -- left behind after the 2000 CowParade art project -- has vanished from the front lawn of a Bensonhurst school.

"Neighborhood children are crying because the cow is no longer there," said Denise Levinsky, the principal of Seth Low Intermediate School. "It was part of the community."

The cow was among 500 original bovine sculptures decorated by artists and students and placed throughout the city 10 years ago.

Art teacher Deborah Glassman and 30 of her eighth-grade students at Seth Low were chosen to paint it based on their prize-winning design of puzzle pieces depicting city landmarks.

MOOVED TO PEACES: This Fiberglass cow, with peace written in 17 languages, was stolen from Seth Low Intermediate School in Brooklyn.

The cow was displayed in Manhattan for 10 weeks and then purchased by the Seth Low PTA and given permanent grazing rights outside the building.

She got a makeover in 2006, when Glassman and her students repainted her white, with the word "peace" in green letters in 17 different languages.

Glassman a teacher at the school for 20 years, said, "9/11 had taken place and terrorism was going on and the children and I decided on that design.

"When I arrived for work Monday morning, it was gone and I was devastated," said Glassman.

"The cow was not only an art experience. It inspired my students."

"It's cruel and mean," said Niki Lam, 11, of the puzzling theft. "I think it was terrorists, because they don't like peace."

Additional reporting by Ikimulisa Livingston

john.doyle@nypost.com