Tragedy with livestock

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Countrysiders, I am posting this letter from a fellow shepherd that was on our sheep forum. They live in Wisconsin.Very sad. I don't know what if anything could be done to help prevent similar events from happening to any of us.What are the laws in your state involving farm animals, harrassment or worse? Feel free to e-mail this family with any advice. Kate

Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2001 09:41:45 -0600 From: Larry & Emily Meisegeier Subject: Tragedy

WARNING! This could happen to you,

3:45 AM we were awakened by someone knocking on our door, it was two teenage boys from the neighborhood who told me that someone had hit and killed three of my sheep.

Still half asleep, Emily and I realized that the commotion we herd at 2:30 AM was not someone having vehicle problems.

As we investigated, we discovered that not three but five ewes had been hit and killed. Not just hit in a bunch, but chased down over about 3/4 of a mile and hit one by one!

To put this story into perspective, I should explain that our farm is situated on both sides of a semi busy highway, or should I say the highway runs right through our farm. About a quarter mile to the north, at the end of our property, is a side road that goes west (Edgewood road)

Across the highway from the buildings is where all our sheep are presently spending their time.

After further investigation I have came to this conclusion. Yesterday my hay supplier had brought me some round bales that we put in front of the gate. Sometime during the night about 25 ewes got out and were peacefully eating at these bales. The perpetrators happened along and saw the ewes. They then proceeded to chase them down the highway to the north where they hit the first ewe. The ewes then turned down Edgewood road where the second one was hit, about two hundred yards down the road the third ewe was hit. The evidence shows that this ewe went under the vehicle and was hung up. As the vehicle spun its tires to get free it tore open the ewe and the twin fetuses she was carrying were spilled out onto the ground. About six hundred yards further was the fourth ewe and another 100 yards lay the fifth. Right about that spot is a driveway that leads into one of our back fields. We found the remaining ewes across from there in with the neighbors beef cattle. They obviously had tried to get into our field, however the gate was closed.

I called the sheriff's department and a deputy came out to investigate. Fortunately it had snowed about a half an inch so he was able to get pictures of the tire tracks in the fresh snow. Unfortunately, as he stated, chances of finding the culprits are very slim.

In a way you could say we are partly to blame. We should have gotten up and investigated at 2:30 when we heard the commotion, however, strange things have happened in the past to which I have investigated and found nothing.

I also should not have put the temptation of fresh hay so close to the ewes.

As for restitution, should the JERKS get caught. What is a percentage East Friesian ewe carrying lambs sired by purebred East Friesian worth? These ewes are even more valuable since they were all experienced and trained to our milking parlor system.

Please beware of heartless, _________ people that are out there!

Larry Meisegeier River Ridge Stock Farm Bruce, WI

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), December 11, 2001

Answers

Larry's e-mail address is rrsf@BRUCETEL.net .

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), December 11, 2001.

Man, what a crappy thing to happen. Someone actually purposely killed your livestock . . . the temptation played a role in that, but the perpetrators took some actions to actually kill your animals. That is animal cruelty, and I hope the perpetrators get caught and pay for the consequences.

Yes, the food temptation factor can get you into trouble. My aunt, feeding cattle cubes to one of her husband's Red Brangus cows, left her hand on her side of a metal gate. The animal, reaching through the iron bars of the gate, got its head caught, paniced(sp?) and proceeded to demolish the gate and a nearby car parked in close proximity. It freed itself after a violent struggle, but the animal was badly cut up, the car vehicle door / rocker panels / windows were badly thrashed ($1500 repair as I recall). Bad deal all around; we sure learned an important lesson that day.

Again, sorry for your troubles. I hope the tire tracks pan out and the officials are able to bust their sorry butts.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), December 11, 2001.


Something equally miserable happened around here last winter. Two kids repeatedly ran over a farmer's dog with their snowmobiles. The farmer was kind enough to allow a trail through his property and this is the thanks he got. The kids were stupid enough to tell the farmer that they "accidentally" ran over the dog so he knew who they were. The police drug out the investigation just long enough for the boys to turn 18 and be prosecuted as adults. Happy B-day, kids! They were both fined $1000 + some jail time (just a couple days). Not nearly severe enough punishment if you ask me, but it got plenty of publicity so hopefully it won't happen again.

-- Stacey (stacey@lakesideinternet.com), December 11, 2001.

As I read this thread, I thought of my deceased father-in-law. He used to say that any human that could hurt an animal will easily hurt another human being. Food for thought.

-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), December 11, 2001.

Wonder if offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the drivers would be an incentive for someone to turn them in.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), December 11, 2001.


Don't worry they will get what they deserve times three! What goes around comes around. My daughter is wiccan. Maybe she can practice one of her spells on them! Hee Hee Hee

-- buffy (buffyannjones@hotmail.com), December 11, 2001.

It is a good probablility that the neighborhood teens know who the culprits are that did this. Even if they are not certain, creeps that do things like this brag to friends. A sizable reward and a promise of anonyminity will bring about justice. God will take care of the rest.

-- Just Duckie (Duck@spazmail.com), December 12, 2001.

Your father was right. People who can hurt animals can also hurt people. It is a fact that serial killers start out with animals.

-- Debbie in Mo (risingwind@socket.net), December 13, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ