Tragedy Update (Livestock - General)

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I posted these folks tragedy several weeks ago of their sheep being purposely hit and killed by a vehicle.Here is an update.

Fri, 4 Jan 2002 07:37:15 -0600 From: Larry & Emily Meisegeier Subject: Tragedy update

Good Morning,

A few weeks ago I told you about five of my ewes being chased down and ran over, I am now happy to tell you that the case has been solved.

Thanks to some excellent investigative work done by detective Ron Bauer of the Rusk County Sheriff's department, with the aid of evidence that I and deputy Jim Bugbee collected at the scene, the vehicle and driver have been identified.

The case got a big break when someone called the Sheriff's department and reported an individual had told about running over some sheep.

I had put a letter to the editor in a couple of state ag papers and an article on the front page of a couple of local newspapers. I was also interviewed for a radio news article that aired on five different stations. It was also the crime of the month with the Rusk County crime stoppers program, the program offers a $1000.00 reward for information about cases in the program. (we got the word out)

The driver and his passenger are both 20 year old adults from a neighboring county. In an interview with them and detective Bauer last week, the driver admitted to hitting the ewe on the highway but claimed to now nothing about the ewes on the side road. In another interview this week evidence was presented that placed the vehicle on the side road, he then admitted hitting the rest, however, he claims that he hit a bunch of sheep on the highway injuring several so he ran them over again to kill them and put them out of misery.

Charges of criminal damage to property and cruelty to animals have been referred to the District Attorney's office and we are now waiting for the DA to file formal charges.

Emily and I would like to thank everyone for your thoughts and support during this tragedy. The publics response of concern and outrage has been overwhelming.

Thank you,

Larry Meisegeier River Ridge Stock Farm Bruce, WI

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), January 04, 2002

Answers

Response to Tragedy Update

WOW!! Congratulations!!!! Nothing will ever happen to them to make up for what they did, but I sure wish they get the book thrown at them.

-- Wendy A (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), January 04, 2002.

Response to Tragedy Update

Thanks for posting the follow-up.

-- Rick#7 (rick7@postmark.net), January 04, 2002.

Response to Tragedy Update

Oh! That makes me feel great! Hope those jerks get nailed good and proper!

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), January 04, 2002.

Response to Tragedy Update

I'm so glad that these awful people were caught!

I wanted to mention how, oftentimes, if people help out experts, things work out so much better. With the net and other telecommunication options, we have so much more power to help ourselves than we used to.

It's so much easier now to empower ourselves with information [and information distribution] to help solve our legal, medical and social issues than it was even just ten years ago.

It's not a bad mark against these experts if our help and research helps solve a problem. It just makes those problems solved easier and quicker..which is to our advantage.

-- pc (pc@nowhere.com), January 04, 2002.


Response to Tragedy Update

This was a horrible thing those boys did to the poor sheep. They deserive discipline. Of course you also share the blame since you were so irresponsible in allowing the sheep to be out on a public highway. They could have easily caused harm to an innocent driver. If I am wrong and your sheep were on your own private road then please disregard my criticism of you.

-- John Hayes (jehayes54@hotmail.com), January 04, 2002.


Response to Tragedy Update

Kate,

Do us a favor and let us know what happens to the culprits in court. I would be interested to see what happens and what they actually get charged with. Thanks.

Hope everything is better for you guys now.

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), January 04, 2002.


Response to Tragedy Update

I am sure through your vocalism and follow through, you have helped to prevent this from happening to the next person. I thank you for your effort, and wish you well in the future. Don't be surprised if people step forward with lambs to give you to replace your lost ones.

-- Sandie in Maine (peqbear@maine.rr.com), January 05, 2002.

Response to Tragedy Update

How did the sheep get out??? Did they do any damage to the car???

I carry insurance for this scenario. It is odd how different states have different laws in regards to vehicles vs. livestock. In Nevada, the livestock always have the right of way.

Here in MN it is the owners responsibility to keep the livestock out of harms way and the owners are liable for damages to the vehicles that are involved in incidents. However, trying to get a farmer out here to make good on damages his critters cause is not likely to happen often. I think it has something to do with median income being in the $12k area.

-- Gary from Mn (hpysheep@midwestinfo.com), January 06, 2002.


I would like to respond to the post that stated perhaps it was the owners fault that the sheep were in the road. Please go to archives under livestock general , under tragedy with livestock ,so I don't need to repeat the saga. The sheep were off on the side of the road peacefully eating a round bale of hay when this incident occured. Telltale hoofprints in the ground verified where they were. In retrospect the owner felt somewhat responsible for having the load of hay placed where it was. However,. I want to emphasize that this was a DELIBERATE act of animal cruelty.Having the sheep by the road is not in my opinion just cause for this dispicable act..

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), January 06, 2002.

Hi Kate,

I am so glad you clarified that position. I can't imagine your pain in this entire situation and then to have some folks on the forum be critical. I've been on this forum for almost 3 yrs now and have noticed in the past 5 months how much it has changed. At one point I felt like I wanted to leave, but then I decided to stay because there are so many good folks here too. It appears that there has been an increase in "Homesteader wanna be's" and they seem to come across as ignorant and insolant and really insensitive to others. What I find interesting is the lack of respect for another's pain and turmoil or problem. Many are too quick to fire off criticism but forget that they themselves can be in the same position down the road.

My comments have nothing to do with the owner's responsibilities in this situation, just in general about the board lately. And sometimes some incidents are completely out of control of the owners and their best intentions. I need to wrap up my comments here because dinner is done. But I will add more feedback later. I KNOW I will get blasted and flamed but what else is new?

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), January 06, 2002.



I did respond to Mr. Hayes personally the following: These sheep belonged to a friend of mine. They were not in the road but actually a good 20 feet from the road. The hoof prints and the tire tracks of the vehicle were what determined this by the investigating law enforcement officers. It was also those tire tracks that continued down the adjacent private road ,chasing the sheep into the ditches away from the road as they tried in vain to escape these despicable maniacs, that led to their eventual arrest. Yes, my friend felt responsible that they were near the road and apparently a temptation to these young men, but again I emphasize that they were not in the road.As a livestock owner myself, I feel for them at this senseless slaughter

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), January 06, 2002.

Great news, as sentimented above, I hope they get the chair . . . well maybe not that far, but you get my meaning. I am glad your law enforcement people really went out to get this person or people. Please let us know how this turned out.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), January 07, 2002.

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