Traffic Accident Leaves 243 Goats Dead
July 8, 2007
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Goats R Us family in Orinda after a horrific accident in San Rafael left hundreds of their working herd dead.
Goats R Us provides low-impact brush control and vegetation management to public and private landholders throughout CA and was instrumental in the safe relocation of feral goats from Santa Catalina Island in 1999 through a cooperative effort with In Defense of Animals.
Goats R Us does not sell or dispose of their retiring herd members for profit or loss; they remain at the Orinda ranch for light-duty, local assignments and community outreach, doing what goats do best: browsing, walking, browsing some more with a bit of grazing, taking a sip of cool water, resting and ruminating, and starting all over again.
It’s still unclear if the actions of San Rafael PD officers at the crash site resulted in more deaths from suffocation than would have occurred if they had allowed those who could escape the overturned trailer to do so, then be contained by their on-scene herders and guardian dogs away from the wreckage. We believe a further and comprehensive investigation is in order very soon.
Papa Billy
April 17, 2006
Papa can’t pose for you at the Pierce College Farm Walk. He won’t nibble your fingers or polish his horns on the trees. The secrets of why his dark, chocolatey color faded, his muscles weakened, and his legs failed were trucked away with him to his death. And if he can’t make more of him again, he’s of no use or value to them.
Charlie.
They’re waiting for you. Not here, but where all perfect souls go.
Scream 2
April 3, 2006
It’s still not too late to help this little goat. Still standing (where else could it go?) at 6:25AM. At least the bleeding has stopped.
And the coming rainstorm hasn’t started. Yet. And it isn’t 100+ degrees outside. Yet. And just as we promised: “up close, in person and over time.”
One quick update on our auto-responder for subject “Monitor”: option 1 under “Handling animal emergencies” should now read “only applicable M-Th.” Option 2 should now read “only applicable M-F or leave a voicemail message with the Los Angeles Pierce college Agriculture department.” Option 3 should read “try the main switchboard M-F, otherwise see option 2.” IOW, you’re on your own
No one can hear you scream
April 3, 2006
Well, that’s not exactly true. PFW can hear your screams, little one, from several hundred yards away and even if you’re quite small. Chilling enough to make us literally come running to find you trapped in the broken fencing of your pen, battered and bleeding.
Do you recognize this little pygmy goat? Was s/he once yours, or your child’s pet? If you “donated” your little goat to the Los Angeles Pierce College farm in the hope that your pet would live out a quiet and peaceful life, or you were contacted by someone soliciting an animal for “educational donation,” please email us at any of the Pierce Farm Watch contact addresses.
We’ll do everything in our power to remove the one you once cared for from this situation and secure its safety in a loving home or sanctuary, for surely this is not what you intended or expected. Your little one is now confined in an area on the Los Angeles Pierce College farm that is soil and surface-contaminated with disease-causing bacteria that can be slowly and silently debilitating, even deadly. To then be left unobserved for all but a few minutes a day, trapped and injured, couldn’t possibly be what you envisioned.
Please contact us if you know the identity or origin of this little goat. There’s still time today, but tomorrow may be too late.
9-1-1
March 10, 2006
I’m sure they can all reach this in case of an emergency, or just choose the tallest to give it a go.
I’m guessing it’s a direct line for help?
As the temperature drops and wind sweeps the rain in, we ask you once again to remember the animals on the Pierce College farm, especially the tiny ones, bracing for another storm
A dry bed in a warm corner, is it really so much of a luxury?
If you care for my hooves now,
I might not be lame before I’m three.
