Tell me what to do

lonelyfarmgirl · #1 03/16/13, 09:01 AM

I sold this lady an angora billy, of around 12 weeks old a couple weeks ago. She emailed yesterday to tell me it had died. She said the vet was out that night and could not determine a cause of death. (I don't buy it)

I feel terrible. The goat was for a 4H kid, whose previous one died of old age. She did not ask for her money back, but I suspect she's waiting for me to offer. I have his twin sister here and she's fine. I have no goat to replace him with.

I suspect the vet castrated and de-horned the thing as soon as they got it home and it likely died from complications from that. Of course, if that is the case, the vet would never admit to it.

The other thing I suspect is feed related death. I have not yet responded to her email so I have no information concerning the situation.

I don't know what to say. Help please?

7thswan · #2 03/16/13, 09:08 AM

Couple weeks ago, the little guy could have died from starvation for all you know. I'd say, have the woman get it atopsyed at YOUR vet, then go from there.

lonelyfarmgirl · #3 03/16/13, 09:37 AM

I looked at the calendar. They had him 6 days.

blaundee · #4 03/16/13, 10:36 AM

Why do you need to know? Just for your own knowledge, or is she insisting you replace it? If it's the latter, contact your county extension agent or livestock inspector to find out exactly what your responsibility is. Here, any sale of any animal is "AS IS" and as soon as the bill of sale is filled out, the animal is theirs, no matter what. If it dies the moment the bill of sale is handed over, it belongs to the buyer.
No such thing as guarantees, and even if it's in a contract, you'd have a hard time making someone replace a dead animal.

See what your laws are.

7thswan · #5 03/16/13, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelyfarmgirl

I looked at the calendar. They had him 6 days.

I don't think you are responsible in any way. Maybe you are just feeling sad for the people. That's understandable, but no sence helping them kill another animal if that is what happened. If the animal was sickly,they should have been responsible enought to call someone for help like the vet, but at least they should have called you. Maybe if you ask them some good questions, if they are so inexperianced you can get some valuable info out of them (unknowingly to them).

punchiepal · #6 03/16/13, 11:27 AM

Do you know if he was dehorned or castrated for sure? At 12 wks I wouldn't trust too many vets to dehorn a goat.

lonelyfarmgirl · #7 03/16/13, 12:09 PM

I do not know if they actually had it done, I am assuming. I told them that dehorning a goat at that age wasn't the greatest idea in the world. I guess I will simply express my condolences and see how she responds.

uncle Will in In. · #8 03/16/13, 12:28 PM

His twin is doing fine. Wouldn't she be sick if the problen came from your place.. If her kid let the kid eat a few bites from a evergreen yew, it would kill him very quickly. It could have been from things that was not your responsibilty. Do0n't put vet money into the solution.

Maura · #9 03/16/13, 12:44 PM

If her vet couldn't find anything wrong with the kid, then the responsiblity is not yours. He is saying that the goat did not have a disease that he could see. A little kid like that could even be run to death.

ErinP · #10 03/16/13, 12:51 PM

First and foremost, I would ask to talk to the vet. Just play it as, "I need to know if this is something I should be watching the rest of my herd for!"

Take it from there, once you've talked to the vet.

Rick · #11 03/16/13, 01:17 PM

deleted - I was not aware of the scours in other goats that is referred to in post 13, and related by OP in post 16.

wr · #12 03/16/13, 01:26 PM

I don't see why you should be responsible for the death of an animal that had been off your site for 6 days, especially if you don't even know what has happened to the animal in those 6 days.

I do think I would take a proactive approach before they ask for a refund or replacement and follow ErinP's advice of speaking with the vet. That would allow you to find out if the goat had been castrated and dehorned or if it had been treated for anything else. Either or both of those things would mean you did not cause it's death, you did not sell a sick kid nor could you have caused or prevented it's death.

Patchouli · #13 03/16/13, 02:01 PM

To me what it comes down to is what is more important to you your reputation or the few bucks you made off the goat? If it were me (and especially if like you I had goats in my barn with scours) I would tell her I would like to know exactly what the cause of death was so that I could check for it in my herd and if I was in any way at fault I would happily refund her money. It's more important to me to have everyone in my area know I am honest and willing to go the extra mile to work with a customer. Word gets out fast especially in rural areas.

ErinP · #14 03/16/13, 02:14 PM

I actually agree with this. It's better to eat the loss than make a bad name for yourself, but that's only AFTER you talk to the vet. Because there's no reason to be played for a fool.
You don't want to make THAT name for yourself, either.

Alice In TX/MO · #15 03/16/13, 02:40 PM

What did she ASK for? Compensation? Then you need documentation.

If she didn't ask, you don't need to know.

lonelyfarmgirl · #16 03/16/13, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patchouli

To me what it comes down to is what is more important to you your reputation or the few bucks you made off the goat? If it were me (and especially if like you I had goats in my barn with scours) I would tell her I would like to know exactly what the cause of death was so that I could check for it in my herd and if I was in any way at fault I would happily refund her money. It's more important to me to have everyone in my area know I am honest and willing to go the extra mile to work with a customer. Word gets out fast especially in rural areas.

See, this is what I am wrestling with here. She did not ask for anything. She simply sent me an email letting me know. A reply from me is appropriate, I just didn't know what to say.
As far as the baby with scours, there was no contact there. I know that doesn't stop it and cross-contamination is easy, I'm just saying. And yes, his sister is fine. Ever since I got the email I have been watching her VERY close to make sure there is nothing wrong with her, and there isn't.

painterswife · #17 03/16/13, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelyfarmgirl

See, this is what I am wrestling with here. She did not ask for anything. She simply sent me an email letting me know. A reply from me is appropriate, I just didn't know what to say.
As far as the baby with scours, there was no contact there. I know that doesn't stop it and cross-contamination is easy, I'm just saying. And yes, his sister is fine. Ever since I got the email I have been watching her VERY close to make sure there is nothing wrong with her, and there isn't.

You have a goat with Scours. You have no idea why that goat has scours. That means that what ever caused the scours in this goat may also have caused the death of the other goat.

You should at the very least ask some questions and investigate. The non response just makes it look like you don't care.

Sculkrusha · #18 03/16/13, 04:39 PM

Yeah, look this does put one in a bit of a quandary. I dont know if this will help but Its what happened to me.
I sold a chap a few Muskovie Ducks for $29ea, About 3/4 days later he rang and said the drake had died. He said it was chasing the girls around the night before but was dead the next morning.
I said oh wow, sorry to hear that, do you have snakes ? what do you think killed it ?
would you like another ? I have one drake left you can have for $29.
He came around and bought it.
Once living animals leave your care you have no idea what happens to them. You also have a pretty good idea if they are going to drop dead or not.

Ring her up, tell her its a courtesy call and offer condolences. Also tell her all other related animals are fine. Be strong stand tall and if she wants compo or replacement just say no, sorry that wont happen.

Cheers Skul

montysky · #19 03/16/13, 04:58 PM

I would call her and ask about the kid, did it have scours? did they dehorn it? or Cut it? etc... If it was me after ony 6 days I would refund the money or replace it, if there was any chance I sold them a sick animal. Just good business and the right thing to do imho.

painterswife · #20 03/16/13, 05:07 PM

Another thing to consider. You have posted this and about the scours on an open forum as well as the name of your farm. It has now been posted to the big newspaper in the sky. You can delete these posts but it will be out there to see every time someone Googles your farm or your name.